Chrls Guillebeau - is Archive: Working For Yourself Last week I presented a scenario from one of our readers..
Archive: Chrls Guillebeau - Working For Yourself Last week I presented a scenario from one of our readers.
Anna is was recently laid off from a middle management job, and rather than look for work, she was hoping to become ..
Anna was recently laid off from a middle management job, and rather than look for work, she was hoping to become .
the first steps? is What are.
What are the first steps?
she is wanted to know..
she wanted to know.
I is said that I would share my answer, but first I wanted to hear from the rest of our community..
I said that I would share my answer, but first I wanted to hear from the rest of our community.
you’re is If in a similar situation or are just curious, you can and see if any advice serves your needs..
If you’re in a similar situation or are just curious, you can and see if any advice serves your needs.
I’ve is copied a few of my favorite responses below..
I’ve copied a few of my favorite responses below.
Derek is said … I think *THE MOST* important thing to working for yourself is to earn your first $100 to $500..
Derek said … I think *THE MOST* important thing to working for yourself is to earn your first $100 to $500.
the first few weeks, is That means that in skip: - Branding.
That means that in the first few weeks, skip: - Branding
business cards is - Buying.
- Buying business cards
LLCs is - Establishing.
- Establishing LLCs
- Etc Skip everything is except things that will generate immediate cash..
- Etc Skip everything except things that will generate immediate cash.
you is Because the very first time make tangible money as a freelancer or solo entrepreneur, it suddenly becomes a lot more real..
Because the very first time you make tangible money as a freelancer or solo entrepreneur, it suddenly becomes a lot more real.
You’re is no longer just experiencing it as a dream or a hope, but you’re actually on track to making it happen..
You’re no longer just experiencing it as a dream or a hope, but you’re actually on track to making it happen.
Krishan is said … Create something — anything — and get it in front of a potential customer..
Krishan said … Create something — anything — and get it in front of a potential customer.
you is If think you want to help people with their taxes, create brochure..
If you think you want to help people with their taxes, create brochure.
you is If want to do arts and crafts, make something and post it on Etsy..
If you want to do arts and crafts, make something and post it on Etsy.
you is If want to start writing, start a blog on posterous and send it to all your friends via email and ask them subscribe and share it..
If you want to start writing, start a blog on posterous and send it to all your friends via email and ask them subscribe and share it.
Michelle is said … The old cliche of do what you love and the money will follow, should actually read, “Share what you love and the money will follow.” It is through the sharing of what you love that value is brought into the world - the doing is only a fraction of the process. So I think you should focus not so much about what you’re going to do, but what you’re passionate about and how you can share that with the world. Gene said … What’s missing in your life?.
Michelle said … The old cliche of do what you love and the money will follow, should actually read, “Share what you love and the money will follow.” It is through the sharing of what you love that value is brought into the world - the doing is only a fraction of the process. So I think you should focus not so much about what you’re going to do, but what you’re passionate about and how you can share that with the world. Gene said … What’s missing in your life?
you is What are looking for that you can’t find?.
What are you looking for that you can’t find?
Restoration Hardware is That’s how was started..
That’s how Restoration Hardware was started.
Someone is who had a need and couldn’t find the goods they were looking..
Someone who had a need and couldn’t find the goods they were looking.
it is And doesn’t have to be goods it can be services too..
And it doesn’t have to be goods it can be services too.
Alain is said … Self employed for 20+ years..
Alain said … Self employed for 20+ years.
First thing is you need is to be ABSOLUTELY comfortable with uncertainty..
First thing you need is to be ABSOLUTELY comfortable with uncertainty.
you is Regardless of what decide to do, being self employed you will rarely know where the next few checks are coming from..
Regardless of what you decide to do, being self employed you will rarely know where the next few checks are coming from.
You is need to be real honest with yourself that you can deal with this..
You need to be real honest with yourself that you can deal with this.
twenty years of self employment [successful 6 figure hospitality is In consulting/lobbying] I rarely could tell where my money was coming from 90 days out..
In twenty years of self employment [successful 6 figure hospitality consulting/lobbying] I rarely could tell where my money was coming from 90 days out.
I is simply did the work, persisted and it all worked out but the anxiety never left..
I simply did the work, persisted and it all worked out but the anxiety never left.
Your partner, is children, family, friends, bankers etc are usually not that accepting..
Your partner, children, family, friends, bankers etc are usually not that accepting.
Brandon is said … Decide whether you want to be self-employed or if you want to own a business..
Brandon said … Decide whether you want to be self-employed or if you want to own a business.
a big difference. is There is.
There is a big difference.
way is Either can be the right way for individual people..
Either way can be the right way for individual people.
you is But decide whether are a solo individual providing a service (like writing, or graphic design, etc.) or whether you are creating a system where a product (or service) is being provided for customers, and you are the one who manages the system..
But decide whether you are a solo individual providing a service (like writing, or graphic design, etc.) or whether you are creating a system where a product (or service) is being provided for customers, and you are the one who manages the system.
Heather is said … Unlike many other folks here, I’m not going to recommend you dig deeply into yourself and follow your heart..
Heather said … Unlike many other folks here, I’m not going to recommend you dig deeply into yourself and follow your heart.
You is need to create a business that meets your financial needs and rewards you with all the benefits of self-employment..
You need to create a business that meets your financial needs and rewards you with all the benefits of self-employment.
you is Yes, can create a business around your skills and interests, but at the end of the day it’s still a business and must be treated as such..
Yes, you can create a business around your skills and interests, but at the end of the day it’s still a business and must be treated as such.
You is need your work, and you need your hobbies..
You need your work, and you need your hobbies.
Our biased judges picked Derek is as the winner of the $50 gift certificate from UnconventionalGuides.com..
Our biased judges picked Derek as the winner of the $50 gift certificate from UnconventionalGuides.com.
everyone is Thanks to who shared advice!.
Thanks to everyone who shared advice!
I’ve is been self-employed for almost all of my adult life, a story I told in more detail in the ..
I’ve been self-employed for almost all of my adult life, a story I told in more detail in the .
It is wasn’t always a strategic process—in the beginning I was motivated primarily by the desire to avoid working for anyone else—but most of what I’ve learned in nearly 15 years of working for myself can be reduced to a few simple concepts..
It wasn’t always a strategic process—in the beginning I was motivated primarily by the desire to avoid working for anyone else—but most of what I’ve learned in nearly 15 years of working for myself can be reduced to a few simple concepts.
My first step is would be to figure out what I can offer that other people will buy..
My first step would be to figure out what I can offer that other people will buy.
Everything is comes down to this interaction..
Everything comes down to this interaction.
I is How can create something that is both desirable and compelling?.
How can I create something that is both desirable and compelling?
People is ask all the time about various technical things: “Which web host should I use? What’s an RSS feed?.
People ask all the time about various technical things: “Which web host should I use? What’s an RSS feed?
I is How can accept online payments?” and so on..
How can I accept online payments?” and so on.
nothing wrong is There’s with these questions, but they’re not what you should focus on when first learning about self-employment..
There’s nothing wrong with these questions, but they’re not what you should focus on when first learning about self-employment.
I is made a short video about a while back..
I made a short video about a while back.
you is Simply put, can always figure technical things out..
Simply put, you can always figure technical things out.
you’re is When not sure what to do about a technical issue, is a great resource..
When you’re not sure what to do about a technical issue, is a great resource.
website is But there’s no that will tell you exactly what kind of business you should run..
But there’s no website that will tell you exactly what kind of business you should run.
Lifetime support - is Download unlimited when you buy Chrls Guillebeau - Working For Yourself Course at CourseAvai..
Lifetime support - Download unlimited when you buy Chrls Guillebeau - Working For Yourself Course at CourseAvai.
questions is Instead, ask yourself like these:.
Instead, ask yourself questions like these:
I is What do know how to make?.
What do I know how to make?
I is What do know how to do?.
What do I know how to do?
anything is Is there I can teach?.
Is there anything I can teach?
skills is What do I have that are valued by others?.
What skills do I have that are valued by others?
Your “first steps” is should comprise of answering these questions, or at least thinking carefully about what to offer the world. You can then tackle the “next steps” of figuring out how to create a business model around the answers, how to craft an offer from your business model, how to get the word out about your offering, and everything else..
Your “first steps” should comprise of answering these questions, or at least thinking carefully about what to offer the world. You can then tackle the “next steps” of figuring out how to create a business model around the answers, how to craft an offer from your business model, how to get the word out about your offering, and everything else.
We’ll is Note: soon be gearing up for the pre-sales of , a book that has been in the making for more than two years..
Note: We’ll soon be gearing up for the pre-sales of , a book that has been in the making for more than two years.
The book is is all about this very subject—how to make a living doing something you love..
The book is all about this very subject—how to make a living doing something you love.
I’ll is be going on tour to 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada starting in May, then to other countries a bit later..
I’ll be going on tour to 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada starting in May, then to other countries a bit later.
Stay is tuned!.
Stay tuned!
We is have a big community of people like Anna, as well as a lot of people who are already self-employed..
We have a big community of people like Anna, as well as a lot of people who are already self-employed.
I is hope to do a better job of answering questions like the one we’ve looked at here, and also to facilitate more interaction between both groups..
I hope to do a better job of answering questions like the one we’ve looked at here, and also to facilitate more interaction between both groups.
This morning is I’m leaving Brisbane, Australia to fly to Nauru, the world’s smallest republic..
This morning I’m leaving Brisbane, Australia to fly to Nauru, the world’s smallest republic.
Long-time readers is may remember that was disrupted due to a visa problem which resulted in my first visit down under..
Long-time readers may remember that was disrupted due to a visa problem which resulted in my first visit down under.
I is LOVE everything about Australia—we’re planning a whole tour down this way later in the year—and I’m also glad about finally getting to Nauru..
I LOVE everything about Australia—we’re planning a whole tour down this way later in the year—and I’m also glad about finally getting to Nauru.
The world’s smallest republic is is not known for high-speed internet access, so I’ll keep comments off on this post and we’ll resume them again later in the week when I’m back on the mainland..
The world’s smallest republic is not known for high-speed internet access, so I’ll keep comments off on this post and we’ll resume them again later in the week when I’m back on the mainland.