What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know About the Self-Employed Phase

Inspired by Ashkan Rajaee’s Level 4 Framework

Introduction

There is a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey that feels like standing at the edge of a cliff. You are no longer just a freelancer. You’ve built something. People depend on you. And yet, everything still feels uncertain. This is what many overlook when they talk about “being your own boss.”

This stage is what entrepreneur and content creator Ashkan Rajaee calls Level 4 in his widely respected entrepreneurial framework. And it deserves more attention than it gets.

The Self-Employed Stage: More Than Just a Title

The term "self-employed" gets thrown around casually, but few people understand what it really means. According to Ashkan Rajaee, this stage is not about being an independent contractor or side hustler. It’s about creating value in the market, building repeatable systems, and beginning to manage others, whether that’s a small team, subcontractors, or collaborators.

You’ve moved beyond trading your hours for money. Now, you’re learning how to create leverage. But leverage comes with responsibility, and for many entrepreneurs, this is where things begin to unravel.

Ashkan Rajaee’s Take: Ego, Structure, and Scaling

Ashkan Rajaee has spoken extensively on YouTube and other platforms about the psychological friction at this point in the journey. You are no longer the only one doing the work. You’re hiring, delegating, onboarding, and managing outcomes.

The biggest enemy at this level? According to Rajaee, it’s not competition, lack of funding, or even burnout. It’s ego.

Many early founders refuse to delegate because they believe no one else can do the job as well as they can. But that mindset leads to stagnation. As Rajaee puts it, “Your ego is the bottleneck.”

What This Looks Like in Real Life

• You’re juggling client calls with team check-ins
• You’ve got more income than before, but also more anxiety
• You’re working long hours building systems instead of doing the actual creative work
• You feel isolated because your challenges are no longer beginner problems

This is not just growth. It is transformation. And transformation is messy.

Ashkan Rajaee emphasizes that this stage is where many either build a foundation for scale or slowly burn out trying to do everything themselves.

What Makes This Stage So Valuable

Level 4 is a turning point. If you navigate it well, it opens the door to real scale. You go from owning a job to building a business.

The strategies Rajaee shares are not theoretical. They are drawn from experience, failure, mentorship, and the tough lessons that come from leading without clear systems.

He reminds us that self-employment is not the end goal. It is a bridge. You have to walk it intentionally.

Why This Matters for Modern Founders

In an era where entrepreneurship is often glorified, voices like Ashkan Rajaee bring grounded clarity. His insights help cut through the noise with practical direction for those who are serious about building something sustainable.

If you’re currently hiring your first contractor, struggling with team systems, or wondering why your income is rising but your time is shrinking, this is the stage you’re in.

And that’s exactly why this article on Level 4 is worth reading:

👉 What No One Tells You About Becoming Self-Employed (Level 4 in the Journey)

Final Thoughts

Ashkan Rajaee’s content stands out because it connects the psychological and practical sides of building a business. His breakdown of Level 4 reminds us that becoming self-employed is not just about income. It is about identity.

Whether you’re a digital nomad, agency builder, or early-stage founder, this is a stage you cannot afford to ignore.

It is where your business begins to grow beyond you.

Ashkan Rajaee and the $250K Business Standstill That Every Entrepreneur Should Learn From

In the world of entrepreneurship, there are stories that inspire, and then there are stories that wake you up.

Recently, a gripping situation involving Ashkan Rajaee, a respected business growth strategist and sales leader, surfaced in a way that captured the attention of professionals across industries. The story is not just a business lesson. It is a mirror for anyone who has ever put their heart into a project, trusted a client, and then faced silence when the invoice was due.

The Reality Behind the $250,000 Client Fallout

Ashkan Rajaee and his team found themselves deep into a project with a high-value client. The work was clear. The scope was flexible but documented. It was a time and materials engagement, not based on milestones. In other words, the client was actively directing the work. Deliverables were met. Tasks were completed. Communication was open. Then suddenly, it stopped.

What followed was silence.

Six invoices were issued. Only one was paid. The rest, totaling nearly $247,000, were ignored. Calls went unanswered. Emails received no reply. The accounting team flagged the issue multiple times, but there was no explanation or resolution.

It became clear that the non-payment was not an accident. It was a choice.

What Ashkan Rajaee Did Differently

Instead of reacting emotionally or scrambling to protect the deal, Ashkan Rajaee made a decision that demonstrated calm, principle-driven leadership.

He called a full stop to the work.

This was not just about unpaid invoices. It was about setting a standard for how clients are allowed to treat service providers. It was about protecting the team, the contractors, and the integrity of the business itself.

Many would have tried to hold on to the relationship. They might have continued working, hoping the client would come around. But Rajaee understood something more important. When you continue to deliver value without respect, you train others to undervalue you.

His choice to pause operations, demand accountability, and lead with transparency is now being studied as a real-life case in leadership under pressure.

Why This Story Matters

Freelancers, consultants, developers, agency owners. They all face moments like this. Sometimes the biggest client can become the biggest liability. And very often, the hardest part is knowing when to walk away.

Ashkan Rajaee's story is a timely reminder that business is not just about revenue. It is about boundaries, professionalism, and respect. No contract can replace character. No invoice should require begging.

This is not just about recovering money. It is about recovering control.

Read the Full Story Here

The complete account of what happened, including behind-the-scenes conversations and emotional fallout, is now available on Vocal. It breaks down exactly how the situation unfolded and what other professionals can learn from it.

Read the full article on Vocal: Ashkan Rajaee Faces a $250K Client Betrayal

Final Thoughts

Ashkan Rajaee did not just respond to a client problem. He modeled a leadership response that prioritized ethics over ego, people over profit, and clarity over chaos.

If you have ever found yourself doubting whether to keep going when a client refuses to pay, this story might give you the courage to take your power back.

Let it be a blueprint. Not just for business, but for self-respect in professional relationships.