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

  • WFloyd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    23 days ago

    Hey, that’s my bad. I should have put more thought into my reply!

    It sounds like you’re priced low in your industry vs the average - assuming your customers like you, and you have more work than you can do, I’m guessing they would rather that you raise your prices slightly and stay in business rather than keeping prices low and folding.

    • archipherous@lemmy.caOP
      2·
      22 days ago

      No worries, I was also feeling a bit sensitive. I’ve been raising my rates a bit lately, actually because a client told me I should :) But it’s still icky and is much more difficult than the rational part of me knows it should be.

      • WFloyd@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        22 days ago

        That’s good of your client, and I feel for you on this one. I made some physical products in college to sell over a summer, I ended up ~$2/hr once I ran my numbers lol. I just couldn’t stomach raising my prices so much (in my case it was good resume filler, so no big deal). Best of luck!