What does it mean to be self-employed?

At BrazenCareerist.com Penelope Trunk and Ryan Paugh had another (almost) weekly webinar on career management: resume doctor, location independent, how to be a better blogger, so on. This time it was about self-employment, which touches on almost everybody's nerves. (They do pick interesting subjects.) Here is the summary of their messages.

To employ or to be employed

• There is no shame in suiting employed life.
• Self-employment is NOT a goal. Set a work goal.
• If you are doing good as employee, test your water by doing side projects. If you can't do that well, you won't be able to handle self-employment.
• You can try, and you can always go back to corporate life. It's not going to be a dead-end in your resume.

On marketing

• Do or hire great marketing.
• 80% marketing, 20% real work.
• Random hook-ups does not hurt. Just try it as a marketing tactic. Don't be bad in bed, though.

Self-employment vs. Entrepreneurship

• Self employed and Changing-the-world are different. The former is a one-person operation and comprises almost 90% of all entrepreneurs. The latter works in team and is actually about being funded.
• It is very hard to find a fundable idea. (For Penelope) finding the right idea and team for funding took 3 years.

On ideas

• There is no unique idea. It's all about execution.
• People who don't tell idea are people who don't do anything.
• Most entrepreneurs go through 15-20 ideas before they hit on one.

Am I ready?

• The only question: are your skills/ideas marketable?
• Don't think of yourself as woman. Men have all the power, no women did it all alone. Dress like women, network with men.
• Once you think failure doesn't matter, it's much easier to start.
• Be specific at what you are great. Nobody wants to hire non-experienced freelancer.

On time management

• System for time management: most people work 100% of their time.
  
• Have personal time to keep yourself from getting crazy.
• Most entrepreneurs get up early. at 5am. And they work more hours than most people.

To keep on going

• Declare what you don't do.
• At the beginning, take whatever.
• Be great at spending less consistently.
• Have a structured, excellent package.

Comments

[Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot]

Great overview because I missed this webinar but I'm hoping to go to the next one. Thanks for writing this up. I love being self-employed, the opportunities are open and I can do it all from home in my nightie:)

[Isao]

Glad you liked it. Well they were just scribbles on my notepad and next time I should put more meat around them, hopefully with my own real experience!

[Nhóm Truyền thông vì Môi trường 2100]

Thanks so much! This is an invaluable summary I might get :) you know, I could waste quite a time to ask for these advices from real ppl

[Isao]

I am glad you liked it. Although writing each day is important, I find that having several hours of uninterrupted time is really important for creating coherent entries. I need to buy Venti size in Starbucks for appreciation :)

[Isao]

Sorry I thought you were commenting on another article. If you want to listen to more such webinars, join BrazenCareerist! It's worth it just for the sake of broadening your network.