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18 answers

Being self employed is doing 80 hours a week for yourself instead of doing 40 hours for someone else.
For me it is when a foreign company uses me (as a courier) because of all the other people that they could choose from in their country
for example I have a customer in Holland that i do jobs for collecting in England and taking to him.
Some times when the phone doesn't ring you think that you're wasting your time then you get a call from someone who has seen your advert somewhere and needs you to do a job for them and ever thing is OK again.
If i'm quiet then i work on my web site and try to improve it then chase up old leads and invoices and remember that i do what i want because it is what i want to do and i do it how i want to,not how someone else thinks that i should.

2007-02-04 04:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by coolkebab 4 · 0 0

Hey I've been self employed for about 16 years now...I used to think that meant that I could make my own schedule...then I got wise and realized that my clientèle, the market or the weather makes the schedule and I gotta stick to it.

You have got to set parameters. Period...This means that you must set not only a guideline or rule of thumb, but a "law" for yourself relating to the different aspects of your work

Decide what time you need to get started and start at that time each day. No matter what you think business will be like. Don't go home just because business is slow, ever...bring a book, study a language at work. Use your time productive when it's slow, but do not close just because it's slow. If it's business hours, the light has got to be on and you have got to be there.

If you have a location (store, shop etc.), you must be there each day at the same time. This builds customers trust in you. You have to be there no matter what.

Set parameters according to not only what you will do but also what you do not do, and make no exceptions. This is a characteristic of professionalism and builds respect for you among your clientèle.

Specialize, No matter what it is you do, if you do it well,you will make more money at it over time then if you try to get involved with something new each time. Even if it's a hot business trend...This is very important in the service and food industries...unless your product or service has suddenly become obsolete, don't change up. If your good at "that thing" no matter how lame, you'll come out wealthier...

Bottom line...Consistency, Adamant Attention to Schedule and Detail, and Honest Trade...Stick to what you know.

If you do this you will figure out the rest...Mind the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

2007-01-31 05:12:19 · answer #2 · answered by Pedro 2 · 4 0

You can lose motivation when things are going badly or too well.
Each of us is an individual and different things work.

For myself I set some targets using a 'top down' model.

How much do I want to earn?

How much do I need to earn each quarter to achieve that?

and similar targets getting smaller until I have a daily target. (it is important to set realistic targets)

To be able to do this you need to understand the basics of your business form a 'bottom up' model.

That is your minimum costs you face daily etc rising to annual.

Somewhere the two models will 'collide' and you will establish what your breakeven point is etc.

The next thing to consider is that being self employed often means working alone. So make efforts to get to know your bank, a contact within the small business advice field, local trade associations relevant to your business and maybe other organisations like CofC.

Any problems you have almost certainly will not be unique and you can get quicker answers to problems, it also produces customer leads especially if your are in the service industry's.
Like Taxi driving/Painter& decorator etc.

Finally, set yourself a personal ambition(could be a new bike for your kids) nothing too heavy to begin with, and as you achieve each one of those keep a note in a log. The date, the time, how you celbrated(buying the bike etc) and when the bad days come pick it up and read it to remind yourself you have the skills and abilitiies to make it happen.

2007-02-06 09:14:39 · answer #3 · answered by noeusuperstate 6 · 0 0

Being self-employed requires self-motivation indeed; among other things... including a great deal of personal ambition.

General Business knowledge

Banking and financial knowledge

Knowledge of customers - those you have and those you want

Knowledge of the products and services of the business.

Become a student of all things business but try to see the big picture. Find a way that your business can be altruistic and civic-minded. When you are self-employed you are the business.

This is the tip: Get involved.

2007-01-31 05:13:18 · answer #4 · answered by birdwatcher 4 · 0 0

Here is my two cents that keep me going. I have a list of bills that I have to pay every month. The List motivates me to move quick and then I have a picture of my dream place that I want to go by the end of the year.At the same time I count 1 dollar bill total of 100 dollars. in which I keep them in my box whenever I fee depress or unhappy. These tips help me and my business. Good luck to you and Happy New you 2007.

2007-02-08 01:06:15 · answer #5 · answered by ryladie99 6 · 0 0

I have been self-employed for 11 years and the thing that motivates me the most is my family. I know if I don't work, the bills don't get paid, we don't get to vacation, etc. So I go to work for them. The sky is the limit, just depends on how high you want to climb up that corporate ladder. If you put in the hours and the hard work you will be rewarded, I know.

2007-02-07 19:26:18 · answer #6 · answered by James C 1 · 0 0

The money in the bank - or lack of - should be the biggest motivation. Get up in the morning ablute and get ready to go out, as if you were really going to work for a boss.

2007-01-31 04:49:35 · answer #7 · answered by celianne 6 · 0 0

Well you can eat today, or not. This should really motivate you. You can be on someone elses job and make a certain amount of money or you can decide to make as much as your lazy little bones will allow you too. What ever you decide to do, make it be the best

2007-02-07 14:26:04 · answer #8 · answered by sodgirl6763 4 · 0 0

Its the time of year why we feel like this. Set yourself a goal that is acheivable. Think of how fortunate you are to be your own boss and not have to answer to anyone else. Allow yourself some me time too so not to get lost in your work load.

2007-01-31 11:40:46 · answer #9 · answered by Miss RoZy 4 · 0 0

Sorry I have no advice, but I respect anybody who has the mental capaicity to be there own boss, and the drive to work for yourself, just think about everybody else stuck in the rat race and you in your own fast lane to sucess but you are the only one to push the car if it breaks down.

Good luck and I hope you understand my cyrptic words.

2007-01-31 05:03:16 · answer #10 · answered by Loader2000 4 · 0 0

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