| Weigh the difference. Did you really go
into business to be self-employed?
About Being Self-Employed
When you're self-employed, you do "ALL the work,"
of course, AND you're also "the boss," so you do the marketing, the sales, the
book keeping, and everything else ________! The self-employed have done one thing -
created a paycheck for themselves along with some extra deductions. They went from working
for a company to working for themselves AND they have a new job - that of boss. Most are
slaves to their business because they have no one working for or with them. Every time
they gain a new client, they reinvent the wheel because they have no systems.
And.. the self-employed can't take days off, let alone take
a vacation! The words they use - often and to anyone who will listen - are
"overwhelmed," "tired," and "have no time for that." (For
more on the differences between being self-employed vs. being a business owner, read the
"Rich Dad, Poor Dad" book by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter).
Go All The Way - To Business Owner!
Business owners, on the other hand, are giving themselves
the gift of time and others the gift of a paycheck. They learn the importance of planning
for their business. They monitor their marketing activities. They know exactly who their
ideal client is and what is unique about themselves and their businesses. They run their
business like the "big corporate boys" but without all the hassle - or lawsuits!
Now if you've been in business for a while, you might think that you're no longer
self-employed or running a hobby. Beware. The amount of time you spend working does not
mean much. In 6 years, only 2 of more than 100 clients were really "running" in
business when they hired me; the rest had a business stuck in "infancy."
Today, take steps to start the shift to being a
full-fledged business owner. Hire people to help you do the things you don't enjoy doing -
barter, if that's what you need to do. Create a business and marketing plan, and monitor
your marketing activities. Find alliances to bring in extra income, network (at least 2
times a week), create your ideal client profile and then only market to your ideal client.
Take your knowledge and package it. Turn it into classes, articles, CDs, etc. that will
bring you extra income and notoriety - the "good" kind! Know what your
"rack rate" is and stop giving away your time/business.
If you really take a good look at the list below, you will
see that there is NO WAY you can do everything yourself.
Your BIG roles as a business owner include:
- President/CEO
- Salesperson
- Purchasing Manager
- Office Manager
- Technology Specialist
- Internet Guru
- Human Services Manager
- Marketing Director
- Accounting/Finance Manager
- Compliance/Legal Manager
- Desktop Publisher/Designer
- Customer Service Rep
- Inventory Person
- Quality Control Manager
- Consultant
- Coach - Mentor
- Organizer
- Trainer
- Writer
- Janitor
- Assistant to you
- At a minimum, assistants to all the managers/specialists above
And if you can't yet afford to start hiring assistance,
create a plan to do so!
2005 Maria Marsala |
Tools
For Your
Online Business
Tips for Your
Business Start-up
Tips for Using Your
Business Computer
Tips for Using the Internet
& Internet Access
Tips for Promoting
Your Website
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Maria Marsala, The Resource Queen, Small
Business Builder and former Wall Street Trader. "Powering-UP service busine$$es and
their owners". Providing articles, tips, classes, and business resources in our ezine
"SIMPLE Business Steps" Learn more at www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com. |
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