Archive for the ‘Self employment’ Category
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
The December Issue of the AARP Bulletin contains an article about individuals who were laid off from their jobs after the age of 50. Some were 60 and older. It tells the story about how the individuals started their own enterprises and found satisfaction in them.
The article also reported that 15 percent of workers ages 50-64 are self-employed and that 25 percent are 65 or older. Are you in this age category and out of work? Do you still feel you have the knowledge, skills and vitality to be a contributing member of the workforce? I’m sure you do. Why not consider starting your own business. It doesn’t have to be large. Maybe just you.
Where do you start? Well how about a hobby you’ve enjoyed. Can you turn it into a paying enterprise? Or can you take your business skills from your previous employer or employers and turn that into a business enterprise? Not sure how to do it? There are many organizations out their that can help gain the knowledge you need to get started.
There are Small Business Development Centers around the country with excellent counselors that can help you. The organization SCORE can also help. The latter two organizations are sponsered by the US Government and are free. There is this web site which offersfree information and you can also go to our LINKS button and you’ll find a “link” to many more sites.
You may be laid off and Over 50 but you can start a successful business venture and find great staisfaction in doing so. The opportunity is not without risk certainly, but you have a lot of help out there. Take advantage of it and good luck.
Posted in 50+, Faces Over 50, General Business, Home Based Business, Self employment, Technology, entrepreneurship, global business | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Although we use a GPS now more than we do roadmaps, I was looking at an old map recently and got to thinking about its similarity to a business plan.
Main thouroughfares or interstates are your basic idea.
Intersections or exit ramps are options you must decide to take -sometimes it is even necessary to reverse course a bit when you make a wrong turn or take a wrong exit just don’t back up the “off” ramp.
Corners or curves can be handled unless you’re going to fast or not paying attention; then you can lose it.
Above all, a map shows you were you started and where you are going. This is the same focus for a business plan.
A business plan won’t keep you from making mistakes but, like a map, it helps you to stay more or less on the right road until you get where you want to go; even with a few corrections along the way, Like our old maps, or the new GPS in your dash, it’s always good to have a plan ready and to actually use it.
Posted in 50+, Business Info, Economy, General Business, Management, Self employment, Success Principles, entrepreneurship, family business, finance, marketing, networking | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
In 1991 I was downsized when the company I worked for decided to move to another state 2,000 miles across the country. Out of work and worried about how I was going to pay my bills, I did what most of you, who have been laid off, are doing. I started looking for a job.
Back then I thought I wanted to work in the non-profit world where I had extensive personal experience and it was going to be a career change. I began networking and applying to any non-profit organization that I thought could pay me a decent salary.
Nearly a year of interviews with various organizations led to a six month interim General Director’s position at a four branch YMCA. For the most part the work was enjoyable; however, I quickly realized that it was not what I wanted to be doing, nor did I want to work in the non-profit sector. In fact, I often found myself sitting in an interview wondering why I was there and trying to figure out how I could politely end it.
What I really wanted to do was to be more in control of my own destiny, by having my own business. I had spent a nearly a whole year looking for work and another six months working in an area where I didn’t want to be in before I started my first business venture.
I’ve had a number of business ventures in the past seventeen years, all of which have prepared me for what I really love doing; coaching, and advising individuals on reaching success in their life and business. I haven’t completed my journey yet, but I assure you I know exaclty where it is I want to go and accomplish.
How about you? Do you know where you want to go? If so, great! Spend time preparing yourself to get there. If not, take time to analyze yourself to see where it is you really want to go. Zero in on it, and begin to think and prepare yourself to get there. Keep a positive mental attitude, no matter how difficult that may be at times, and visualize your being where it is you want to be. You may surprise yourself and get there sooner than you expected. And, like me, you may not finish up where you thought you would when you started out.
Posted in 50+, Economy, General Business, Self employment, Success Principles, entrepreneurship | No Comments »
