Comments on: Working for yourself: the REAL pros and cons

By: Ron Williams

Ron Williams — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:47:00 +0000

I’ve been “retired” for a little over 2 years now and I’m miserable.

I am so qualified at what I do, it seems a waste sitting around with nothing to do.

I am financially secure so I don’t have to work, but I want to.

I have a distaste for marketing of my services (design) and I’m trying to decide what the best method is to let people know of my availability. I’ve considered advertising in a local newspaper and using direct mail to certain people who may need my services. I’m not into using a blog as a means of “getting my message out there”. I don’t have a website and discount whether it would actually bring business my way.

I don’t ever again want a structured schedule – 8 to 12, 1 to 5 – obligation like I had when working for someone else. I expect I will have a 9 to 9 schedule when working on my own because I love what I know how to do. It invigorates me. It is an additional reward to see my designs actually get constructed.

Not having been in the selling end of the business where I toiled for 40 years leaves me a little nervous about how successful I will be. But I’m going to give it a try.

I really like your comments and the manner in which they are presented. Have you ever thought about elaborating on them further and publishing them as a self help book?

By: Jenny Ryan

Jenny Ryan — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:58:40 +0000

"For me, not seeing people and not talking to people is like, the highlight of my life. " ME TOO!! It's so nice to know other people who feel that way. All the people around me kind of look at me funny when I attempt to sing the praises of Getting To Be Alone. Jenny Ryans last blog post..When Crankiness And Pop Music Meet

By: Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:03:51 +0000

When I was self-employed, I was happy, and I earned a lot of money. Unfortunately, as many others, I did´nt know when to stop, either. As a courier, I met a lot of people, but I didn´t have to stay with them for long, which was up to my liking. Now, I am in a position I passionately love. Being on half-time old-age employment as a teacher gives me the time to care for my family and trying out new methods with my students. It helps me tolerate the sometimes useless decisions of the educational authorities, and it gives me the time for doing the things I like. Employed or self-employed? I am not allowed to start up any self-employed activities at the moment and earn money by that, but so much is sure: Being on full-time old-age-pension, I won´t hesitate to start up something new... Ralphs last blog post..The benefits of civil aviation

By: Four blog posts I loved to read « Ulla Hennig’s Weblog

Four blog posts I loved to read « Ulla Hennig’s Weblog — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:12:12 +0000

[...] Brooks post “Working for yourself: the REAL pros and cons”. I am working as an employee myself, but many of my women friends are working as freelancers. So I [...]

By: Mahala Mazerov

Mahala Mazerov — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:42:26 +0000

The not-stopping thing is big. So is the not getting paid for everything you're doing when you're not stopping. How bizarre is it that I'm going to have to use your Procrastination Dissolve O Matic to stop putting off consistent break times? And I'm sick. I'm having adrenal problems. Hmm. Any connection, do you think? Darling sensitive freaking flowers all. Mahala Mazerovs last blog post..Suffering By Desire

By: bradysbeau

bradysbeau — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:35:01 +0000

you are my new hero…..

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:05:24 +0000

Great post.

Here’s the story I always tell about why I love working for myself:

Before starting my own little fair trade import business, I worked inside-the-beltway, inside-an-office-or-cubicle labor union jobs. I would be forced to go to meetings with various muckety-mucks, and never say anything, but just be there as an institutional presence.

Last year, I was at a meeting of female fair trade importers, at a cultural institution inside-the-very-same-beltway. It was the type of meeting where people passed business cards around the conference table. And, guess what? I talked! It was liberating. And, I figured that hey, I’m the institution now, and can say what I want, since it’s all me.

I had rarely felt so free.

By: debra

debra — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:32:26 +0000

Hi Havi,

I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months now and just wanted to thank you. I love your message, your style, and your humor.

I’m having an emergency vacation/mental health day myself to day.

Debbie

By: Fred S

Fred S — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:23:48 +0000

Different strokes for different folks, but I love being out on my own. It really boils down to what you are willing to sacrifice. Cash flow and insurance security sacrificed for independence and control over your own destiny? Tough teeter-totter to ride. Fred Ss last blog post..Parking Meters

By: Janet Goldstein

Janet Goldstein — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:13:33 +0000

Here, here. I’d add that working on your own business is great for learning every day. If you hit a rut you quickly snap out of it (or your work will shrivel and die) and you constantly add to your mix of offers, colleagues/partners, approaches, and percolating ideas.

Buy hey, if you’re on vacation, why don’t you role model vacation?! Truly immersing in the moment and not having goals, needy readers (children, in-laws, bosses)? It’s a different kind of discovery and renewal. (I especially liked a home exchange vacation in Umbria, Italy, where we had to make searches for Internet Points that were open at odd hours. We definitely reconnected as a family by cooking, drinking wine, playing cards, exploring towns, etc.)