Freedom instead of the self-employment trap: Pitfalls and solutions for founders
Many who become self-employed dream of freedom: no bosses, no fixed hours, complete autonomy. But self-employment is fraught with pitfalls – overload, uncertainty, financial pressure, or isolation. In Helda Unplugged episode 3, "Freedom Instead of the Self-Employment Trap: Pitfalls and Solutions for Founders," these problems are examined, and practical solutions are presented.
In this blog post, I summarize the key messages of the episode, highlight typical pitfalls, and give you recommendations for action so that you can make your self-employment freer and more sustainable.
If you want to watch the whole episode:
Freedom instead of the self-employment trap: Pitfalls and solutions for founders YouTube
The typical stumbling blocks in self-employment
1. Wanting to do everything yourself / lack of delegation
Many founders initially want to handle as many tasks as possible themselves to save costs or to have everything "under control." However, in the long run, this often leads to overload, lower quality, and stalled growth.
2. Unclear roles, processes & structures
Without clear processes, everything becomes a matter of negotiation: Who does what? Who is responsible? This leads to inefficiency, duplication of effort, frustration, and decreased motivation – especially when working with partners or employees.
3. Lack of or unrealistic planning
Many start with an idealized vision, without critical planning for worst-case scenarios. Revenue fluctuations, unforeseen expenses, or project pauses are not adequately factored in.
4. Burnout, overwork & self-neglect
If you're constantly on the treadmill, don't set boundaries, or ignore breaks, you're putting your energy under constant strain. This can lead to exhaustion, loss of motivation, or health problems.
5. Customer dependency / “crowd” instead of clear positioning
If you chase after the market (or individual major clients) too much, you lose your own focus. Often, you end up with a patchwork of projects, lacking a clear brand or story.
6. Lack of scalability
If your business model only works as long as you're actively on the front lines, you're trapped in your own growth. You're limiting yourself.
Solutions & recommendations for action
1. Use delegation and outsourcing consciously
- Identify recurring, time-consuming tasks (e.g., accounting, social media, administrative work) and outsource them to external service providers or part-time employees.
- Start with small delegations and build trust.
2. Establish clear structures and processes
- Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recurring processes.
- Define areas of responsibility (who decides, who executes).
- Use tools for project management, workflow automation, and documentation.
3. Robust planning & scenario preparation
- Build buffers and reserves into your financial plan to cover potential cash flow problems.
- Simulate worst-case and intermediate scenarios.
- Plan with conservative estimates.
4. Clearly regulate working hours and self-care.
- Set fixed working hours and breaks – and stick to them.
- Care routines: sleep, exercise, breaks.
- Learn to say no.
5. Positioning, Focus & Filter
- Sharpen your offer: Who do you want to serve? What is your benefit?
- Filter out projects that don't fit your plan, even if they are lucrative in the short term.
- Build a brand and communication strategy that reflects your values and direction.
6. Develop scaling models
- Consider offerings that are independent of your direct time (e.g., digital products, licensing models, workshops).
- Use automation and system structures so that your business model can grow even if you are not involved in every transaction.
- Develop team structures or partner networks so that you are not alone.
Specific focus: Freedom is achieved through framework & clarity.
The key is not to have as much freedom as possible, but freedom within a framework – clearly structured, with rules and boundaries. True freedom arises from discipline, planning, and wise delegation.
In Switzerland, the following also applies:
- High costs & requirements : If you want to work on your own, you need to start more calculatedly, because mistakes can be expensive.
- Utilize networks & collaborations : Outsource sub-projects to Swiss partners to have supporting structures.
- Avoid the reputation trap : If you work on many projects at the same time, your quality suffers – and so does your trust in the market.
Conclusion
The freedom you envisioned with self-employment can quickly become a trap – if you don't establish structures, a plan, and boundaries. Helda Unplugged Episode 3 impressively demonstrates how you can escape these traps and provides concrete approaches for more sustainable, independent work.
If you are currently in a similar situation or have already had similar experiences, I would appreciate a comment from you!
If you'd like to see where your company stands in terms of sales and marketing, I recommend scheduling a free initial consultation . In this meeting, we'll discuss your current situation, your goals, and how we can achieve them.