Be Careful What You Wish For

As a 9-to-5er, I used to dream about being my own boss. No one telling me what to do, full freedom, working on my own ideas. It sounded perfect.

Then I actually started building a side project.

And here’s what I didn’t expect: without a boss, I often didn’t know what to do. Figuring out what to work on, before even doing the work, became a whole job by itself. It was exhausting in a way I never imagined.

This wasn’t what I signed up for. Not at all.

It feels like fighting a war with yourself. On one side, there’s the boss version of me—ambitious, focused, wanting results. On the other side, there’s the staff version of me—lazy, easily distracted, always looking for the path of least resistance.

And if I’m not careful, the staff wins. Every time. Because that’s human nature: we want to do as little as possible, whether we’re working for ourselves or for someone else.

So what’s the solution? I think it’s about turning that nature into an advantage. Instead of fighting it, I try to use it as a filter. I ask: What are the few tasks that will actually make the biggest difference?

Then I write them down. I make them non-negotiable.

Because if I don’t, the “lazy staff” in me will always find a way to avoid them.

Being your own boss isn’t about freedom—it’s about discipline. The discipline to make the hard choices, stick to them, and hold yourself accountable when no one else will.