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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!
Sue DeBrule
1-800-606-0613
Email
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