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8/1/2009
Andrew Kotulak
You may have heard the phrase "Don't quit your day job". For me, thoughts of struggling musicians,
actors and wanna-be vocal "artists" come to mind.
Many people want more out of life than laboring a 9-5 job, or shift work in some
factory.
Self-Employment benefits are self-evident: Be your own boss, work when you want, make your own
decisions and of course get PAID well for your talents and effort.
But how do you turn these secret desires into a new career, earning money for yourself?
Well, it's not always so easy. Being self-employed also means running a business. Just because you
are the best mechanic in town, doesn't mean you can run a successful shop.
The difference between self-employment and entrepreneur
Being self-employed also means you are marketing your skills or talents. Mechanics, freelance
writers, consultants, plumbers, and landscapers are examples of self-employment. In
self-employment, YOU are doing the work AND running the business.
Being an entepreneur or business owner is different then being self-employed in that entrepeneurs
do not even posess the skill or service in which they are marketing. Entrepreneurs are
typically good leaders and managers that excell at lining up talented resources to to do the work
for them while they simply manage and make the decisions.
Either way, if you dream of venturing off on your own, you'd better keep your day job and hone your
skills until you meet these criteria:
Self-Employment Skills
Marketing: You must know how to market your experience. If you can't sell
yourself, you won't survive.
Business Management: keeping control over the details and administrative support
that run your office, such as accounting, payroll and personnel.
Project Leader: To improve or grow requires projects. Knowledge and talent is
required to plan and implement complex projects, often several at a time.
Deadlines: It takes determination and discipline to establish and meet client
deadlines.
Dealing With People: Employees, Customers and Vendors who do not always agree with
what you expect. You have to know how to respond to conflicts and unacceptable employee performance
and behaviors.
Negotiation Skills: You certainly don't want to get ripped off by your vendors or
give away the farm to an unhappy customer.
These skills are necessary to survive and compete. Even the most talented people often fail at
venturing on their own because they simply never learned the skills necessary to run a
business.
NEXT WEEK:
What is my "Why": Defining your Purpose
Andrew Kotulak is a contributing editor to Should You Steer Yourself Towards
Self-Employment? in Unlimited Success Online's Success Strategies newsletter. Andrew has 15
years experience in manufacturing management in which time he has traveled far and wide improving
processes and managing teams. Andrew has recently turned his attention to the internet, operating
multiple websites providing resources for leadership, career and business success.
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