What Your Guidance Counselor, Career Counselor, and Own Mother Probably Never Told You...
The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely early hour. As you hit the snooze button you think, "there's gotta be a better way to make a living." As someone who rolled out of bed this morning at 8:30, I'm here to deliver the good news: there is.
A lot of people dream of escaping "Dilbert's world" and being their own boss. Perhaps the biggest reason these dreams get derailed is money. Or, more accurately, faulty thinking about what it means to "make a living." I'm no exception. For a long time I thought before I could take the leap to self-employment, I had to first figure out a venture that would generate the same amount of income as I was then earning.
Develop Multiple Profit Centers
Not so, says Barbara Winter, self-bosser and author of Making a Living Without a Job Winter is an enthusiastic advocate of what she calls "multiple profit centers." Instead of thinking in terms of a single income, i.e. a "job," Winter recommends aspiring entrepreneurs develop several income sources.
Outdoor enthusiast and neighbor Bob Sadowski is living proof that you can have your cake and eat it too. Bob lives on 80 acres in rural Plainfield, MA where he's parlayed his life passions into his livelihood. When not running New England Bob's Snowmobile Tours of Quebec snowmobiling tours throughout Quebec (one covers nearly 1,100 miles) this vintage car enthusiast specializes in buying and selling antique car and truck parts out of his barn.
Today my income comes from five sources:
Keep Your Day Job
Maybe you aren't interested in quitting your job but you like the idea of not having all your eggs in one basket. When traveling to San Francisco, I stay in an apartment in a lovely hilltop home in the Ashbury Heights section of the city. The owner is a Bay area native who, in addition to teaching reading to grade schoolers (which she absolutely loves), has set up several additional sources of income.
For one, she rents the in-law apartment to tourists through the local B&B association on per night basis earning considerably more than she would with a year-round tenant. For weekend and summer time income, she parlayed her knowledge and love of the city into a personal tour guide business with a steady stream of customers right in her own home. She even takes in a few extra bucks renting videos to her overnight guests.
Maybe you don't really like your job but can't afford to just up and quit. Say your long-range goal is to make $50,000. You don't need to be a math whiz to know there are different ways you can slice and dice this. For simplicity sake, though, let's say you decide to set up five income streams, each generating $10,000. Since you'll be building your multiple income streams while you're still gainfully employed, starting two side businesses simultaneously is probably about your max time-wise.
What you now have is a monthly goal for each business of just over $800. That's $200 a week. If making $20,000 a year seemed daunting, Winter says, psychologically earning $200 is more feasible: "Knowing what your financial goal is makes it easier to determine what action you'll need to take to accomplish it."
So what are you waiting for? It's your life!
"Off the beaten career path" consultant, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at http://www.ChangingCourse.com, offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Redbook, Entrepreneur's Business Start Ups, and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, she's presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to thousands of people.
MORE RESOURCES:
 The Guardian | 'jOBS' Movie to Film in Los Altos Garage Where Apple Began PC Magazine By David Murphy There's something strange about the thought of Hollywood reconstructing Steve Jobs' early Los Altos, California home on a backlot somewhere in Southern California. Thankfully, for Apple purists, filming for one of the two Steve Jobs ... On the trail of Steve Jobs in California Sorkin says Jobs movie won't be straight biography Ashton Kutcher's Steve Jobs Movie 'jOBS' Begins Filming in the Original Apple ... |
 USA TODAY | Even a short-term job can build your career USA TODAY By Andrea Kay, Gannett By Andrea Kay You may not see a job at a home-improvement store as your career destination, but what you learn along the way can help you achieve whatever career you desire. You may not see a job at a home-improvement store as ... |
 Newsday | Fla. April jobless rate drops to 8.7 percent, state loses jobs but thousands ... Washington Post Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 8.7 percent even though the state lost jobs in April because thousands of people left the labor force. The Department of Economic Opportunity reported on Friday that April's seasonally adjusted rate declined by ... South Bay adds 3600 jobs, strongest employment gains for April in entire state California labor market stumbles in April; state loses 4200 jobs Unemployment Rate Drops; As Does Number of Jobs |
 IBNLive.com | Obama: leaders agreed growth and jobs 'top priority' Politico "All the leaders here today agreed growth and jobs must be our top priority," he said. "The direction the debate has taken lately should give us confidence." "There's now an emerging consensus that more must be done to promote growth and job creation ... G8 leaders commit to 'growth and jobs' Growth, jobs must for stable economy: Obama Obama: Eurozone 'must focus on jobs and growth' |
 FOX6Now.com Milwaukee | Jobs number dispute really more about state's economic direction Milwaukee Journal Sentinel If you're like most people who tried to follow last week's spate of news on counting jobs, you are thoroughly confused by now about how many people actually work in Wisconsin. Did Wisconsin lose 33900 jobs last year, as one set of numbers shows, ... Business leader says state's jobs numbers don't add confidence EDITORIAL: Growth in jobs? Who objects? |
Summer jobs market seems to be improving in Oklahoma City area NewsOK.com BY PAULA BURKES | Published: May 20, 2012 Leave a comment University of Oklahoma junior Ed Murphy looked only four days for a summer job before he found one with Lowe's in Norman. Granted, Murphy landed the job before spring break several weeks ago. |
 World News Resource | Steve Jobs played key role in developing the next iPhone Los Angeles Times By Salvador Rodriguez Deceased Apple co-founder Steve Jobs played a key part in developing the next iPhone, which is expected to be redesigned and have a larger screen than past models. Jobs, who died in October a day after the iPhone 4S was announced, ... Possibly Steve Jobs' Last Hoorah … The iPhone 5, A Bigger Screen With 4G LTE ... iPhone 5 Release Date Rumors: Steve Jobs Impact on Apple iOS 6 Smartphone Steve Jobs worked closely on 4″ iPhone |
Job market looking up for local grads Washington Examiner Graduation ceremonies are increasingly turning into sendoffs for gainful employment rather than a sobering reminder of mounting student debt and job rejections for the newest members of the real world in the Washington area. "Employers can ill afford ... |
 FOX6Now.com Milwaukee | Report: Wisconsin lost 5900 jobs in April BusinessWeek By TODD RICHMOND Wisconsin lost nearly 6000 jobs in April according to preliminary monthly data state labor officials released Thursday, putting Republican Gov. Scott Walker on the defensive as he faces a June 5 recall election. Round 2: Walker and Barrett stake out opposing positions Candidates for governor talk about recent polls, jobs Recall Roundup: Jobs back in focus as new report shows losses |
GOP leader denies Democratic claims that he's hurting the economy to hurt ... Chicago Tribune Boehner responded in a statement: "Republicans have passed nearly 30 bills that would help small businesses create jobs and we are waiting on Senate Democrats to vote on these common-sense measures. The failure to act on these jobs bills, ... |
Match, Meet, and Mesmerize at a Job Fair
Are you considering another trip through the career maze? Attending a job fair can make you feel like you are playing a losing game unless you have a clear understanding of the rules. Here are a few suggestions for making the most of any job fair, and gaining a competitive edge.
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The traditional model of career choice suggests a linear pattern. Get to know yourself.
Knowing and Guessing
The line between average and exceptional work performance is dotted with ordinary day-by-day behaviors. I was reminded of that line recently.
Helping Mid-Life Employees Find Meaning
People work to live, but most also live to work. A study on the meaning of work conducted back in 1987 revealed a strong attachment to work as a way of life.
Staying In Shape
Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a book that caught my eye both because of its unusual title and because I coach lawyers who are growing their practices. The book cover says it gives "Inspirational Ideas for Lawyers Wanting More Out of Life"Much of what Mr.
A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read
You're still reading-so I know my title grabbed your attention.Why? Because it 'packed a punch.
Energizing Synergy
Would you like to have more energy and synergy in your job and career? If you are not enjoying work the way you used to and if you would like to contribute in a manner that produces more results with less effort, then Energizing Synergy is what you need to cultivate.Be honest with yourself for a moment and answer the following questions: Are you energized or drained at the end of a workday?Are you out of sync with the business direction the company is taking, and do you understand the business rationales for any new changes?Do you do your part to promote an upbeat and positive work environment?Are you constantly learning at work? ENERGYEnergy is the effort you vigorously exert to accomplish a task or to do your work.
How to Get Hired by Being Obvious
If you want a drink of water, do you hire a focus group or pick up the Yellow Pages? No. You go to the kitchen, fill a glass and drink.
Put Some Mystery in Your Life
Mystery shoppers. For some it conjures up images of private eyes and undercover detectives.
Job Search: Age-Proofing Your Resume
Older job hunters fear interviews where their age cannot be concealed and where an initial response of dismay on an interviewer's face, quickly hidden, confirms their anticipation of discrimination. The mature job seeker often prefers the anonymity of mailed resumes, e-mailed inquiries, internet applications, and telephone contacts.
Rethink Your Career Transition
Are you going nowhere in your career? If you've decided it's time to change your career completely, here's a new way of changing!Before you jump ship, think about what's been happening in your career. Have you been making little or no progress for some time? You may be in the throes of what George Leonard, author of Mastery, calls the "plateau".
Before You Begin, Know What To Expect - How You Can Make a Living Proof Reading From Home
Proof reading from home is an excellent way to make money, right? How hard and challenging can it be to do some editing after all?In fact it can be quite challenging to find a good quality proofreader that works from their house. This is due in part to the heavy demands it places on the individual and on their family.
Nine Career Zappers
Today, everyone is looking for the secret to business success. Professionals read books, take training classes, ask questions, study others that are successful and strive to outperform themselves.
Practice Speaking
For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any more than going on a blind date is. You are asked a bunch of questions about your work.
Taking Charge During An Interview!
Perhaps you've found yourself in the position of seeking a new position due to a layoff, cutback or downsizing and are now facing the interviewing process. As scary as that may seem, one of the most critical points to remember is that just because you're sitting in the seat opposite the potential employer doesn't mean you have no control.
Job! Money! Career!
Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE - The reality of life for MBAs is Excel or PowerPoint , I heard Google is catching up at campus. Having gone through this myself, (I am still not out of it!), having had the nightmare of freshly minted MBAs reporting to me every year ( 90% of MBAs in their first job believe that their first Boss in Incompetent) and struggling to manage their transition to reality, guess I am now in a position to give some Gyan on assessing your job and career moves.
Common Résumé Mistakes
Using a general résumé.DON'T DO IT! You cannot successfully use the same résumé to apply to several different jobs.
Experience Hear-See-Do
Research indicates that we retain only 10% of what we hear; 20% of what we see; 65% of what we hear and see; but 90% of what we hear, see, and do.Every day at work we demonstrate Hear-See-Do when we use a combination of our knowledge, wisdom and skill to perform a task or plan what we will do at a later date.
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