Doubting if Independent Consulting Is Worth It? Here’s What to Do

In today's edition of THE INDEPENDENT, let's talk about an elephant that can occasionally be in the room for independent consultants:

Is this worth it?

Have you ever questioned whether it's worth it to be an independent consultant?

• Maybe you had a bad day, and you're wondering if having a business is worth it. 
• Or, maybe you're feeling the pressure of being responsible for everything in your business, and you're questioning if it's all worth it.

First, I'll say this is very normal. There are moments with almost everything in life where we question if it's worth the blood, sweat, and tears.

• If a tree is blown over in your yard or the deck needs repairs, it would be common to question if owning a home is worth it and think it'd just be easier to rent.
• When you were in corporate, there were likely days when you thought about stepping back to be an individual contributor, where you wouldn't need to deal with as many people or responsibilities.
• And now, as an independent consultant, it's the same. When there are harder days, it can be common to think about going back to corporate, to a "steady" paycheck, and a team to help carry the responsibility.

Do you notice this question, "Is it worth it?" nagging at you, distracting you from achieving your business goals?

What can you do about it?

Here's a glimpse into the framework I shared in this week's podcast episode (#180).

0. Make sure this is a real question and not a rhetorical question. If it's a rhetorical question, meaning you are 100% committed to your business, then you can laugh it off, knowing your brain is just trying to distract you from your goals.

Now, if it is a real consideration for you, let's talk about how to address it, before it becomes a problem in your business.

1. Get clear on your WHY. This is a concept from Simon Sinek, who shares that Finding Your Why, in this case, your driver behind running a business, is an important tool to use when times get hard.

2. Get clear on the reality. Sometimes, we think things are going badly when they really aren't. It's important to have an accurate perception vs. going off of your gut. Get clear on what you think it will take to be successful. How could that be overblown? How could success be easier?

3. Decide what you want to pursue and set a deadline. You might decide it's not worth it and make an intentional decision. Or, you might recommit to your business. Choose a timeframe where you're not willing to indulge the question, "Is it worth it?"

For more on this, including the 5 questions to ask yourself to decide if running an independent consulting business is worth it, I've recorded Episode 180 of the podcast - Is Being an Independent Consultant Worth It?

• Listen to Episode 180
• And, if you don't want to do this alone, you can learn more and apply for a consultation on my Work with Me page.