New Year, New Career: Why 2026 Should Be the Year You Work for Yourself
- Anne Marie the AntiHR Lady
- Jan 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 1
For a long time, entrepreneurship has been framed as ambition.
Something you pursue if you’re passionate enough.Something you try if you’re brave enough.Something you do when you’re finally ready to “take the leap.”
That framing doesn’t reflect the reality many workers are walking into in 2026.
Because today, entrepreneurship isn’t just about freedom.It’s about protection.
Why This Conversation Matters in 2026
Most employees don’t plan to leave their jobs. They plan to endure them.
They assume:
If they work hard, they’ll be protected
If something goes wrong, HR will intervene
If health issues or burnout arise, accommodations will follow
But many workers are learning — sometimes too late — that traditional employment is not designed to protect people once they become inconvenient.
In 2026, more employees are facing:
Sudden restructures
Quiet performance scrutiny after disclosure
Delayed or denied accommodations
Pressure to take leave instead of receiving support
Hostile environments that develop slowly, then all at once
When your entire livelihood depends on one employer, those moments become crises.
Entrepreneurship, when approached intentionally, creates options before crisis hits.
Entrepreneurship as Protection — What That Actually Means
Working for yourself does not mean quitting your job tomorrow.
It means reducing how vulnerable you are if things change.
In practical terms, entrepreneurship as protection can look like:
Developing an income stream that isn’t tied to one employer
Testing a business idea before you need it
Understanding what it actually costs to support yourself
Building skills or services you could monetize if necessary
Entrepreneurship becomes protective when it:
Reduces panic-driven decisions
Creates negotiating power
Allows you to say “no” when boundaries are crossed
Keeps you from feeling trapped
This is especially important for workers navigating health issues, disabilities, neurodivergence, caregiving responsibilities, or burnout — where employer support often disappears quickly.
A Practical Check: Is Entrepreneurship a Smart Move for You Right Now?
Before rushing into “starting something,” it’s important to pause and assess.
Ask yourself:
Do I need additional income right now, or do I need options later?
Could I realistically work on something part-time without harming my health?
Do I understand what it would cost to replace even part of my income?
Am I reacting emotionally — or planning strategically?
Entrepreneurship done reactively often creates new stress.Entrepreneurship done intentionally creates leverage.
That distinction matters.
What the Entrepreneurship 101 Series Is Designed to Help You Do
This is exactly why I created the Entrepreneurship 101 webinar series. Not as motivation. Not as hustle culture.And not as “just start a business” advice.
Entrepreneurship 101 is a practical, reality-based introduction to working for yourself, especially for people coming from traditional employment or navigating unstable, hostile, or discriminatory workplaces.
Across the series, I shared:
What people don’t tell you about entrepreneurship
How to think realistically about income, risk, and sustainability
How to evaluate business ideas without romanticizing them
How entrepreneurship can coexist with full-time employment
What systems and boundaries actually matter
How building something of your own creates options before you need them
The goal isn’t to push people out of jobs.It’s to help them stop being unprepared if things change.
👉 Important:All replays of the full Entrepreneurship 101 series live exclusively inside the AntiHR Membership Community.They are currently not public and are not sold separately.
That’s intentional — because this education works best when paired with ongoing discussion, context, and support.
Why Replays Live Inside the AntiHR Membership Community
Entrepreneurship isn’t a one-and-done decision.
People have questions.Situations change.Workplace pressure evolves.
The AntiHR Membership Community exists to give members:
Ongoing access to education like the Entrepreneurship 101 replays
Space for real-time conversations about work, risk, and strategy
Context around ADA, FMLA, discrimination, and retaliation
Support that goes beyond one video or one blog post
This isn’t about hype.It’s about preparedness.
When Entrepreneurship Isn’t Enough on Its Own
Entrepreneurship creates options — but it doesn’t erase workplace realities.
If discrimination, retaliation, or ADA/FMLA violations are already happening, you also need strategy.
Many employees don’t realize that employer misconduct — including mishandled accommodations or medical leave — can create leverage when it’s time to exit a hostile or discriminatory workplace.
That’s where the AntiHR Exit Strategy System comes in.
The system is designed to help employees:
Recognize employer violations
Document strategically
Understand when staying no longer serves them
Use leverage to negotiate exits instead of walking away unprotected
You can learn more about the AntiHR Exit Strategy System here:👉 https://www.theantihr-hrlady.com/1stlanding
What’s Coming Next
In February, I’ll be releasing a new ADA / FMLA eBook created specifically for employees whose health, disability, or medical leave has been mishandled at work.
This eBook isn’t just about knowing your rights.It’s about understanding how violations of those rights can create leverage — and how to use that information strategically.
The eBook will launch at an introductory price of $39.99 and will serve as a foundational resource for employees considering their next move.
The Bottom Line
2026 is not the year to rely on hope.
It’s the year to:
Build options
Reduce vulnerability
Stop assuming systems will protect you
Working for yourself doesn’t mean leaving tomorrow.It means preparing today so you’re never cornered later.
Final Word
You don’t have to blow up your life in 2026.
You don’t have to quit your job tomorrow.You don’t have to have a fully formed business idea.And you don’t have to move out of fear or frustration.
What you do need is awareness — and options.
Entrepreneurship, when approached thoughtfully, isn’t about chasing freedom for the sake of it. It’s about reducing vulnerability in systems that were never designed to protect workers when circumstances change.
Preparing doesn’t mean you’ve failed at employment.It means you’re paying attention.
Whether you’re building something on the side, learning how to think differently about income, or simply making sure you’re not cornered if your workplace shifts, preparation is an act of self-respect.
2026 isn’t about hustle.It’s about intention.
And the more intentional you are now, the fewer rushed decisions you’ll have to make later.
Because the goal isn’t just to survive the year —it’s to finish it with your peace, your power, and your options intact.
For more tips about navigating and escaping difficult HR situations:
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HR is not your enemy, but they are definitely not your friend.
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