How to be your own boss

Let me know if you’ve got the answer to this one

Honesty hour: I know that I crave to be told what to do. Why? Because it’s safe, comfortable, and less responsibility.

But am I actually inspired to fulfill other people’s dreams? Not so much.

So, over the past couple of years, I’ve been putting a lot of time and energy into my own projects instead of other people’s.

However — my decision to pursue my own endeavours has forced me to figure out how to be my own boss.

And let me tell you, this is still a daily fight I am trying to conquer. There are countless times when I wish more than anything I had someone giving me direction, validating me and my efforts, or taking some of the pressure and responsibility off my shoulders. I’ve literally found myself asking friends to give me tasks to do as if they were my boss, lol.

Here are a few tips n tricks that help me (most of the time) to be my own boss and actually
get things done

1. Make a daily task list, but from my Higher Self, not from my current self.
   For any of you who aren’t familiar with the Higher Self — I view them as the future version of me who isn’t bogged down by insecurities or fear. She has already figured out how to push through the obstacles and narratives. My Higher Self has strong awareness and insight on how to get to the path + execute my current self's ideas and goals. So basically, if you were to ask me who my boss is, I wouldn’t say me—I would say my Higher Self is.
   

2. Leave the house.
   I am someone who has to change my environment around frequently to feel inspired. So I typically cycle through 4 different spots around town during the days when I have computer work or brainstorming/planning sessions.
   

3. Get dressed.
   During my WFH days, I try to hold myself accountable to getting myself actually out of my pajamas and into cute (but always comfy) clothes. Though this step doesn’t always happen, when it does, I do find it helpful to “step into” work mode and feel like a beef boss.
   

4. Acknowledgment + reward system.
   One of the strangest things about being a team of one is never receiving acknowledgment from anyone for the work that you’ve created and conquered at the end of the day, let alone at the end of the quarter. So one of my newest hacks I’m trying to implement is taking time to tell myself or journal out things like:

   Affirming myself:
   You crushed this project
   I am incredibly proud of you, Katie
   You executed this vision so well
   All your intentional work is really paying off
   Rewarding myself:
   “Close your computer and go climb.”
   “Take yourself out on a tea date.”
   “The weather is perfect; go play outside”
   

5. Structure + discipline.
   This one I really struggle with. Technically, I have designed this all for me not to have to be a 9—5er. But the list of things to get done for the YEAR is astronomically long. So, how can I hold myself accountable without shaming myself if I don’t get it all done? Not sure. Let me know if you know. But I do try to create mini lists for the day that actually seem possible.
   
   
   For now, that’s all I got lol.
   
   with love,
   katie