I was determined to live independently, paying my own way when I graduated from college. I took the first job I could find doing clerical work. Living and working in San Francisco, I was employed at age 22 making $12,000 a year.

On top of my miserable financial circumstances, I would soon face the reality of my lost independence. My boss informed me I would be eligible for one week of vacation after the first year. Fifty-two weeks of working 8 to 5 stretched before me—it felt like a jail sentence.

Did anyone prepare you for the transition between school and full-time work? I was certainly ill-equipped, and I think many young people are. But the job flaw does not end there.

Here a just a few of the unfortunate possibilities associated with being an employee:

·        You have little or no control over your schedule during work hours.

·        You go to work sick because the work culture encourages you to ignore your health.

·        Your boss constantly criticizes you and lets you know positive feedback is not important or to be expected.

·        Your workload is overwhelming, and you are slowing but surely burning out.

Lately, more and more of my clients are coming to me seeking an escape from traditional employment. For some, it’s a consequence of experiencing a healthy life balance during the shutdown. For others, they have reached the end of their patience with poor leadership, unhealthy work cultures, and office politics.

I share this knowing many of you love your job and appreciate the security of working for someone else—and that is awesome. But, for others who feel trapped, be aware that the era of self-employment has arrived.

In March 2023 Forbes Magazine reported, “The population of solopreneurs and self-employed is soaring across a variety of industries and will soon surpass traditional employment to become the majority of the American workforce.”

As you balance the risks and rewards of your employment situation today, know that you are not alone if you yearn for something more.