The Entrepreneurial Mindset: From "Unemployed" to CEO

The day I started my own accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping business, I was thrilled—but also terrified. I had a great business idea and all the technical skills I needed. Yet, for a long time, a nagging thought persisted in the back of my mind: "I'm still technically unemployed."

My new business had no clients, no revenue, and no tangible product to sell. My days were filled with networking, marketing, and learning about business setup. It felt less like a new job and more like a full-time, unpaid internship. I was starting a business, but in my mind, the business was a separate entity, not something that was an extension of me and my work. I was working for it, not as it.

This is a common, but powerful, mental trap for new entrepreneurs, especially those in service-based industries. We're used to trading our time for a salary. When that structure disappears, we can struggle to see the value in the work we're doing to build our business from the ground up.

The Work of Building a Reputation

Unlike a retail store with products on the shelves or a contractor who can show off a finished project, an accounting practice doesn’t have a physical inventory. Our product is trust, expertise, and knowledge. These are not things you can put on display; they have to be proven over and over again with every client you take on.

My education and professional career give me credibility, but to truly build a solid foundation, I am shifting my focus. My full-time job is no longer just about debits and credits; it is about:

• Networking: Every coffee meeting, every handshake, and every conversation is an investment in the future of my business. It is my form of sales.

• Marketing: Crafting a message that resonates with potential clients and building an online presence is my way of building a storefront.

• Educating: Offering free advice and sharing valuable content is my way of demonstrating my expertise before anyone pays me a dime.

All of this is work. This is my full-time job.

Shifting Your Mindset to Build a Business

The key to overcoming this feeling of being "unemployed" is to recognize that the work of building a business is just as valuable—if not more so—than the work of servicing clients. In the beginning, your full-time job is to be the CEO, the marketing manager, the head of business development, and the accountant.

• You are the Business: Your knowledge, your credibility, and your work ethic are the core products you are selling. You are not working for your business; you are the business.

• Value the Process: Building a reputation takes time. It requires patience and consistency. Celebrate the small wins: a successful networking event, a positive comment on a blog post, a new connection. Each one is a brick in the foundation of your future.

• Embrace the Journey: The work you do now—even without a paycheck—is what will lead to long-term success. It is the essential, hard work of building a solid reputation and a pipeline of clients.

  
  

My advice to every new service-based entrepreneur: don't confuse a lack of income with a lack of value. The work you are doing right now to market, network, and build your reputation is your job. It is a full-time, valuable, and essential part of your journey to success.