Stop listening to the voices in your head saying you can’t do something!

As anyone making that leap from the security of full time work to being self employed can testify the constant battle in terms of having self believe in your abilities to earn money from home can be a real struggle.

The fabulous Meg from How Enchanting has written a guest post all about the mental journey you need to make when taking the leap from full time work to going self employed!

I’ve had a passion for making extra cash since I was quite young.  The ability to use my wage from work on bills and day-to-day expenses, and have this extra money to spend (or save) as I please is freeing.

However, just a couple of years ago I didn’t know what I know now.  Jon reached out to me on Twitter while I was working a very long shift, and he opened my eyes to countless scam free ways to make a regular income from home and I’ve been a huge fan of TMS since.   Thanks to everything I’ve learned on TMS I’ve been able to quit my job, without a drop in income.

Quitting wasn’t necessarily an easy decision; it was a pretty scary one in fact.  Would I be able to manage without my regular wage?  Would I continue to make money in the long term?  If I quit, will I fail?

I was very unhappy in my job, I was working in a toxic environment and it was affecting every area of my life.   Leaving was pretty much a no-brainer.  But the problem was, I didn’t want another job.  The thought of potentially entering another work environment similar to what I was leaving, having my income capped at a certain amount, just didn’t appeal to me anymore.

I’m can talk myself out of absolutely anything, and I was so filled with doubts it was almost like I was doomed to be unhappy at work.  So I upped my game, I worked harder in my many side hustles, took a chance on more opportunities and allowed my fear to push me forward.

Self believe is so important when it comes to going fully self employed.  If you don’t believe in yourself, you’re bound to fail.   The second I started to believe in myself is when everything changed.

I was maybe making £50 a week extra for the first few weeks, then £100, then £200.  In just a few weeks my self-employment income was more than what I was earning in my job.   It was amazing.

Not everyone was supportive of this decision, mainly my family.  I suppose working online is still new and the Internet is so full of scams, not many people are aware of the many ways to make a stable income online.

I found this really difficult to deal with, I would take what everyone said to heart and it put me off.  That’s part of the reason why it took me so long to take the leap.  I kept a lot of things to myself, too scared to share anything, as I didn’t want any negativity to make me doubt myself even more.  Having a support system is important, I found TMS forum to be a lovely little support network.  Not only is it inspiring, everyone is there to lend a hand and offer advice.  Little by little, I would share some things, I’d invite someone on a mystery shop and we’d get a free meal, or I’d help someone try matched betting.  Now everyone is asking me for advice tips on how they can make some extra cash and are realising that this is real, and anyone can have the opportunities I have.

One month ago I worked my final shift at my job to start an eight-week sabbatical.  One week ago I took the plunge and handed in my notice.  In the four weeks I haven’t been “working” I’ve made almost four times the amount I’d make in an average month.   In one day I made than I’d make in a month.  In one day!   My matched betting income paid for my first on site holiday at Walt Disney World, and all my park tickets.  My taxed income allows me to have a comfortable life.

I would tell myself “as long as I match my wage from work, then I will be fine, and it will be worth it”.   I am incredibly proud to say that I achieve that and more.  I’ve gone from just getting by, to being able to do almost anything I want!  It is incredible.  I would urge anyone, if they can, to try some of the many working from home opportunities on The Money Shed a go, because they can be truly life changing.