"I'm so ready to be the boss... of me!" But how do I transition from my steady job to the unknown? How can I be sure that it will work out for the long haul? What about health benefits and retirement? I wish I could get a glimpse of what I'd be in for...
I was in your shoes just ten short years ago and the advice I now give to people who are employed is "don't be in such a hurry to quit your job yet. You'll need some of your paycheck to start up your venture!"
And, for those of you who are unemployed, perhaps I can share a little insight.
First, to prepare for self-employment, you must decide what it is you want to do. Are you thinking about opening a hair salon or barber shop? Maybe you want to start a photography business. Whatever you decide, remember that your venture has to either solve a problem or be in demand AND you must have a true passion for your work.
For example, individual piano lessons may not be in demand for the general public. However, a nonprofit organization that offers piano and other music lessons to children in under-served communities could solve a problem. I think you get the point!
Follow your heart. You only live this life once. It would be such a tragedy to go through your entire life doing what everyone else expects of you and never realizing your own dreams.
Take action. Do your homework by reading, researching, attending workshops and courses, and talking to people in your field. Volunteer work is a great way to get hands-on experience at no cost. Then go for it. You'll never know unless you try.
Last, I wrote an eBook about some of the things I went through as a self-employed professional. I talked about the importance of backup plans, consistent marketing & advertising, networking, how to create your own health benefits and retirement plan, and more. You'll read about some unusual experiences too!
For a glimpse into the world of self-employment, please check out my ebook:
I look forward to your questions, thoughts and suggestions.
Thanks!
Karen
No comments:
Post a Comment