Why You Should Stop Calling Yourself An "Employee"

There is one thing every single professional should know, no matter if they’re employed or currently looking for a job. It’s time for a history lesson that's going to change how you look at your career forever.?

The Most Important History Lesson For Your Career

Hundreds and thousands of years ago, we didn't work for other people. We all were individuals who had to create value. We learned to trade with other people. We'd exchange goods and services. We'd create value .

In fact, my maiden name, Tanner, is an example of this history. “Tanner” comes from the fact that my ancestors were tanners. They tanned leather, and that's how they created value and made money.

But over the years, especially after the Industrial Revolution, businesses were created and something called the employer-employee relationship was formed. The problem with that is, over time, that's become very unsatisfactory for millions of people.

We feel like we have golden handcuffs on. We work for an employer. They hold all the cards and we're basically just accepting bribes. And we feel no control, no autonomy.

You Are Not An “Employee”

This dissatisfaction has been going on for a long time. I've been a career coach for decades, and this pandemic is the tipping point. We will never go back. We have come full circle in our professional evolution.

You are not an employee. You are a business-of-one.

You are a service provider to a company. They are your customer. And when you claim that, when you own that, when you take ownership of your business-of-one, you claim your autonomy. You reclaim your power.

Once this shift in perspective happens, you're then able to learn how to find customers (companies) you want to work with and negotiate an offer that's fair and feels equitable to you and them.

Remember, all of us have different human DNA. We also have different career DNA. What you need to feel satisfied in a job is completely different from someone else. But you need to learn how to define that, get that from an employer, and then partner with them.

When the relationship between you and your employer is no longer good, leave—because every job is temporary. But you control the situation. You own it. And when you do that, you will have so much more satisfaction and, candidly, success in your career.

The Professional Evolution Has Come Full Circle

We have come full circle in this professional evolution, and I am grateful because for the past 20 years, I've watched people torture themselves and be confused about what they should be doing for work.

Get off the treadmill. Stop subscribing to what society tells you to do. We're done with that.

You are a unique individual, and what you need in work to feel fulfilled is completely different from the next person. I cannot stress this enough. You are a business-of-one. Stop calling yourself an employee.

If you want to learn how to take control of your career—well, that's why I'm here.

I'm helping people every single day unlock their career DNA. I can help you decode your career so that you can go and claim this and be happier because the time is now. We're not going back. It's over. No more employer-employee relationship. We are businesses-of-one. Claim it. Own it. Start reclaiming that power today.

Optimizing Your Resume & LinkedIn Profile For Your Business-Of-One

If you’re ready to take ownership of your career and want to learn how to effectively market your business-of-one to employers, check out my FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp !

During this bootcamp, you will learn:

• How to properly format and optimize your resume
• How to optimize your LinkedIn profile
• How both of these tools can help you stand out

Interested? Sign up today!