Self Employed

Being self employed is typically thought of as working in your own business, as opposed to working for someone else's business. However, you can start working for yourself today, even if you are working in someone else's business. It all a matter of perspective.


You are an employee when you are working for someone else, but you don't have to think of yourself in that way. Think of yourself as self employed. Even if you're flipping burgers, you're in the business of selling your labor, right? And business people think differently than employees.


The word "employee" often carries connotations of slavery, as in the expression "wage slave." It is associated with a loss of control, a sense that the "boss" is the one calling the shots. What an awful thought! There is a better way.
Be In Business Starting Today


My employers have never been more than customers to me. If I dodn't like the terms or price, I negotiate or go elsewhere. There are opportunities everywhere, after all. This attitude has meant I've never felt trapped in a job I didn't like. I look at jobs as business opportunities, and choose the best one at any given time. If my own business is a better one, as it is now, then I do that.


Ther is nothing sadder than bitter workers who feel cheated and dependent on an employer. I have had terrible employers, but they never made me bitter. In any business you sometimes work for customers you don't like, if the pay is worth it.
Many years ago I worked at a casino. As a reservation casino they could get away with not paying minimum wage. With the tips, we made good money, in fact more than any of the five other casinos in the state. Most of the workers were bitter, though, because the employer wasn't doing what they were "supposed to do."


They had their employee mentality, and so felt cheated. As a businessman, I could look at it objectively and see they were paying more than other potential buyers of my labor. They certainly were a "problem customer" in many respects, but I chose to do business with them, so I couldn't feel bitter about it.
How To Be Self Employed


It helps to have money in the bank. "Wage slavery" is only true to the extent that you've put yourself into that position. It takes only a few weeks to find another customer for your labor. Anytime you feel you can't quit your job tomorrow, you're probably not arranging your financial affairs properly. Any smart businessman plans for ups and downs.
Here is what you need to do to support your new perspective: put a little money aside, keep out of bad debt (only debt that produces income or profits is good debt) and keep your fixed expenditures low. Take responsibility today for your choices. You are in business, selling labor, skills and knowledge.


You are opening your mind to the possibilities of better jobs and business activities. These are nice advantages, but not the best reason to adopt this attitude. You see, even if you stay at your job for thirty years, you will feel free, and not dependent. This is YOUR business decision, and the freedom that comes with this acceptance of responsibilty is the best reason to take this perspective. Starting today, you are self employed.

Free Money Through Grants

It's posted all over the Internet. You hear it on the radio, and see it on television. The United States government is giving away free money in the form of federal grants. While it's true that the government does indeed award $400 billion annually through its 26 federal entities, the statement of free money through the government doesn't exactly pinpoint the definition of a federal grant.


A grant isn't a gift or a free-for-all giveaway. It also doesn't mean that if you've been awarded a grant, you've won the lottery. According to American Government and Politics by Jay M. Shafritz, a grant is "a form of gift that entails certain obligations on the part of the grantee and expectations on the part of the grantor." The key word in this definition of the word is obligations. Getting a government grant will get you an unbelievable amount of obligations, and not fulfilling your obligations will, in turn, grant you legal problems.


The majority of federal grants that are awarded are the farthest thing from being considered free money. Grants are most often awarded to organizations planning major projects to benefit a community. It could include money to be used for repaving streets in a city. A grant could also be awarded for a nonprofit organization featuring an art exhibit or musical performance. Grants are also awarded for technological research, conservation, and flood control projects. While there are other sources that are awarded grant funding, in general, the free money aspect is lost, and individuals, in general, are not qualified for most grants other than those used for educational purposes such as to pay tuition bills for higher education. Businesses can also tap into the federal grant program, but only by meeting strict criteria through the government agency offering the grant, such as if grant funding is available for research in a particular area that is of specialty to that business.


Once the free money is provided through the grant, the organization that has been awarded the free money must keep careful track of all project expenditures. Organizations that are awarded free money must be prepared for detailed audits, which will be conducted by the Federal government annually or more often. Any money not spent and accounted for goes back to the United States Treasury, and is not extra free money for the organization. Detailed program goals must be developed, approved, and completed by the organization exactly as specified in the grant application without exception. Any unforeseen project changes that occur along the way must receive prior approval by the government agency that awarded the grant. All project phases must be completed as planned, and even more importantly, completed successfully and on time.


The free money offered through a grant program can lead to financial and legal disaster to an organization that does not abide by the strict rules that the grant holds. By failing on a part of the obligation agreed upon when the grant is approved, the organization and/or persons in charge are held accountable. Penalties can range from economic sanctions to prison in the instance of improper use or theft of this free money.


The majority of grants, or free money, that is requested is applied for and awarded to other Federal agencies, state governments, city governments, colleges, universities, and research organizations and businesses. Few individuals have the money, time, and expertise necessary to prepare adequate applications that are awarded free money through federal grant funding. Most active grant seekers, such as universities, employ full-time grant writers to do nothing but apply for and administer Federal grant funding. A full staff of grant writers is not uncommon at a large university.


Because this free money through Federal grants is carefully monitored, the truth is that the money isn't actually free. Applying for Federal grants takes an unbelievable amount of time. Additionally, by even unintentionally not abiding by the grant's requirements, as mentioned, an individual that is unfamiliar with the Federal government's grant programs can find themselves in a financial or legal disaster. With Federal funding cutbacks and the competition for grant fundings becoming more intense, seeking free money through a grant requires not only time, but also money, with no guarantee of success.


Stating it plainly, Federal grants and free money are fictitious. Often, it's more work, not to mention more time and money spent obtaining a Federal grant, than obtaining a low interest loan. Large organizations, such as universities, can benefit from grant funding much easier because they can apply for multiple grants at once, and a skilled, knowledgeable staff can monitor the grant's use carefully. A small business or organization may not see as much success in obtaining a grant due to the time needed to apply, monitor funds, and prepare materials for auditing.


The plain truth is that with federal funding cutbacks and competition for them becoming more intense, seeking a federal grant always requires a lot of time and potentially a lot of money up front with no guarantee of success. Dedication is needed, and is the most important part of attempting to obtain free money through grant funding.


Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ®, an online community for women in business. A 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find business loans and business grants. Visit her site: Business Grants for Women http://www.digital-women.com

Bye Bye Boss

So you have this great idea and are convinced that you are the right person to make it work. 75% of people starting their own job are motivated by the idea of starting a new career. The other 25% is made of unfortunate victims of lay-offs or company restructuration. Those have less chance of succeeding because success is first and foremost a matter of attitude. Based on some studies, only 10% of people are made to be an entrepreneur. Are you one of them?
Do you know how to sell yourself? Do you know your market? Do you have a good network of contacts? Can you handle the risk of having no revenue for a while? These are all questions you should ask yourself before making the big jump. The first victim of building your own job is the revenue and this is why 25% of people starting a new business fail the first year. Those who don't make it are disorganized, unable to sell themself or have a wrong evaluation of their market.


How to avoid these problem?
A good business plan is a must before you start anything. The plan will give you the potential of your idea, the objectives to obtain and follow, and the direction you want to take. Be honest with yourself while building your plan. For example, do you start your business to make more money than before, to have more free time, or to make extra money while keeping a regular job? This will all lead to different objectives and different directions. Once your business plan is written, stick to it!


Your business plan will also make you discover your strengths and your weaknesses. This is important for the next advice: do not try to do everything by yourself. Do not hesitate to hire someone for tasks you're not good at. You're not good with numbers? Then don't waste your time doing your own accounting. You know nothing in PhP? Sub-contract a programmer. This way you will put all your energy into what you're good at. This will also help you to focus on your core business which is very important.


Network. This is also very important. Let people know you exist. Participate in forums, conferences, associations, events. Be eager to learn; the more you know, the better you are. Take the time to follow courses, read, ask questions.


Work. It may sounds obvious but believe it or not a lot of people think they only need a good idea or follow the steps of a 'get rich quick' scheme to succeed. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. The only 'get rich quick' schemes that I know are winning the lottery or inherit from a rich parent. If you want to succeed in your business you have to be prepared to work. Even if your objective is to have more free time to spend with your family, as paradoxal as it sounds, you will have to work more to succeed at working less ;-)


Be prepared to spend money. You have to invest in your business to make it work. It goes from a good computer, office supplies, and other equipments related to your business to publicity, exposure and marketing strategies. The good news is that, as an entrepreneur, most of your expenses are tax deductibles. Ask a good accountant about this.
With all that in mind do you still think you are made for having your own job? I hope so because there is nothing like being your own boss while doing what you love and turning your hobby into a cash machine