Is it really possible to be self employed and be successful??

Question

Ok guys…I’m tired of working for other people. I know working for others will never be rewarding because it has built in limits that I simply do not want. I will gladly take the bad and the good of being on my own instead of the so-so area of working for others.

I know not to do the TV ads or fall into the sells of the money making dream for only $19.95. It seems as though the people who are really making money are keeping it a secret. Do you all exist out there?

I tried to start my own business several times but always had to stop because of lack of funds. I’m sure my problem is lack of knowledge of how the game is really played. I just want to really know are there people out there who are making money working for themselves in a real legal small business that started from scratch but never gave up and became successful. It seems like an idea but no hard proof behind this statement. I need examples that this is indeed true.

Any one out there living my dream of being on their

Answer 1

I don't know what type of work you do. I was working for others. I couldn't find a job that paid more than 12 dollars an hour. This was 10 years ago.
I needed more. I can't live off of that. So I ran an ad in the paper. The phone started ringing. I've never looked back. I started out very modest. 15 an hour. I was a steal. People kept tipping me and telling me to raise my rates. It wasn't easy. Long hours for a couple years. 16 hour days and getting paid for 7 or less.
It took me about 5 years to become well established. I'm now the guy everyone wants. I make more than triple what I did in the beginning working 1/3 as much. I'm not a greedy man but people doing the same thing I do get much more than that. I do give myself an occasional raise when I'm tired of working. That helps a lot. It's not easy being the boss. Being able to take a day or a week off anytime you want sure is nice though.
Here's the best advice I ever got.
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"Be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there. Do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it".
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Those words were said to me by a man who came to America at age 18 with twenty dollars in his pocket. He died a multi-millionaire. I used to hear those words in my head everyday while working. No doubt they helped. Good luck!
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Answer 2

You are definately on the right track in not settling for less. I admire your spirit.
I had the same problem, I knew something was out there but just felt that I didn't have the money or the knowledge to get out of the rut.
I chose to start with Network Marketing for several reasons. First was the training. I knew that if I started small I could take the time to learn how to run a business. Which indeed happened.
I heard Donald Trump speaking one time and he said if he had to do it all over again, he would start with network marketing.
I chose to take his advice because it was inexpensive to start, the bookkeeping is all done for you, it's a great learning experience and I was creating leverage as well as residual income. I always knew you can never achieve wealth without the proper components and therefore was always open to alternate streams of income.
So I started my little business because I had a genuine passion for the product. It is unique, there is nothing else like it on the planet and it is in high demand because it is gaining publicity very quickly.
My little business quickly grew faster than I ever anticipated because I was supplied with the proper tools to do it right.

Then I purchased a book called Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker....best investment I ever made!
I used what I learned in the book not only in my business but all areas of my life. I learned to think like a millionaire in every aspect.

I work from home, which I love. I'd like to say I set my own hours, but that isn't entirely true. While building, you are at the mercy of other people's time, but that's okay because you are building something that keeps working even when you don't.
I travel wherever and whenever I please which is my passion. I also have the time to spend with my family and do the things I really want to do.

You don't need a business degree or a large amount of capital, just a burning desire to succeed and be open to learning from those who are already there.

Answer 3

I guess that depends on your definition of success, but by my definition, I can honestly say yes, because I'm doing it right now. I started a few websites in the past, and it took a long time to figure out what to do right by doing a lot of things wrong, but once I figured out what works and what doesn’t, it's a cakewalk, and I could do it again any time I wanted. I've dropped all the other sites I tried in the past and have had two new sites up for about six months now, a family site, http://www.buddyandoscars.com and an adult site, http://www.passionsunchained.com I'm making a good income from them both (a lot more from the adult site), and I truly am my own boss for the first time in 42 years. The best part is, it didn't cost me a lot to get started (an HTML editor program, a hosting plan, and SEO software). The most ironic part is, after building the adult site and looking for products to sell, I found a way to do it all again for free by selling sex toys through an affiliate program and getting their free websites. Now I'm making even more money doing less work, and the best part is, it’s not some get rich quick scam you hear about on line or on the TV commercials (major rip offs). There is no ‘pay us $400 and get a free website’ b.s., or any other gimmick. I’ll admit I got lucky a few times by figuring out what works and what doesn’t, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ve found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and if sales continue to increase at the rate they have over the last few months, I’ll get to retire in about two years (I mean really retire, no more work at all, and still get paid every month for residual sales being made now). So yes, it is possible to live the dream.

Answer 4

First of all, how old are you? If you want to be successful, it involved doing all the right steps to work toward your successful business. You may also make tons of mistakes, but you must still do all the right steps. A lack of funds means that you have not prepared enough. You need to understand that self employed is actually working for other people. It is just WITHOUT having the buffer of a supervisor who has more experience or knowledge than you. There are no money making "secrets". All of life is a secret, if you consider knowledge that you don't have to be a "secret". Examples and good feelings are not what you need. What is it that you are trying to do? Specifically.

Answer 5

Over the summer I worked for a man who started his own business- he runs a retail nursery and landscaping business and is VERY successful now. He grew up in a trailer and put himself through school and started the business out of his mom's trailer. At first he was the only one, but now he has about 10 employees. He had to take a lot of risks and work for several years just fighting to break even, but it all paid off and he is one of the coolest people I have met. I would say that if you're passionate enough about something and you think you can be successful than go for it! Otherwise you'll always regret it. I can completely understand how you would want to be independent and good luck!

Answer 6

Of course they are lots of people who become successful being a self employed.

When I was younger we are what we called "people who can eat at least 3 x a day". My parents used to fought for money because we can't even buy what we wanted because the money we had was only enough for food. Then suddenly my parents planned to have a bakeshop business(my mother's parents are bakers) starting from a very small capital, we sometimes experienced lack of funds but since my mother was very business minded, she did everything to get funds from different sources. We had experience that our business was so down and thought we almost lost it but we never gave up. Now the business is still existing and one of the successful bakeshop business in our place. We are on our 10th years of serving people good and quality bread and cakes....

Answer 7

Depends on your definition of "successful". I'm not rich, but I come and go as I please. If I don't want to do a job, I turn it down (or bid it so high that they won't contract with me). I generally work when I want and have plenty of time to pursue my hobbies. There is a catch to this, though. I spent many, many years in the cold, rain and wind learning everything I could about concrete work and making a name for myself by doing the things nobody else would. Now, I wouldn't trade my life with anybody, but the fact is, you have to earn it. Those TV show and interned ads are garbage. Hard work, reliability, and integrity are how you make yourself "successful".

P.S. I sleep very good at night. Can those others really say that?

Answer 8

First of all, you have to have a passion for what you want to do, not because of the dreams of a fortune and a mansion.

Second, research everything you can about what you want to do. Bear in mind it's also tons of paperwork, managing, hiring and firing, endless expenses of utilities, margins, rent, computers, break-downs, taxes, permits, everything. Marketing is crucial, but it has to be in the right places. Market research knowing what people want.

There are so many things, and the first couple years aren't the best. You have to constantly re-evaluate what you can be doing better, and it's not an 8 hour day, 5 days a week.

Email me if I can answer anything else. Best wishes.

Answer 9

My husband and I have been in the restaurant business for over 30 years. It is a lot of fun and profitable if you are really carful to watch what goes out the door. We have to work seven days and seven nights a week and have missed out on a lot of recreation that other families get involved in. It is very difficult to get good help and keep them there. But in the end it is rewarding and we would not have it any other way.
I know someone who has gotten into the A.T.M. business. He said that it does not take a lot of capital. You just start with a couple of machines and build on it.

Answer 10

I have been in the process of starting my own business too for several years now.

I am still in the planning stage.

I tell you it is a lot of hard work!

To be successful as an entrepreneur you need to have more than just money.

I truly believe you need to be extremely dedicated, focused, and very very persistent. And also ready to do what it takes!

Having a positive attitude, zeal, and tenacity follow suit as well.

Don't give up! There are so many resources out there for you to find funds to start your business. But the best way to do so it to efficiently plan out your business accordingly.

I mean start from the beginning and write it out.

Find someone who can mentor and encourage you daily. It is hard to trust your family to do this but I am sure if you network you can find someone who can be there and willing to listen to you and give you so tips along the way.

Have you checked out info on the Internet regarding the steps to start your own business? If you have or have not check out these links. They are worth reading and also worth gold in the end!

Bookmark these pages in your favorites. It is a lot of info to read!

http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/startyourbiz.html
http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/index.html
http://www.startupnation.com/pages/grow/10Steps.asp?src=y&OVRAW=starting%20a%20new%20business&OVKEY=starting%20a%20new%20business&OVMTC=standard
http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-mainCat-m-1-getting_started-i
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99336,00.html

I wish you much success in your new venture.

Be encouraged and stay optimistic. It takes hard work and you can do it!

Hope this helps you.

God Bless....