1.Learning to say “No.”
As an employee of a large company, you are most likely used to answering “Yes” to every request that comes across your desk. After all, those “yes” you said all over the place meant that you were reliable, that you were a team member, and that your “always ready” style probably made your manager very happy.
However, this approach to carding will not take you far. For beginners with crazy schedules, agreeing to and doing everything is simply not realistic. But more importantly, as a carder, you must set goals and not just follow the wishes of others. Get used to saying no to everything except your own priorities.
2. Forget about the ideal.
Apparently you had a boss who wanted you to do every project perfectly. Or before you launched something, you had an endless number of checks of preliminary results. Yes, only in caring, there are no resources that would allow you to polish each material or method to a shine, so you can immediately throw the word “ideal” out of your vocabulary.
In carding, perfectionism becomes a hindrance. The longer you wait until every detail is “just right,” the slower your carding themes will develop. Focus on engagement, priority components of the project and just accept the 80% bar (sometimes less) for everything else. As the famous Facebook poster says, “done” is always better than “perfect.”
3. Don't be afraid to work long hours.
Many people associate the life of a carder with the “four-hour work week” or reclining on a deck chair with a laptop on the beach in Tahiti. Although this also happens, most carders soon realize that they need to work more than they did in the office. Often the standard “from 9 to five” will be replaced for you by “from sunrise to midnight”. Therefore, it is very important to do what you really love. And remember - you are working to make your dream come true, not someone else's. You never want to devote all your time to what others want and not you.
4. Prepare the head for two hats at once.
If you are an employee, you can call someone when the Internet does not work. And you obviously don’t care whether the floor is washed or the flowers are watered. But when you are on your own, you will have to manage several roles at the same time - an hour for technical support, an hour for marketing, financial expenses for materials and even cleaning. In this reality, you cannot allow yourself to have an ego. Before you join the carders, ask yourself if you are ready to wear all these “hats” at once, including the not so glamorous ones.
5. Accept your own social isolation.
When you worked in a large company, you most likely complained constantly about your colleagues and managers. However, when you leave there, you will be surprised how much you relied on Olya from marketing or admin Sergei. The first few weeks on your own can be a shock, especially if you work from home.
Do everything to overcome social isolation. Chat with former colleagues. Work for a few hours from the coffee shop around the corner. Set up in a coworking space or go to industry events.
6. Stick to a schedule.
Is carding very autonomous? Don't have a schedule because you're building a startup from scratch? Since you have decided to work for yourself, try to have a schedule and stick to it as much as possible.
Being responsible doesn't mean skipping lunch or taking five-minute breaks to stretch. And having at least a rough schedule will help you stay disciplined and productive.
Some employees leave the corporate world in favor of carding precisely because of the tight schedule. So there is no need to cultivate the same despotism in your new way of life. If you need a couple of hours in the evening to play with the kids, walk the dog, or go for a walk before the sun goes down, go for it. It's up to you to decide what schedule works best for carding and your life.
As an employee of a large company, you are most likely used to answering “Yes” to every request that comes across your desk. After all, those “yes” you said all over the place meant that you were reliable, that you were a team member, and that your “always ready” style probably made your manager very happy.
However, this approach to carding will not take you far. For beginners with crazy schedules, agreeing to and doing everything is simply not realistic. But more importantly, as a carder, you must set goals and not just follow the wishes of others. Get used to saying no to everything except your own priorities.
2. Forget about the ideal.
Apparently you had a boss who wanted you to do every project perfectly. Or before you launched something, you had an endless number of checks of preliminary results. Yes, only in caring, there are no resources that would allow you to polish each material or method to a shine, so you can immediately throw the word “ideal” out of your vocabulary.
In carding, perfectionism becomes a hindrance. The longer you wait until every detail is “just right,” the slower your carding themes will develop. Focus on engagement, priority components of the project and just accept the 80% bar (sometimes less) for everything else. As the famous Facebook poster says, “done” is always better than “perfect.”
3. Don't be afraid to work long hours.
Many people associate the life of a carder with the “four-hour work week” or reclining on a deck chair with a laptop on the beach in Tahiti. Although this also happens, most carders soon realize that they need to work more than they did in the office. Often the standard “from 9 to five” will be replaced for you by “from sunrise to midnight”. Therefore, it is very important to do what you really love. And remember - you are working to make your dream come true, not someone else's. You never want to devote all your time to what others want and not you.
4. Prepare the head for two hats at once.
If you are an employee, you can call someone when the Internet does not work. And you obviously don’t care whether the floor is washed or the flowers are watered. But when you are on your own, you will have to manage several roles at the same time - an hour for technical support, an hour for marketing, financial expenses for materials and even cleaning. In this reality, you cannot allow yourself to have an ego. Before you join the carders, ask yourself if you are ready to wear all these “hats” at once, including the not so glamorous ones.
5. Accept your own social isolation.
When you worked in a large company, you most likely complained constantly about your colleagues and managers. However, when you leave there, you will be surprised how much you relied on Olya from marketing or admin Sergei. The first few weeks on your own can be a shock, especially if you work from home.
Do everything to overcome social isolation. Chat with former colleagues. Work for a few hours from the coffee shop around the corner. Set up in a coworking space or go to industry events.
6. Stick to a schedule.
Is carding very autonomous? Don't have a schedule because you're building a startup from scratch? Since you have decided to work for yourself, try to have a schedule and stick to it as much as possible.
Being responsible doesn't mean skipping lunch or taking five-minute breaks to stretch. And having at least a rough schedule will help you stay disciplined and productive.
Some employees leave the corporate world in favor of carding precisely because of the tight schedule. So there is no need to cultivate the same despotism in your new way of life. If you need a couple of hours in the evening to play with the kids, walk the dog, or go for a walk before the sun goes down, go for it. It's up to you to decide what schedule works best for carding and your life.
