Beware the salary target on your back

If you’re over the age of 40, you may be walking around with a target on your back. And you know what it is? Your salary. Yes, as you enter what may be the pinnacle of your career success or very close to it with feelings and expectations of nothing but greatness and high wage-earning years ahead, they could be cut short.

Before I launched Change Agent Communications almost two years ago, I’d begun to realize I had that target on my back. The last thing I want to do is spend my time worrying about who thinks I make too much, with no regard for my experience, what I did to earn it and the ability to change it or influence someone who can. This is not the sole reason I became an entrepreneur, but it factored into my decision and helped me deal with any fear that was bubbling up as I questioned my ability to earn such a salary on my own.

When I flipped that thinking on its head, I realized that I shouldn’t have been focused on replacing my salary, but all the ways I could perhaps increase it, because there was no cap like that which comes with a corporate salary. I was essentially giving myself freedom to earn whatever I wanted, based on my own ability to drive business and create revenue-generating opportunities. No waiting on a raise or bonus, or feeling stuck if neither came through.

Do you believe there’s a salary target on your back? Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. Becoming an entrepreneur may not be the answer for you, but you definitely need a plan.