Becoming Independent From Corporate Employment

Becoming Independent From Corporate Employment

To be clear- and to address the title directly- I believe that in most cases, it does not go well.

In particular, even if someone with a background in sales within a company thinks, "Wouldn't I make more money if I did this on my own?" And decides to go independent, the reality is that running a business is a completely different battlefield- one where you must oversee everything as a whole.

First, let me say this: I consider the system of entering a company as a new graduate employee in Japan to be extremely robust. Even if you don't produce significant results, you can still earn a certain level of income.

Depending on the company, you also received social support and insurance, making it a relatively stable and livable system. That said, as someone who has worked as a university graduate doing various non- permanent jobs, I feel that the roles of a "business owner" and a "corporate employee" are as different as a professional baseball pitcher and batter.

For better or worse, the role of a corporate employee is essentially "to follow the instructions of Thier superior well."

You complete the tasks assigned to you and receive a salary in return.

In other words, if your boss is good, it's like heaven; if not, it can be hell.

In many cases, your thinking is positioned "outside yourself."

How other see you, or how the company evaluates you, has a significant influence.

In short, the less ego you have, the easier it is to fit into a company system.

Since many people can make a living this way, it is undoubtedly a very effective system.

However, when it comes to "running a business" or "going independent", you must take full responsibility for everything.

Your casual decisions, your attitudes, even your offhand remarks-all of them come back to you as reality.

You exist in an environment where your surroundings are directly shaped by your own actions.

There is no accounting department, no administrative staff.

No sales team, no boss.

Basically, you have to do everything yourself.

In other words, the mindset of a "corporate employee" and that of a "business owner" are completely opposite.

I came to realize this through a casual remark from my boss.

Both the company I am dispatched to and the agency dispatching me were originally run by former corporate employees from the some company.

I worked under both of them and things went smoothly, but I noticed a common trait. Both of these presidents would often say things like:

"Man, this is exhausting."

"I really don't want to do this."

From my perspective, I couldn't help put think:

"Wait, didn't you choose to do this job yourself?"

"If you don't do it, then who will?"

Their words made me feel that they wanted to shift responsibility onto others.

Although they are technically independent and running their own businesses, there is still a sense that they rely on others. That's something I've felt while working with them.

If we're talking about suitability, I strongly feel that they might not be suited for it.

Because in many cases, their decisions and responsibilities seem to be left hanging.

So in my opinion, when corporate employment becomes too difficult, there are only two realistic options: either change jobs, or keep working on a side business until it surpasses your main income.