Own Your Results by Thinking Like You’re Self-Employed

Most people think they work for a boss. But if you strip away titles, you’re really the CEO of your own “personal service corporation,” no matter whose paycheck you cash. Imagine signing your own stipend every week: that statement reflects your value creation. What if you treated every task as a billable offering—would you still spend time on low-impact chores?
Jason, a mid-level accountant, used to work 60 hours because he felt “stuck” in reports and data entry. Then he pictured himself as an entrepreneur: “Jason & Co.” He realized only two tasks—financial analysis and client briefings—drove 80% of his value. He automated routine entries and taught a colleague his standard report templates.
Within two months, Jason cut his workload to 40 hours, delivered faster, and doubled his billable “internal revenue.” His boss rewarded him with a raise and a reduced schedule. This shift begins with accepting personal responsibility—every project you start is your product, and you own the outcome.
Leadership gurus like Peter Drucker call this the Age of the Knowledge Worker, where you’re paid for results, not time. By running your role like a one-person business—focusing on your core services and offloading the rest—you’ll perform better, earn more, and lose the burnout that plagues traditional nine-to-fiveers.

See yourself as a solo business owner. Each morning, list your top three revenue drivers and secure two hours to work only on those. Delegate or automate everything else. Watch your profits—time and pay—rise.