40. Why you shouldn't be a self-employed English teacher in Japan

AI-generated transcript: Hello, I'm going to give you a couple of reasons why you shouldn't be a self-employed English teacher in Japan.There are a few, and you probably have considered these, but let me just mention them, put them out there in the open.Number one, you can't quit.Once you become self-employed, it's not an issue of, oh, I don't like this, I'm going to quit, I'm going to get a new job.It just doesn't work like that.Once you're in the game,Bit like the Mafia, there's no leaving.Partly because actually you start to enjoy it.Once you get into the swing of doing things for yourself, you don't really want to go back to a company.But, okay, from the outside it looks kind of scary.Once you enter this being self-employed, you're kind of saying no to the employed world.Secondly, kind of related to that, you are totally responsible.You know, you can't quit.and you become responsible for your company's income, for finding new students, for being a good teacher, for making it all work.You are responsible.This can be quite a daunting prospect.Third reason, I'm going to number three.Third reason is there is no career structure.There's no obvious, oh, if you stay here you'll get promoted and you'll become assistant chief bloody blah, whatever.I've talked about this before.But yeah, it can be a bit daunting, especially if you've been brought up to expect, you know, rising up the ladder, climbing up the corporate ladder.There ain't no corporate ladder when you're self-employed.And related to that is there are no retirement benefits.I mean, if you work for a company, some companies don't give you retirement benefits, but part of thePart of the golden handcuffs that they have is like, well, stay, keep staying, keep working because you'll get a great pension.Maybe if you're a full-time teacher, probably in Japan, maybe you get a good pension.Working for a university, maybe.And it might be worth your while, depends how old you are, and depends how much you like or dislike your job.But it might be worth it just to hang out for the pension.But I would suggestNone of these reasons are enough if you look at it in a different way.Yes, of course, I'm going to say that there are good things about being a self-employed English teacher, and that's the flip side of everything that I've just said.Yes, you can't quit, but equally, you can't be fired.There is no boss that will say, you know what, Mr. Sherriff, thanks for your time, but we really don't need you anymore.Another benefit.If you are self-employed, you're not working for a Japanese company.And Japanese companies, as you may know, are an acquired taste.Let's put it that way.A lot of people who come to Japan love Japan, but hate working for the company, or hate teaching English.Yeah, I get it.Teaching English for a Japanese company kind of sucks.Generally speaking.So, you know, pressing the eject button sometimes works out okay.Okay, yes, you are responsible for everything, but therefore, sorry, no career structure.Well, I was going to talk about that.No career structure.Yeah, that's true.But it also means that you are notIn order to get ahead and to make more money, if you're employed, you have to take on more responsibilities and maybe do a job that you didn't sign up for.Becoming a middle manager, which again I've talked about before, but I really didn't like being a middle manager.Nobody likes being a middle manager.Middle managers don't like being middle managers.Unless there's something wrong with you, in my opinion.Well, if you're self-employed, you can avoid those tasks.I mean, you have to manage yourself.You become your own boss.But, you know, these silly box-ticking exercises that they come up with on motivational speeches, endless meetings with the CEO and stuff.None of that.So, that's great.What else was I going to say?Yeah, no retirement benefits.That's true.and as I say connected with career structure but there is more money if you're self-employed I mean put it this way you know like if you're employed for a company and you're making I don't know 2,000 yen an hour sometimes less at entry level well you know the company's not making 2,000 yen an hour you're being paid 2,000 yen an hour you're a cost but you know if there's like four students and they're all paying 2,000 yen where's the other 6,000 yen going not to youOh, some of it goes to your pension, OK, a certain percentage, but most of it's going to the company, generating profit.That's fine.That's all good.But don't tell me that that's good economics for you.Now, different if you've got it promoted and you get a higher salary, but still the principle is there.If you're working for yourself, any excess capital is going into your or your family's pockets, not into the company's.Yeah.So I think that's everything I wanted to say.Oh yeah, you can't quit, but you can't be fired.I said that already, I think I have.So there are times when I think, it's a bit hard work doing what I do.But on the whole, I don't think my life would be as enjoyable as it is now.if I was still employed, gainfully employed by a company.So, yeah, I wouldn't be doing this website, I wouldn't be doing all the books that I do, I wouldn't be largely enjoying teaching, not always, not every day, but yeah, I guess I'm independently minded and if you are independently minded, don't stop.Don't stop the move to make your own business and I think you'd be happier.If you're not happy then you probably wouldn't be around here watching these videos.There's probably something in this being independent so if I can be of assistance let me know.Okay, have a good weekend.It's sunny at last.It's been snowing here in Abiko, but nice and sunny today.Have a nice Friday.Enjoy your weekend.Take it easy.Recover for the next week.See you. 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