Do You Have What It Takes To Be Self Employed?
Being self employed sounds great doesn't it? No boss watching
over you, the ability to set your own hours and all the profits
of the business go to you! While it does sound good, the fact is
that being self employed is not for everyone, it takes
dedication, self discipline and hard work to be successful in
your own business.
Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess certain
characteristics. In addition anyone who wants to achieve success
on their own must possess the desire, discipline and discretion
necessary to make it as a self employed individual. Do you have
what it takes?
1. Self-confidence. This is of the utmost importance and a key
characteristic of most successful entrepreneurs. This means
having unshakable confidence in oneself and in one's powers and
abilities. No matter what friends or foe's say to you, the
confidence to always believe in your ideas and abilities will
carry you through.
2. Achievement Oriented. Most successful entrepreneurs are
achievement oriented. Results are gained by focused and
sustained effort. They concentrate on achieving a specific goal,
not just accomplishing a string of unrelated tasks.
3. Risk Taking. Another earmark of the entrepreneur is being a
risk taker. They realize that there is a chance of loss inherent
in achieving their goals, yet they have the confidence necessary
to take calculated risks to achieve their goals.
4. Desire. If you think that running your own business is merely
a matter of using your brains then you are sure to be
disappointed. Successful entrepreneurs have a common thread no
matter if they run the run a country gas station or a Fortune
500 company - DESIRE. If you don't have the drive and
determination to work for yourself - if you can't give up the
security of a regular pay cheque - you will have great
difficulty working for yourself.
5. Discretion. There are many opportunities available. Some are
good, some are frauds and several are absolutely perfect - for
you. Each individual's strengths and talents will impact which
business model will suit them best. If you are very shy or hate
to talk to people than it would be wise to stay away from
businesses that require a lot of face-to-face selling. If the
product is not something you would personally use it is not
something you will want to promote and that will show in your
efforts.
6. Discipline. When you are self employed you don't have a boss
or a time clock, but if you expect to make a living then you
will have to discipline yourself. Have a schedule that you
follow every day. Plan your time wisely. Although many
procrastinators actually do well working for themselves it is
still vitally important to know what needs to be done and to
have the discipline to follow through. A few bad jobs or unhappy
customers can have lasting impact on your business.