The Real Cost of Working for Someone Else
Working for someone else is considered to be the secure way to go. And I get that. It feels more secure because someone else is bringing in the clients and handling all of the administration. You don't have to see all the underworkings of the business.
But there's a significant cost to working for someone else too—one that may make it feel less secure when you think about it.
Here are the costs I've noticed to working for someone else:
Limited Autonomy: Your schedule, caseload, and approach to client care may be dictated by policies that don’t always align with your professional judgment or values.
Capped Income: You often earn a fraction of what clients are paying for your services, with little control over how to increase your earnings.
Emotional Burnout: When you lack control over your workload, or are expected to prioritize productivity over quality, burnout can set in quickly.
Job Insecurity: Paradoxically, the sense of security can be misleading. Your employment is ultimately at someone else’s discretion, and organizations can restructure, downsize, or close with little warning.
Limited Growth: Your professional development may be shaped by the organization’s goals rather than your own, leaving you feeling stuck or unfulfilled.
Now, this doesn't mean that working for yourself is the only option. Sometimes working for someone else is the best and wisest choice. For example, even though I've been in private practice for a while now, I still do on-call work at the VA hospital to keep my connection to the community, have a backup plan, and maintain my benefits.
At the end of the day, you hold the answers and the wisdom as to what's best for you. My hope is that this email adds to the broader conversation around business ownership versus employment and helps you feel more empowered in your decisions.
Hope you're doing so well.