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 how to start your own business.
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 starting your own business and
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, especially when starting your own business.
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 starting your own business,
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 when starting your own business.
There are plenty of successful people 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
internet marketing, 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.
The Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA)
AZBIZ.com - July 9, 2010
Most new jobs that are created outside the government are created by small business. Starting your own business may seem like a pipe dream in a down economy but there is help available... |
