| Thousands of professionals have found themselves in | | | | the sheer exhaustion associated with running a |
| the ranks of the unemployed. Some of whom will be | | | | business. |
| considering self employment. | | | | 9. In the world of SME's it's a small community - but it |
| Well, it's not exactly lambs to the slaughter, but for | | | | takes time to get known unless you are prepared to |
| anyone venturing out on their own here are 20 things | | | | put yourself out and get to networking meetings. Go to |
| they really should know. Because if you've been | | | | as many free ones as you can as this could end up |
| comfortably looked after by a big corporate (even if | | | | costing you a fortune. |
| you hated your job, by the way), the transition into self | | | | 10. If you hate filing and book-keeping - before your |
| employment can be a massive shock. Here's why: | | | | business kicks off spend some time planning your |
| 1. When you're employed you will be used to having | | | | office space and preparing the admin so you have |
| the IT technical support team on hand to fix the | | | | storage space, shelves and filing areas. Because once |
| hardware and software issues. When you work for | | | | you get going you won't have the time to do it. Get a |
| yourself however, if you haven't got any friends of a | | | | de-cluttering expert in to help you. |
| family member sufficiently skilled in IT that means you | | | | 11. Because you will be at the front line - |
| will need to either do it yourself or pay someone to | | | | disappointments and setbacks can really hit you hard. |
| sort out for you. | | | | Develop a tough skin like a rhino. Don't waste time on |
| 2. You will need a proper e-mail address - not - this | | | | feeling sorry for yourself when you get let down or |
| looks really unprofessional and you won't be taken | | | | things don't go your way, because that is a luxury you |
| seriously. | | | | cannot afford. Work with a coach or develop a |
| 3. Switch your focus because when you're on the | | | | mechanism to deal with disappointment as soon as |
| climb up the greasy pole of a big corporate it's | | | | possible or the stress will wear you down. |
| sometimes every man (or woman) for himself which | | | | 12. Keep your ears and eyes open for opportunities |
| fosters competitiveness to the point of ruthlessness. | | | | everywhere you go. These will be all around you if you |
| However, in the self employment arena I encourage | | | | are open and they might not necessarily come in the |
| you to become more collaborative in your approach. | | | | guises that you expect. |
| Because when you help someone else there is nearly | | | | 13. Be pleasant and amenable to everyone you meet, |
| always a pay back later on. When you work for | | | | but always be a professional - you never know when |
| yourself the corporate hierarchy no longer exists, | | | | you will need some help. |
| therefore you stand and fall by your personality and | | | | 14. Get some mentoring from someone who's been |
| your expertise. | | | | there done that and bought the t-shirt. |
| 4. Because you are that much closer to your clients | | | | 15. Don't waste time being distracted by 'get rich |
| and customers, the buck really does stop with you so | | | | schemes'. Always think 'stay on target' until you've |
| you will need to learn about good customer service. | | | | reached your objective, because there really are no |
| There will be nobody to delegate this to. If the thought | | | | short cuts to success. |
| of getting close to the 'great unwashed' appeals you | | | | 16. Have clear objectives, write them down and work |
| and you're used to sitting in a cozy office away from | | | | with someone to help hold you accountable or to |
| the hustle and bustle, think again. | | | | discuss different ways of approaching things if you |
| 5. Get used to typing your own e-mails, letters and | | | | need to make any adjustments. |
| proposals. And yes you will also have to go to the | | | | 17. Concentrate every day on doing the activities |
| post office, get the stamps and post the letters | | | | associated with promoting your business, and not |
| yourself! | | | | thinking about the Audi, the holiday home in France or |
| 6. Re: the above, as soon as you can afford to - hire a | | | | the designer handbag. If you work hard enough that will |
| Virtual Assistant who can take that off your hands so | | | | be the bonus you'll get anyway for working your |
| that you can concentrate on income generating | | | | socks off! |
| activities. | | | | 18. Get used to being extremely tired most of the time |
| 7. Get really good at writing promotional copy - and be | | | | in the early days. In fact if you haven't got blue circles |
| prepared to spend a huge percentage of your time | | | | under your eyes - you're not working hard enough! |
| promoting yourself, and making things happen. In fact, | | | | 19. Leave no stone unturned in your route to the top. |
| treat your marketing like your life depends on it - | | | | You really will have to work harder than you have |
| because at the end of the day it pretty much does. | | | | ever worked in your life! |
| 8. There is no sick leave! You will need to take extra | | | | 20. If you have the time, read books on personal |
| special care of yourself - because you will for a time | | | | development, confidence building, marketing and public |
| be the chief cook and bottle washer. That doesn't | | | | speaking - these are the tools that will take you to the |
| necessarily mean working yourself into the ground, but | | | | top. |
| a lot of entrepreneurs do eventually give up through | | | | |