Being Self-employed

For a lot of people, the words self employed conjure up an image of
relaxing on a comfy sofa, tapping away at a laptop, of lazy late morning
lie 'ins, and the chance to escape the daily grind of the nine to five.
Whilst this might be the case for a very lucky minority, for most self
employed people, working life is far from the romantic notion dreamed up
by a wishful few. In fact, being self employed usually means working
longer hours for less cash than your weekday working friends. So why do
a brave few subject themselves to the worry and working demands of being
self employed?

* The chance to do what you love. For many self employed people, their
choice of work directly relates to what they love and what they're best
at. Finding it difficult to motivate yourself to get up for another day
of database entry? When your work is also your passion getting into bed
might just prove to be harder than getting out of it in the morning.

* The chance to get involved in every element of business. Thinking
about self employment because you can't stand working with others?….
Think again. Being self employed means taking responsibility for all
your business's functions. In many cases you'll be your own marketing
department, your most important sales representative and your best
receptionist and secretary, all at the same time. Sounds like hard work
right? Definitely. But the chance to run a business exactly the way you
want is a powerful motivator for most self employees.

* The lure of success. Whilst it's fair to say that salaries can be
excellent at the top end of individual professions, those who are
successfully self employed consider the personal rewards, and sense of
achievement, to be far greater than that of working for someone else.
After all, you've achieved without the safety net that a large company
provides, a considerable feat.

* Flexibility. Chances are you won't be starting work at ten and
finishing in time for a mid afternoon nap, at least not to start. After
all, a wiser man than myself once said, 'you only get out what you put
in'. But being self employed offers you greater flexibility than the
rigidity of the 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, existence. Whether you work
better early in the morning or late at night, you manage your own
schedule and hours. For people with other commitments; single parents
for example, self employment can mean a much better harmony between the
workplace and home.

* Support. No longer does self employed doesn't mean 'on your own'.
These days there are literally hundreds of organisations that exist
solely to assist the self employed and small businesses. Whether you
need a financial boost to start up your company, advice on who to pitch
to for new contracts, or even just someone to talk through an idea with,
there are numerous support channels out there to aid you and your ventures.

Being self employed isn't for everyone. It requires drive and
determination, and there is a degree of risk involved that proves too
much for some. But the rewards of succeeding as your own boss can be
staggering, both financially and in terms of personal development. After
all, ask a self employed person if they would ever return to the strains
of working for someone else, and chances are the answer will be a
resounding no.