this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2025
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No Stupid Questions

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I need some advice on making the psychological shift from being a business employee to a business owner. I started a couple of businesses five years ago, and I'm surviving as it is, but I'm right on the lower limit. I can feel that it's my own psychology that is holding me back. I don't struggle with the practical running of the business, my problem is feeling like an exploitative schmuck because I'm charging people money for stuff. I can push just enough to let myself survive, but after that I freeze. It's a big block for me, and I just can't seem to get past it on my own.

I know there are tons of business self-help books out there, but I don't have the time/money to sift through all of them to find the non-icky diamonds in the rough. And I figure there have to be at least a few people out there who have made this transition and faced the same problems. So:

  • Have you confronted this problem for yourself? How did you approach it?
  • Were there any resources you found helpful to wrap your head around the transition?
  • Do you have any experience with business coaches and/or associations, and were they helpful (ie. worth the money)?
  • Are there any Lemmy/Reddit/Discord/other groups you found supportive/helpful?

Thanks much in advance,

~Archie

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[โ€“] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 months ago (7 children)

Well why not look at the job as teaching others how you do your design style and thing.

What exactly is the problem with interactions and charging money?

P.S.: I added a gift link, but didn't manage to find it in the archive, so read it while it's hot.

[โ€“] archipherous@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months ago (6 children)

I used to work for other people, but now I work for myself. The issue is that being an employee is essentially passive (paid to do what you're told), and running your own business is active (telling/getting other people to pay you). And somehow, I've hit a plateau in my comfort level with being an active solicitor-of-business. I can push, but only so far, and then I start avoiding, procrastinating, and prevaricating. I don't feel like I'm exploiting employees because I don't have any. I feel like I'm exploiting my customers by asking for money at all.

[โ€“] JustJack23@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ah interesting, well I have no clue on this part, but it would be interesting to see how you solve this issue.

[โ€“] archipherous@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, it's a weird, twisty thing. Part of it is life-long low self-esteem, but also really identifying with the strong undercurrent of "money is evil and all people who have/like/want money are therefore evil" that is very prevalent in the left-ish side of academia I spent a lot of time in.

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