Self-Employed vs. Entrepreneur (there’s a difference)
More than 20 years ago, I quit my last full-time job at a truly batshit design studio.
Most of our clients were tech startups and everything was an emergency and due yesterday. The owner brought her baby to work every day and kept it under her desk in a bucket car seat. Most days the mom was screaming, which meant the baby was screaming. Like I said, batshit.
I only lasted a few months. I quit with no plan other than to rest and recover.
But then work just started coming to me. No intention, no strategy. Just... work.
I've now been self-employed for more than 20 years, but I've realized I've only been an entrepreneur for the last few.
Wait, aren't those the same thing?
Not even close.
What's the difference between self-employment and true entrepreneurship?
Self-employment meant: I was doing work and I didn't have a boss, but I was letting my business happen TO me. I was flailing and fucking around, taking whatever clients came my way, and creating no real systems.
Entrepreneurship began when I got intentional.
After my divorce and the end of a couple long-term retainers, I realized I needed to get serious. That meant finally niching down, creating an actual marketing strategy, and building systems that let me scale beyond trading hours for dollars.
Like it or not, books are often judged by their covers.
Luckily I'm a web designer, so I was able to create a professional website for myself that truly represents me. Having that strong online presence gives me the confidence to play big and own my expertise.
It's hard to position yourself as legit when your website screams "amateur" or "afterthought."
Also, not for nothing—your website isn't just how others see you—it shapes how you see yourself. When you're proud of how you're presenting yourself online, you naturally show up with more authority and conviction.
I wish I'd made the shift to true entrepreneurship years ago, but hey—better late than never.
Sometimes life has to push you.
Goodies Just For You
WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT: Michelle Obama’s new podcast that she's hosting with her brother, Craig Robinson, IMO. I wasn’t interested at first, mainly because I wasn’t interested in the brother, but it turns out he’s the big brother I never knew I needed or wanted, but here we are. Favorite episodes so far are the one where it’s just the two of them, talking about their relationship and family; the one with Issa Rae (what first drew me in was an IG clip of Michelle O and Issa Rae talking about female friendships); and Tracee Ellis Ross.I also appreciated Michelle O talking about setting boundaries and taking care of herself in the episode with Taraji P. Henson.
WHAT I'M BAKING: Okay. We're entering summer fruit season, which means we're entering crisp, cobbler, and galette season in my house. I'm obsessed with Alison Roman's Sweet Enough cookbook and a summer favorite is her Mini Strawberry Galette. I've always been intimidated by pie crust because my mom makes REALLY good pie crust, but Alison Roman's has proven to be pretty fail-safe. These little galettes are messy and adorable. I love them.
WHO I'M ADMIRING: Jac White of Honeybees Group is redefining sales for women entrepreneurs. I joined her Honeybees Sales Circle earlier this year and it was one of my best business decisions. Jac brings incredible individual attention to each member and I love being in a small cohort of supportive women entrepreneurs. What I admire most about her approach is that she's created sales training that actually works for women—no bro-y tactics or pushy techniques. Instead, she helps you tap into your natural way of connecting and communicating, turning selling from something you avoid into something you own.
