No Limits: How I Escaped the Clutches of Corporate America to Live the Self-Employed Life of My Dreams


No Limits by Sara MorganHow successful you are in any economy is really a function of your mindset. The plethora of messages we receive every day try to convince us that the situation is dire and that we are at the mercy of the economy and the companies who may or may not employ us.

Since the onset of this economic environment I’ve noticed a recurring theme or conversation around employment; the focus is on finding a replacement JOB rather than a replacement INCOME. There’s a difference.

You may or may not be able to replace your previous job with the level of income that you’ve had in the past. Because that job at that level of income may not exist anymore. See, the job might be gone, but the need to have that work done is still there.

This is where Sara Morgan’s new book “No Limits: How I Escaped the Clutches of Corporate America to Live the Self-Employed Life of My Dreams” can be a big help to anyone who has ever played with the idea of going into business for themselves, but has been afraid to take the plunge.

This is a book written openly and honestly straight from the heart. The book uses Sara’s own life story as well as interviews she has done with other independent business owners who might be a lot like you.
In this short book, you’ll find:

  • What type of person is best suited for self-employment
  • The benefits of being self-employed
  • Inspirational stories and advice from other successful people.
  • What physical and emotional baggage you need to let go of before you go off on your own
  • Where you should start in your search for self-employment.
  • What resources will help you make the most of the shift.

Out of all these areas, my favorite chapter has to be Chapter 6: Letting Go. Just this chapter (in my opinion) is worth the price of admission. It’s here that Sara gets to the heart of what holds us back from being successfully self-employed; our mindset. She goes through a laundry list of things to let go of; blame, fear of failure, people that limit you, other people’s expectations, need for trendy and expensive possessions and excuses. You can be following all the check lists and using all the resources, but if you’re not straight in your mind about what being self-employed means to you and if you haven’t set realistic expectations – you may never really enjoy all that this career opportunity has to offer.

This book is a great choice for anyone who is in transition. If you, or someone you know has lost a job and hasn’t found an adequate replacement, this book is for you. If you’re already self-employed and have people coming to you for advice, you should pick up a few copies to hand out.

If you’ve been self-employed and it hasn’t been working out to your expectations, use this book as a check list.  See if there are shifts or changes you can make that will make a difference in your life and your business.

No Limits is a quick easy read for anyone who is looking to create a new life for themselves in a changing economy.

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Ivana Taylor About the Author: Ivana Taylor is CEO of Third Force, a strategic firm that helps small businesses get and keep their ideal customer.  She’s the co-author of the book “Excel for Marketing Managers” and proprietor of DIYMarketers, a site for in-house marketers.  Her blog is Strategy Stew.

11 Comments ▼

Ivana Taylor Ivana Taylor is the Book Editor for Small Business Trends. She is responsible for directing the site’s book review program and manages the team of professional book reviewers. She also spearheads the annual Small Business Book Awards. Ivana publishes DIYMarketers, where she shares daily do-it-yourself marketing tips, and is co-author of "Excel for Marketing Managers."

11 Reactions
  1. Thank you for this helpful book review. I am so glad there’s information in this book about how a mindset can make or break a person’s chances of small business success. In terms of letting go, I have found that people who were laid off struggle to let go of feeling like it was personal. I think they know in their heads that it was not personal, but the pain of being tossed out like yesterday’s garbage can tear some people apart at their core. Those of us who have been in business for a while can be of great encouragement to people in that situation. This book sounds like it fits the bill.

  2. Quite motivational.
    You really inspired me with the story
    Thanks

  3. I LOVE the title of this book. Don’t you feel sorry for those who have dreams of a different life, but stay stuck in a boring job out of fear or inertia? I’m glad I made the leap.

    I might just have to get this book, Ivana, and read it. 🙂

  4. Being self-employed is what YOU make it. YOU create the life you want to live. This is something Sara Morgan is very clear about. Perhaps something that isn’t said as strongly in the book (but is still there) is that you have to know what you want. Knowing what you DON’T want will not help.

    So, make your choice, physically and mentally set yourself up for success and go into this with your eyes wide open. But don’t ditch it because you think you can’t do it.

  5. I love the idea of this book. I "escaped" corporate jobs in the 1990’s when I fell in love with designing websites. That said, I think that for most people, the idea of walking away from a "sure thing" is pretty threatening, so information explaining just how to do that is welcome indeed, especially in today’s world.

    Kudos for the article.

  6. We are only at the mercy of the companies and the corporate world if we allow our minds to be by the thought of our own belief. Whether you think you may or may not be self-employed, you are right!

  7. Ivana,

    Great review as always! You are very good at describing the essence of the book. I have added it to my wishlist on Amazon. I have enjoyed my time as an employee (purchaser and cost analyst), but I have always had the drive to have my own business, all from a hobby business to a new start-up, and cooperation and joint-ventures with other small business owners on different projects. I got influenced by the entrepreneurial spirit early on. I studied an one year small business education after high school. It was both theory and practice. We, the students, started a company together and worked the business during the school year.

  8. Hi Ivana
    Powerful. I would love the same chapter. Letting go. Something we sometimes have to do daily.

    A book you may have reviewed at some previous point, but one that I loved and kept (I keep few books now, if i buy them. I have a stack of used ones I’m selling on Amazon. It isn’t financial, but space on the bookshelf…).

    The book: Po Bronson’s “What Should I Do with My Life?.” It isn’t all about new business, but it is about asking that question and finding the answer that creates a No Limits mental framework. He interviewed 900+ people and 56 made it into the book.

    Thanks for this review. I like that you express what was most striking to you as there are often encouraging reminders in the way you share your experiences about the book. Thanks Ivana!

  9. Escaping the “employee” mindset is no small task (as evidenced by how few people struggle on their own) but I’ll add this book to my list.

  10. Thanks for the review, Ivana. Between your book and Pamela Slim’s ‘Escape From Cubicle Nation’, it’s been a great year for books about breaking out of the drudgery of the corporate world. Especially during this recession, more and more people want to do alter the courses of their lives. Thanks for providing a blue print.