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Working For Yourself: The Essentials
Cate Sevilla | BitchBuzz.com
Originally published on BitchBuzz
You don’t need me to tell you that things are rough. In Britain, apparently one job is lost every 25 seconds, and California is looking like it might run out of money for the unemployed. Yup. Things are looking rosy.
Because jobs are so minimal, and plenty of us are wondering how the hell we’re ever going to find work again, it seems that becoming self-employed, going freelance and starting up your own company is gaining popularity.
So — what’s a girl to do? Where do you start?
Read….Read…And Then Read Some More
If you’re looking to start your own business or new venture, the best thing you can do is research your derriere off. Read trade magazines, read books by people who have done something similar to what you want to do, and research your potential competition like there is no tomorrow.
You need to know your industry. Know your competition. And know yourself.
I personally recommend The Boss Of You, by Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears.
Get Up And Off Your Butt
If you’re working from your home office (a.k.a. your bed), you’re going to need a heaping spoonful of motivation with your coffee every morning. With no boss to pressure you, and no one to scorn you for getting to work late — you’re going to have to learn to kick your own butt into gear every day.
Is the project you’re working on enough to get you out of bed every morning? To prevent you from getting completely plastered every night? Are you going to be proud telling everyone and anyone about your new company?
Working for yourself is hard enough as it is without secretly hating and/or being embarrassed of your product.
Work With The Right Tools
Every profession has a set of tools they need to survive and to do their job correctly. An electrician wouldn’t show up to a job without his toolkit, just as a doctor wouldn’t make a house visit without their medical bag. There are a few fundamental things you’ll need to be a one woman show…The Self-Employed Wonder Woman…The Ferocious Freelancing Female. The…oh okay you get it. As someone who has been self-employed and working from their home office and remotely for the past nine months, allow me to help you create the ultimate toolbox.



metot
3 months ago
470 comments
Cute article:)
florenceauala
8 months ago
2 comments
This was a GREAT article. Thanks. I needed to read this to get off my lazy butt.