Sabah Says…Don’t Be Afraid to Work for Yourself

Last weekend, I was honoured to be invited along as a guest speaker to an event put on by DodoWorkPlay; a company based in Mauritius that delivers workshops and events to current and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as a whole bunch of other things. The theme for that particular entrepreneurs brunch was ‘entering new markets’ and I was asked to speak about my experience of bringing my business from the UK over here to Mauritius. Joe & Coralie, the lovely couple behind DodoWorkPlay, called me along to add my own insights to the event and hopefully to add some value for the people attending.

However, I am pleased to say that I left the event with so much more than I came with and it was exactly the motivation and inspiration I needed to help me go much further with my own entrepreneurial goals, reminding me of what I have achieved so far and what more is possible.

So, since the age of 16 (the legal age to enter the workforce in the UK), I have always worked. You name it, I have worked there; from call centres to supermarkets, from law firms to radio stations. But you see, the thing with me is I have a problem with authority – I just cannot work for someone else. If I see something unjust taking place or someone abusing their authority, I can’t keep quiet and this has led me to losing my job a fair number of times. I guess I was just working in the wrong places where things like this happened a lot. But, what I am thankful for is that all of these experiences taught me that one day I needed to be my own boss.

I set up my own henna artistry business at the age of 20, using my talent in applying henna body art as a means of earning some money. At the age of 21, I also began taking on freelance writing projects, such as writing website copy, articles, blog posts, press releases and whatever else came my way. At the time, I was still at university, so my thoughts were that these two forms of income would tide me over until I completed my degree and headed out into the real world… where I would get a ‘real’ job. Despite already working for myself, for some reason, I was still in the mindset of these two ventures not being ‘real’ or ‘proper’ work. I dreamed of completing my degree in Law, working as a journalist for the BBC and travelling the world sharing and telling other peoples stories.

But I have experienced first-hand, and quite abruptly at that, how you can plan for your life to go one way but instead it goes the complete opposite. Aged 24, married and six months pregnant when sitting my final year law exams meant that whatever dreams I had of working for the BBC were tossed out of the window. Suddenly, I was forced to face my reality – I needed to and wanted to work, but with a baby on the way, what could I do? Then it hit me – the answers were right there staring me in the face. What I had already been doing all along… I needed to work for myself.

So here we are, four years down the line, and I am working as a freelance writer and journalist, as an artist (Beyond Henna) and also running a digital marketing agency specialising in social media management (Beyond Media Creative) with my husband – alongside having two children. Yes, it was daunting at the start, but with some hard work and self-belief, I want you to know that it is possible… as long as you put your mind to it, it really is.

The DodoWorkPlay event reiterated to me that many of us have a fear surrounding setting up our own businesses or entrepreneurial ventures – and I don’t blame us! Society, from the moment we are born, tells us that we must go to school, go to college, go to university, get a good job, get married, have children, pay our bills, pay our mortgages and then die, calling that a life despite having never really lived. But, there are other ways to live – and being able to work for yourself opens up new worlds and a whole new way of living. You just have to release the fear. In my situation, I was forced to take a risk and I guess that is exactly what I needed to show me that I am my own boss and I have the power to change the course and direction of my life. As do you.

I know that money is not the root of happiness, but it is fair to say that having a good amount of it opens up new experiences and opportunities that can enrich your life in beautiful ways, such as travelling and seeing the world. I am no way near my entrepreneurial goals but I am definitely on the way and I know with a little hard work now, determination and willpower, I will succeed and have the life that I dream of. Warren Buffet once said, “If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die” and that right there is my ultimate goal.

So, this week, I just want to express how inspiring I find other entrepreneurs and how any of us can be just like the success stories we read, see and hear about. If you have an idea for a business, let go of your fear and go full steam with it! What’s the worst that could happen? As they say, life begins outside of your comfort zone and you will never know what is waiting for you out there until you try. It might just be the best thing you ever do.

For support and advice in your entrepreneurial venture, be sure to check out the events and workshops put on by DodoWorkPlay. Visit dodoworkplay.com.

Light & Love, Sabah

(Photo credit: entrepreneur.com)