We’re all entrepreneurs, whether we like it or not

The "You, Inc." philosophy

"We are all capitalists’…and therefore, we all have to take risks."

Franco "Bifo" Berardi, After the future

My first experience with self-employment was freelancing. I quickly realized I had to seek out work, invest in my personal brand and network, and use my time and resources efficiently. It wasn’t the “freedom” promised by lifestyle podcasters—it was more responsibility and autonomy.

Eventually, freelancing dried up. The only gigs I could find were 6-12 month, 40/hour week contracts. Those are just jobs with no benefits, no PTO, and an expiration date.

I retreated back to the world of full-time employment.

At first I thought I left my 'indie mindset' behind. But then I realized: succeeding as an employee is a lot more entrepreneurial than it seems. You have to take ownership, exercise agency, and run your career like a business.

You, Inc.

“If you’re an employee, your most important job is to think like a principal”
— Naval Ravikant

I am a company of one with a whale client responsible for 100% of my revenue.

Here’s what that mindset looks like in practice:

You work for yourself first

Of course you want to deliver great service and results for your client. But you do it because it boosts your revenue, strengthens your reputation, and builds proof of work like case studies. Selfish motives don’t make for sustainable businesses, and companies that don't take care of their customers or employees won't last.

You have a defined strategy, vision, and definition of success

This is the biggest difference between a 'You, Inc.' and a big corporation: You are not bound by shareholder doctrine. Increasing revenue is great but it can't be the ultimate aim.

You hunt for opportunities instead of waiting to be picked

You actively seek opportunities that align with your strategy. You don't say, "That's not in my job description." You work for yourself, you wrote your job description. You find work that moves you closer your goals. You craft your job in a way that plays to your strengths.

You gotta sell

No way around it: Selling is mandatory.

If you build it they will not come; They are too busy with their own work, wants, problems, and algorithmic feeds. You have to make yourself visible. You need to clearly and persuasively present your ideas. You have to push through that awkward feeling, straighten your shoulders, and toot your own horn. Learning to write & speak pays huge dividends in any knowledge work¹.

Beyond reframing what I do, I also reframe why I do it. It’s about more than a paycheck.

Building career capital

“Prefer to work on things you can show. Prefer to work where people can see you. Prefer to work on things you can own.”
— Patrick MacKenzie, Don’t end the week with nothing

If we’re all capitalists, then even employment is a game of building capital, not just earning income.

I define career capital as any non-monetary value you add to your balance sheet.

Examples of career capital:

• Skills & expertise - what are you good at, and how well can you deliver?

• Specific knowledge- What secrets and insights have you gained that can't be found in any book?

• Network - How many people know you and what you offer?

• Reputation - Do people view you as someone that is trustworthy, reliable, and can get the job done?

• Proof of work - What evidence can you point to of what you've done?

• Side projects - What have you created that you own?

What ways have you acquired career capital, and how did it pay off?

The most important aspect of career capital is liquidity. Prefer to build capital that you can take with you. The days of working 40 years for a pension and a gold watch are over. I’m not advocating constant job-hopping (though in early tech careers it can be strategic), but all jobs are finite. Plan accordingly.

If you take away one idea, it’s this: expand your investment mindset beyond index funds and retirement accounts. Start thinking about all the other forms of capital you can build.

Collaborating with your client

“You work for a week, collect your paycheck on Friday, and then you and the company are even.” — Jack Welch

I worry this attitude may be seen as antagonistic to your employer. In reality its the opposite.

When your customer/employer succeeds, you succeed. You want to be in a position where helping your employer aligns with your goals—and where it’s in their best interest to invest in you because you’re a safe bet with strong ROI.

But like recognizing the finitude of employment, it’s also important to understand the true nature of the relationship. Your employer, from an economic standpoint, is exploiting your labor. Their goal is to extract maximum value from your work. In exchange, you receive steady pay, benefits, and (hopefully) healthcare. For many, this is a fair deal.

Keeping this in mind reminds me that the relationship is symbiotic, transactional, and devoid of loyalty from either side.

I once worked at a company that, after an Amazon policy change, laid off a third of its staff overnight. I watched good colleagues—who’d done nothing wrong—get called into the office, return quietly to pack boxes, and walk out the door. It was a cold reminder: employment is never guaranteed.

Don’t live in fear, but have a Plan B.

You don't get ahead working hard for others. You get ahead working hard for yourself

I’m grateful I spent my early years self-employed. I didn’t earn as much as I could have in a salaried role, but I gained specific knowledge that’s paid bigger dividends. Mainly, it taught me that it was up to me to decide what I wanted, and what work I’d do to get it.

It taught me that in today's environment, I'd always be an entrepreneur, whether I like it or not.

1. For more on this idea I strongly recommend reading the transcript from Richard Hamming’s talk, You and Your Research