Are you self employed? Or a Business Owner? What's the difference? Does it matter?

This week I’ve been having lots of conversations with lots of very different businesses about their very different industries, goals and challenges.?

As an NLP Master Practitioner – and out of general interest - I really notice people’s language patterns, perhaps more than most because I actively listen for them.

And this week, I have REALLY noticed the way people describe themselves and their business.

But not just words – actions speak way louder, right? And I’ve seen some noticeable differences between the actions of those who say they are "self-employed" and "a business owner"

For me there is a significant difference between being self-employed and being a business owner.

And in my opinion, it’s in the language used.

Disclaimer – Surprisingly, I have not spoken to every single business/person in business in all the land, so this is all just based on my own experiences of real conversations I have had.

I also don’t think it really matters, as long as you are comfortable with how you present yourself.

This newsletter is to highlight any disconnects.??Neither is better than the other, they're just different.

If you want to be perceived a certain way but are putting out a conflicting image, I want you to be aware of it and most importantly, be inspired to switch it up.

But only if you want to.

If you don’t, skip to the bit at the bottom where I tell you about my PAIN IN THE TECH Days???

Here's Newsletter #6

So, for me the term self-employed suggests someone who works independently and is living a life in business on their terms. Firstly, how amazing is that, guys? Truly. A way to support your lifestyle, while holding down a career. Maybe juggling the kids, a social calendar and the odd holiday.

Nice.?

I know this, because I've been this.

I see less of this with "business owners" though.?I feel the business owner has the mentality to do whatever it takes to make the?business?a success. Which means different things to different people – but will almost certainly involve creeping out of their comfort zone every now and then?(mostly right now, and at all times!) and diving headfirst into whatever is needed to build their company.

They will do WHATEVER. IT. TAKES.

Are there "self employed" with that mentality? Sure, of course. But I am yet to meet someone who describes themselves confidently as a "business owner" that doesn't. I have however, come across the opposite of someone who says they are "just self-employed" (their words, not mine btw).

In my experience those who introduce themselves as a business owner, tend to think differently.

They think bigger.

They think longer term.

They see spending money on themselves or their business as investment opportunity, whereas those in a self-employed space tend to feel resistance to spend.?That this money has been taken directly from their pockets. Working for oneself can be isolating, it’s hard to trust people and everything is a gamble or a con.

Which makes for an interesting point actually: what are you gambling on? if it is simply the difference between doing the work to see the results, then you only have to gamble on yourself.

(And that’s a pretty safe bet, right?)

A business owner will say "expenses". Self-employed will call it a cost.

Business owners will say revenue and profit. Self-employed will talk about income or bank balance.

A business owner will understand the importance of having robust systems and processes in their business in order to scale and grow, because it’s the only way.

They may say "we" instead of "I" when talking about their business.

These are just observations from those I have happened to coach recently.

But it did get me thinking about language patterns (I am also really interested in "apologetic language" – I have a download for you to correct those habits so you stop saying sorry for everything and start off on the back foot in situations. If you don’t have it and you want it, just message me)

What language do you use to describe your business/work status?

Have you even stopped to think about this? Does it even matter?!

And then the killer question:?Are you self-employed or are you a business owner?

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

1. Do you describe your business as "I" or "we" when you talk to people?

2. Do you have an income, or a business revenue (and then and income from that!)?

3. Do you think this is the best it can get? Or is this just the beginning?

4.?Do you see programmes to enhance certain areas in your business as gambles or amazing opportunities to get stuck in to and excitedly see the results?

5. Do you earn roughly want you earned in your last employed job? Or is it way more?!

If you tended to answer in the first options, then you probably identify more as someone who is "self employed", would you agree?

Now – that’s wonderful! So long as it’s what you want!

I find business owners tend to be more confident and think bigger, take their biz seriously and as a result get taken more seriously by others.

You are going to hit reply and tell me how you answered, aren't you? I'm dying to know!

I opened this topic up on my social media yesterday, because as always I love to hear the conversation around stuff like this:

"people often say they are self employed until they feel confident enough to class their business as a real thing in its own right and become a business owner"

Couldn’t agree more – in my eyes, you should fake it till you feel it… step in to that space of confidence from day 1 and don’t give the mind monkeys any space!

"I would say for me self employed is a safe thing and being a business owner is scary."

INTERESTING! Safe is perfectly fine! Unless you have a burning desire for?more?but are not "feeling that fear and doing it anyway"

I personally think that anyone who doesn’t live with the stability of a salary coming in from someone else every month (i.e an employee) needs to think in an incredibly solution focussed way for it to work.

That's definitely a common attribute I see.

Over to you - What do you reckon?

DM me and tell me!

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR CONTENT GENERATOR YET?? STILL ONLY ￡99!

THE 4 PILLARS OF CONTENT GENERATOR

The best tool in the game to banish writers' block and create awesome content ideas that motivates, inspires and educates your audience.?Your posts will never seem dull, or repetitive - and after one initial idea brainstorm you get told every day what to post!

"It's genius"?someone said recently - and I couldn't agree more!

And at ￡99 -?it's an absolute no brainer!

https://www.courseyoucan.co.uk/4-pillars-content-generator/

PAIN IN THE TECH DAYS

Did you know I offer a Done With You service to get all your sales pages, funnels and freebies set up? Let's work together to fix all the tech issues currently holding your business back. A spring clean for your systems (and your soul).

Perfect for Calendly, lead pages, Active Campaign and Canva users these days will save you MONTHS piecing it all together yourself.

￡997 whole day, ￡495 half days

MESSAGE ME TO GET BOOKED IN.

??

As you are reading this I am probably half way to Cornwall with the WHOLE family (seriously, the entire lot) to spend a week dog walking in the rain, drinking red wine and playing Boggle and Texas Holdem. I've just checked the forecast and it's raining all week except for two days of sunshine (and minus 13 degree temperatures!)

Can't wait!!!

As always, let me know what you thought of this newsletter by hitting reply and telling me - I would LOVE your feedback :) And if you need help with anything else, just shout and I can point you in the right direction (I know loads of great people!!)

Have a great week,

Love Rochelle ??

P.S I've got something really exciting coming up - a brand new programme called "AUTHORity" for authors who have (or are about to) publish a non-fiction book that can be turned in to a course. Keep your eyes peeled for news on that!