Choosing Your 2018 Career Path as an Employee or Entrepreneur

When setting your career-related New Year’s resolutions, it’s important to ask yourself a key question: “Do I see myself as an employee or an entrepreneur?”

Whether you’re currently working in the financial services industry and aspire towards career growth in 2018, or you intend to shift gears and explore new career opportunities in the field, it’s important to wrap your head around the direction you’d like your career to take. Employees and entrepreneurs share some common skillsets, but there are also some key differences. Neither career path is better than the other, and each of these options isn’t for everyone, so finding the right fit for you will be integral in the development of your career potential.

To help determine which career path to head down, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you like risk? Entrepreneurial endeavours don’t always provide the consistent financial security offered by a job where you’re an employee. Those with a more employee-based mindset tend to try and reduce risk, while entrepreneurs thrive on it.

2. Do you prefer to work independently? Working as an employee for a large company generally means there are many people involved in any decision. This also means that the result of any decision is the responsibility of a number of parties. If this is how you prefer to work, you might be better suited as an employee. If you prefer to work independently and have more control, entrepreneurship might be for you.

3. Are you comfortable “wearing more than one hat”? Entrepreneurs in start-ups and small businesses often have to play multiple roles, particularly during the early stages. Are you comfortable and confident that you can learn how to proficiently manage sales, marketing, bookkeeping and other operational components that may be outside of your primary skillset?

4. Do you appreciate flexibility? Would you rather sign in at 9am and out at 5pm, have guaranteed vacation time, and a strictly defined schedule as an employee? Or are you willing to work evenings and weekends, while also having the flexibility to set your own schedule and time off when business allows, as an entrepreneur?

5. Do you like to follow procedures and instructions, or are you comfortable questioning processes and offering your insight? Entrepreneurship requires a high level of thought leadership. You can exercise this as an employee to some degree, but if you’re someone who prefers to follow procedures and instructions without question, you might be better suited as an employee.

6. Are you more idea-driven, or do you strive for recognition? Entrepreneurs tend to be focused on bringing their ideas to fruition, and enhance their skills and education with this goal in mind. Employees are focused on career development driven more by the desire for a promotion or a raise.

After asking yourself these questions, you should have a clearer picture of whether you envision yourself as an employee or an entrepreneur – or maybe you fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. No matter what your career goals are for 2018, Knowledge Bureau can help you get there.

Aspiring entrepreneur? Consider our comprehensive Executive Business Builder Program or the Business Leadership, Culture, and Continuity course. Brush up your basic bookkeeping skills with our Bookkeeping for Small Business course.

Are you an employee in the tax and financial services ready to climb the ladder? Take our Real Wealth Manager Program and attend the Winter CE Summits session to brush up on your advanced personal income tax skills for 2018.

The deadline for enrollment into our Programs and Designations has been extended through the holidays, so take advantage of the best available price offers before time runs out!

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