Are
You Cut Out to Be
A
Self-Employed Success?
Self-Employment
Is on the Rise
The results of a recent Gallup poll are in: 57% of Americans would rather be self-employed
than work for someone else. While every job has its frustrations, being self-employed
has some definite advantages. With outsourcing, downsizing, unexpected mergers,
and other unpleasant workplace surprises becoming more and more common, self-employment
provides some sense of being in control over one's future. If you can't depend
on an employer to treat you as more than a worker bee anyway, or if you feel as
dispensable as used chewing gum, you may want to consider becoming your own boss.
Here
are just some of the reasons self-employment could be good for you:
- You'll have the flexibility to
work your own hours.
- You
can choose where you work.
- There
is a good possibility you will make more money.
- You'll
have the satisfaction of seeing your own ideas succeed (instead of having someone
else take credit for them).
- You
can choose who you work with-or don't.
- You
can leave the constraints of corporate politics behind.
What
does it take to be
a self-employed success?
Is it the right fit
for you?
Can you deal with some risk?
Perhaps the biggest thing that keeps people
from starting a business of their own is the vision of the disappearing paycheck.
A good way to deal with this fear is "Don't quit your day job." It may
be a bit tough for a while to work at your old job while you get your own business
off the ground, but it's a technique many have used to succeed. Another possibility
is to save up enough money for six months' living expenses before you start your
new venture. That way, you can devote your full attention to turning it into a
money-making proposition.
Are
you resourceful?
Networking and building relationships is one of the main
pathways to success for the self-employed. Make a list of all the people you know
right now who would be helpful to you if you became self-employed. Everyone you
know is a potential source of revenue for your business. Introduce yourself to
other small business owners. Join community organizations. Make contacts at Job
Fairs. Scour the Internet. Check the yellow pages and the newspaper, and make
a list of people and organizations that may be of help to you.
Can
you listen and observe?
As a self-employed person, you won't be simply
trotting off to work at the same predictable job every day. It's important that
you listen to what's happening in your neighborhood, your community, and in the
business market in general. What are the trends? What do people seem to want or
need? Being able to respond to wants and needs makes you valuable and will bring
you revenue. Doing a good job will increase word-of-mouth advertising. It's especially
effective in small enterprises where you may not have a lot of money for promotion.
You
must also listen to your clients. Encourage them to ask you questions about anything
they don't understand. Another kind of listening that is helpful is the ability
to read between the lines of what clients are saying.
Are
you energetic and positive?
Some people swear that in a corporate job,
attitude is everything-that you can get away with almost anything if you convince
them you're a team player and that you really care about the company. As a self-employed
person, you should be able to project an energetic, positive attitude about your
own company. If you can sound successful and upbeat from the get-go, you're
halfway there.
Do
you have self-discipline?
People who work at home love to joke about the
"long commute" from the bedroom to the computer room. Every day of the
week is Casual Friday. While a much more relaxed atmosphere and dress code are
certainly major advantages of being self-employed, you will still need to designate
a period of time for work, and you will need to stick to it. The great thing is
that you'll be the one to decide how long and when you will work.
Are
you willing to learn?
You don't have to have an MBA to be a self-employed success. There are plenty
of successfulpeople who didn't even finish high school. But you must be willing
to learn the things you need to know to run your business. This could mean learning
a new computer program, developing a basic bookkeeping system, or learning to
write sales letters. There is plenty of help available on the Internet, and you
can probably take some relatively inexpensive adult education classes at the local
high school or community college if you need to. If your business really takes
off, you can hire other people to do some of the tasks you feel are wasting your
time. Once again, the Internet is a great source for accounting, legal, and writing
services.
How
to Get Started
If you decide to launch your own business, the first step
you should take is some self-examination and some research. What are your strengths,
and how much time do you want to devote to your business? What is there a demand
for? What business would you enjoy?
We're
here to help!
Fill
out the form below, and I will provide you with additional information about the
opportunity that is truly shaping my life and allowing me the freedom to live
out my dreams. I look forward to hearing from you!
Make
it a GREAT day!
Dr. Michiel & Kelly
Rorick
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