Is Self-employment Right For You? :
Business ownership can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences – under the right circumstances and at the right time! It’s not necessarily “better” than having a job – it’s just different. For some, self-employment is the ideal career solution. How about you?
The exercises below are designed to help you ask the “tough questions,” and quickly discover whether self-employment would be right for you or not. So, take out paper and pen – or get comfortable in front of your computer – because you’re about to do some important “homework!”
If you’re seriously considering the self-employment option, there are two main questions to ask yourself:
1. Is self-employment potentially right for you?
2. If so, which of the four paths to business ownership would be most appropriate for you?
Let’s address both of these important questions.
In the world of work, you have two main career paths: Self-Employment and “Getting a Job.” You’ve probably already gone the “getting a job” route. If you’re reading this article, chances are that you’ve found your jobs unsatisfying. So, now you’re probably asking yourself, “Could self-employment be right for me?”
The following three questions will provide some direction:
1. Why are you exploring entrepreneurial alternatives at this time?
2. Rate your desire/motivation/commitment to have your own business, 1 to 10 (10 being the highest)?
3. If you could land the ideal job OR start your ideal business, which would you choose TODAY?
Focus now on the first of these three questions, because you must first understand your core motivators:
- What’s your WHY? (Lifestyle, income, image/prestige, leave a legacy, control, build equity, self-expression, independence, make a difference, passionate interest, etc.??) Unless you identify and hold onto your deepest need and desire, you will not have a strong likelihood of succeeding. So, spend some time writing about your WHY!
There are Four Paths to Business Ownership:
1. Become a Consultant
2. Buy an Existing Business
3. Start a New Business
4. Buy a Franchise
Below, you will see the “unique considerations” for each of these entrepreneurial pathways. Take some time to answer all the questions in the four categories.
BECOME A CONSULTANT - UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
- What markets will you serve?- What services will you offer?- Who will be your competition?- How will you price your services?- How will you market and sell your services?
BUY AN EXISTING BUSINESS - UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
- What type of business do you want to buy?- How do you envision your own role?- How will you finance the purchase?- What will you expect of the seller?
START A NEW BUSINESS - UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
- What markets will the business serve?- What products or services will you offer?- Who will be your competition?- How will you market and sell your products or services?- How will you finance the business?
BUY A FRANCHISE - UNIQUE CONSIDERATIONS
- What type of business do you want to be in?- How do you envision your own role?- What will you expect from the Franchisor?- How will you finance the purchase?
Go back now, and review all your answers. Then address the questions below, as thoroughly as you can.
What are your “Pros and Cons” for each entrepreneurial option?
1. Become a Consultant
Pros:
Cons:
2. Buy an Existing Business
Pros:
Cons:
3. Start a New Business
Pros:
Cons:
4. Buy a Franchise
Pros:
Cons:
In reviewing this brief list of “Pros and Cons” for each of the four business options, which choice seems best for you right now? Why?
Another way to determine if self-employment could work for you is to consider your own qualifications and preferences. Many people THINK they could successfully own and manage a business – but in reality, this takes a particular kind of person with a specific set of skills. This section will help you do an honest self-assessment.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR OWNING A BUSINESS
The main categories of ability include:
- Marketing and Sales- Financial Management- Operations and Administration- Human Resources- General Management
For each category above, answer these questions:
- What results will the business require each year to become and remain successful?
- What education, training or experience do you have to indicate that you will be capable of producing desired results?
- Are you personally interested in, and willing to do, the required tasks?
- If you do not plan to lead specific parts of the business, who will manage them, and how much will you need to pay those people?
Every business has its challenges, but some of the biggest challenges of self-employment often come from “the inside.” Here are some of the most common personal issues faced by new entrepreneurs.
PREDICTABLE CHALLENGES
- Do you feel certain or doubtful about becoming self-employed?- What are the major challenges or obstacles you will face?- What are your biggest concerns or fears?- What questions or issues do you still have?
There are definitely answers to your questions, and there is help to get you through the transition effectively!
Here are five more questions for you to consider:
1. Two years from now, the qualities that you want most in your work/career are:2. Will you have those qualities in your work if you continue doing what you’ve been doing?3. If not, what changes must you make in order to make these qualities a reality?4. Could business ownership or franchising help you create these desired qualities in your work/career? How?5. If you’re still interested in business ownership, what are the next steps you will take (include approximate dates for completion):
If these exercises have made you decide that self-employment is NOT for you, that’s actually a positive outcome. Think of all the time, frustration and money you’ll save by not going into business! On the other hand, if the questions above have crystallized and clarified your intention to own a business, then nothing should hold you back from the great entrepreneurial adventure.
May you achieve success greater than your dreams!
Self Employment Or Self Improvement :
Self employment and self improvement go hand in hand to some degree or another. It is fair to say (though not always true) that self employment could lead to a state of self improvement in the long term. Plenty of people hold the dream of working on there own account but for many it remains just that, a dream. With so much to worry about such as no job security it is little wonder that most budding business owners give up before they even get started.
Unfortunately for many others there is little choice in the matter. They make up the numbers of the ever growing masses that are pushed out of full time work due to company buy outs and sizedowns or whatever trendy label they give them these days. These are the people who have had the rudest of awakenings from their corporate slumber to realize that there are no jobs for life and no one is safe from the hatchet man.
For these guys its more a case of self employment or no employment. Having said that, many of them now swear its the best thing that ever happened to them because they discovered who they truly are. They have then gone on to travel the road of self improvement realizing that there is more to life than work and that you can have anything you want if you dream hard enough. They will tell you that they now spend more time with their families doing the things that are important to them.
Its a strange culture that we have evolved into since the industrial revolution where everyone seems to think that they are somehow entitled to a job. That employment is a God given right and that someone out there actually owes them a living. If there are no jobs it must be the governments fault or the powers to be. Yep that's it, it must be someone else's fault that they don't have a job so they will sit around and wait until whoever is in charge does something about it.
Then of course there is the other camp. They see the world in a completely different light altogether. To them the world is their work place. I am not just talking about high flying business executives here either but ordinary Joe's and Jane's with manual skills and talents that they sell to whoever needs them. These are the guys who make up the real ranks of the self employed. Their lives are a work in progress and self improvement is the bi product of their labours.
These people chose when they work and where they do it. They are the true masters of their own destinies and not only their lives but the lives of those around them are enriched by this style of living. They don't rely on a huge corporation to pay their check every month or jump when they tell them to. They take their vacation when it suits them and if they need time of to be with their families they don't have to scrape or grovel to some boss. These are the pioneers of this new frontier, the frontier of the self employed and self improved.
About Employment Insurance :
It has often been said that bad things can happen to you even without your cooperation. That can also be said about jobs and careers. Shortage of available work, mass lay-off and retrenchments, reorganizations and mergers, in today fast pace anything can happen. When it comes, the experience can be devastating for many, made worse when savings are not enough, debts are high and payments are in arrears.
Being prepared is always the best way to cushion the effects of loosing income. Having insurance employment makes you continue to enjoy the benefits of income. Employment insurance can aid you on receiving maternity, sickness compassionate care services, provide support for a member of the family who is ill, caring for an infant, even fishing benefits and many more.
To apply for an employment insurance all you have to do is submit an application online. Employment insurance is paid even when the applicant will receive money when unemployed.
When applying for an employment insurance a "Record of Employment" will be required from you that you will have to get from your last employer or a proof of employment like pay slips, pay stubs and certification.
Other documents that you will need when you apply for an Insurance Employment will include:
Social insurance Number. If your SIN number starts with a 9, that means that you are an immigrant and will need to also supply your immigration status and work permit. You will have to supply a record of employment covering the past 52 weeks When claiming for medical and sickness benefit, a medical certificate will have to be furnished. When applying in person, prepare your driver’s license, passport or a birth certificate. Furnish also complete bank information.
Checks or voided checks from your current personal account will be required, as payments will be made direct to that account. When applying for parental benefits, the Social Insurance number of the other parent will be required.
If you are applying for compassionate care benefit, a medical certificate has to be supplied. You will also have to provide your version of the facts surrounding the cause of your unemployment. Together with this is a statement of the total salary before deductions, including commissions and other income benefits, the total amount that you will receive including severance pay, vacation pay, pension etc.
Do not delay when applying for an employment insurance, delaying the application beyond four weeks can cause penalties or loss of benefits.
If you receive financial assistance form the social services while waiting to get the Insurance employment claims, you will have to reimburse the amount out of your employment insurance benefit.
If you are indisposed and can not apply for your employment insurance, an appointment representative can be assigned to do the application on your behalf,
After you have applied for your employment insurance, you will receive in your mail a benefit statement including an access code and the date for your first report. Having an access code does not yet mean that your claim has already been decided on. Together with this will be an instruction on how to complete your report.
If you have filed your report with all the required information satisfied, you will start receiving your employment insurance benefits 28 days after the filing.
Employment For Video Game Designs :
If you are thinking about your career and enjoy playing video games you may want to seriously consider a degree in video game design. You can find employment by designing or playing video games. Here are some employment opportunities with a video game degree.
1) Video Game Programmer They write the code for video games to work properly. It is a hard job because video game programming often entails writing complicated functions and algorithms that is usually more difficult to create than the usuall software written for business applications.
Video game programming may not be the right track for some looking for emloyment in video game design. but if you are to write code and program, why not do it for video games?
2) Video Game Tester
A job as a video game tester you would be paid for playing video games. If you are a video game junkie wouldn't that be great employment for video game designs. What you would be doing is playing the game and look for things that don't work properly or hard to understand because it seems it doesnt add value to the game. You would also try and crash the game to see if you could make things go wrong.
3) Video Game Animator
Animators are the ones who bring the game to life by designing the movement of the video game characters. You work hand in hand with the programmer to accomplish this task. The bottom line is they are responsible for the animation and graphics so if you are somewhat of an artist with imagination this is a great opportunity in employment for video game designs.
4) Sound Designer
Sound designers create music and the sound effects of video games.
If you have an interest in both music and sound, understand and know how to work recording equipment and be familiar with different types of music and sound effects this is another way in employment for video game designs.
5) Game Designer
Video game designers create the feel or experience of the video game that make it fun and exciting to play.
Video game designers should have an interest in video games and some artistic and programming skills.
Positive And Faster Employment With The Right Letter Tips :
There are different available work opportunities that are needed to be filled by people searching for jobs. In fact, there are thousands of job seekers applying for jobs but when it comes to applying, writing cover letters are a part of the job hunting process that every applicant must go through in order to assist employers make a decision in accepting the applicants to become a part of their company.
Cover letters are important for job seekers and also employers as well because it helps assist employers choose from the different applicants applying for a certain position in their company. A cover letter can tell an employer a lot about the applicant overview of what they can do and benefit for their company.
Writing cover letters are not easy but with the right tips, you can be on your way to writing a perfect cover letter. Here are tips in making a perfect cover letter that will get a positive faster employment for job seekers.
Perfect Cover Letter Tips:
1. The applicant should write individual letter application for different positions applicable to the applicant choices and the job applied for.
2. You should not think of yourself like other applicants but think of yourself as a special applicant qualified for the job position.
3. Write your cover letter addressed to a specific person or employer in a direct manner.
4. Cover letters should be brief, positive and well-written that explains the kind of person you are and the reason for writing a cover letter. You can also include experiences that can benefit in the company you are applying for.
5. A cover letter should be brief and easy to skim as employers do not have much time to spend reading a cover letter.
6. Make no repetition on your cover letter already included in the resumes attached to the cover letter.
7. Every applicant is advised to make background research on the company and learn the goals or aims of the company before writing the letter.
8. One thing about writing a cover letter is that you or your friends can proofread it so let your letter be proofread by your friends and yourself before submitting it.
9. Attention-grabbing headings are best when impressing an employer and in the end giving impact to the reader that surely will result in an interview or being hired.
10. Minimize using the "I's" on your cover letter, instead focused on what you can do for the company.
11. Spell check your cover letter and be sure to have it typed and printed in the same paper used also with the resumes. Also, sign your cover letter after its' been written.
12. Cover letters should have an overview of the abilities and skills of the applicant using the selling method to the employer in order to get the job applied for. Cover letters should be in a formal yet business letter format so that employers will become attentive in reading your letter.
Every applicant should have a cover letter for every job application and with it a resume attached. In fact, employers find it much easier if the cover letters are perfect and impressive but these letters should be in brief details emphasizing what benefits the applicants can do for the company.
The right tips for a perfect cover letter can get every applicant the position desired for. With the tips considered, every applicant will have a better writing ability for a cover letter and most likely be a candidate for a faster employment. (Articles From Employment and Requiring.
