What are the steps to becoming Gainfully Unemployed?

Written by Edward B. Toupin


Being Gainfully Unemployed is actually a state of mind---a spiritual awakening and a way of life. Or, it isrepparttar fact that you decided to quit your day job and do something fun and exciting. Or, it could be that renting snorkels on a beach in Mexico provides a better chance for advancement. It is whatever you want it to be! The idea behind becoming Gainfully Unemployed is to work for yourself in such a way that you can actually do better for yourself than as a full-time employee for someone else.

I've always been a highly schedule-oriented individual. I need to have an organized list of tasks that direct me toward an ultimate goal. With that, I knew that if I was ever going to leave my full-time job, I had to sit down and map out my direction. Of course, I had no idea which direction I was going, so I had to figure that out as well.

This article provides an overview ofrepparttar 117984 steps I took in developing my plan of attack. I had to determine what I wanted, where I wanted to go, and how I had to get there.

* Prepare Your Plan The plan isrepparttar 117985 most important part of starting out on your new endeavor. It is essential to map out your direction so to know how to get to where you want to go. The also plan helps you know when you get there. It can be used for motivation, direction, ideas, and helping to keep you on track when your brain starts down a tangent.

The plan itself is based on three important items:

*repparttar 117986 Mission, *repparttar 117987 Vision, and * your Goals.

The Mission is a short statement about your overall direction---what you plan to do. The Vision identifies where you might see yourself in five years---your long term objective and direction. The Goals identify short-term objectives---the stepping stones to achieve your Mission and reach your Vision.

* Set Yourself Up There are two ways to make it happen for you: quit your job now or set yourself up to be able to step off into a comfortable opportunity. I would suggestrepparttar 117988 latter as life is much easier when you make it happen your way instead of having to claw and pray that you can pay your bills.

Gainfully Unemployed... Making the decision to strike out on your own!

Written by Edward B. Toupin


They say marriage, birth, death, changing residence, and changing jobs are five ofrepparttar more stressful situations that a human being can encounter---they all take a lot of courage. Courage, however, doesn't payrepparttar 117983 bills. To be successful, you not only need courage, but you also need a combination of hard work, skill, perseverance, and several personal factors that can ensure your success.

I maderepparttar 117984 change from being full-time employed to self-employed after years of preparation. Some people haverepparttar 117985 time to prepare, while others have to make an immediate decision. Downsizing and job loss are two major reasons for starting out on your own. Other reasons may be that you want to take advantage of your talents or simply change careers. There are many reasons. But, if you still have a job, why leave? Right? Maybe not.

--- Influencing Factors ---

Before you can takerepparttar 117986 leap into being Gainfully Unemployed, you have to step back and look at things to make sure you're makingrepparttar 117987 right decision. First, analyze why you want to make this move.

The reasons that make people decide can be divided into two categories: "reactive reasons" and "active reasons." Reactive reasons detract from working for others---negative reasons that "push" you out. Active reasons attract you to leaving your current situation---positive reasons that "pull" you out. It is usually better to be pulled out than pushed out as reactive reasons tend to stick with you from job to job. If you're pulled out, you're going somewhere for greener pastures instead of leaving because you've become dissatisfied with policy.

In either case,repparttar 117988 following list contains some ofrepparttar 117989 more common active reasons that cause people to leave their full-time jobs:

* Finances: Get paid forrepparttar 117990 extra effort you put into your work. * Freedom: Decide for yourself and maintain a flexible schedule. * Quality of Life: Live a better and healthier life. * Family: Spend more time with your family. * Adventure: Break out ofrepparttar 117991 mould and take a risk. * Bureaucracy: Tired ofrepparttar 117992 red tape and political in-fighting. * Creativity: Express your ideas and produce your products without interference. * Control: Take total control of your life and your direction.

Can you see any of your personal reasons listed? If so, you're not alone.

--- Do I have what it takes? ---

Most people do have what it takes, but they don't know it yet. Being able to work independently is not as easy as working for someone else, especially since you becomerepparttar 117993 workforce andrepparttar 117994 management. Once you takerepparttar 117995 first step and decide to work for yourself, you then have to make it happen, successfully. That's an entirely different situation.

It takes a certain set of characteristics to make an independent endeavor successful. Some ofrepparttar 117996 more common, yet unique, traits of successful independents are as follows. Pay attention to them a judge yourself for each!

* Achievement Many people measure their achievement based on income, while others through their accomplishments. You'll need to gauge your success on your accomplishments and achievements. This means that you must accomplish your goals and move forward torepparttar 117997 next in an established pattern.

* Social It's a lonely world out there, and being independent amplifies this issue. To be successful, you can't have a need to be around people allrepparttar 117998 time, nor should it matter if you're liked. Exercising power is important to many people and, in most cases that's all that some people know how to do. You're in business to achieve your goals, and that's all there is to it. Be a non-conformist!

* Commitment You have to be able to follow through on a commitment. This means that when you sign a contract or shake a hand, you're in torepparttar 117999 end.

* Objectivity With commitment comesrepparttar 118000 need for an objective view. You need to weigh risks associated with a course of action as well as be realistic about your abilities.

* Expertise With your technical expertise and experiences, you should be able to properly judge your projects to determine if you can succeed.

* Attitude You'll encounter strange, new worlds and you will have to adapt, learn, and succeed under new circumstances. Always be optimistic and always maintain your emotions when dealing with others. Be positive!

* Money Don't take money for granted and try to view it as a means to an end. Use money as a way to accomplish things and to keep score in your new world.

* Resourceful You have to think on your feet, have enough knowledge to know where to look for answers, have a networking group available, and be a solid problem solver.

* Relationships Personal relationship skills are important, as you will need to properly represent yourself and your company under all circumstances.

* Communication Skills Communications skills are important, as you will need to provide legible presentations, reports, e-mail, and documentation to your clients.

* Anticipate Be proactive and be able to anticipate developments before they occur. Ifrepparttar 118001 issue is an important one, act on it beforerepparttar 118002 issue requires attention.

* Organized Be able to maintain a tight, prioritized schedule and make sure you don't waste time on items that are better left undone.

* Discipline and Hard Work Sit down and dorepparttar 118003 work. Ignore distractions and make sure you accomplish your goals.

How do your personal traits match up against those mentioned above? Take note that age, sex, martial status, and education have very little to do withrepparttar 118004 actual success of anyone deciding to become an independent. Many people succeed as teenagers while many don't feelrepparttar 118005 desire to even try until they are in their late 40's.

Ifrepparttar 118006 information doesn't sound like you, then you'll need to think long and hard about your decision. In some cases, you can learn those aspects you're missing. In others, your ability to succeed is left up to your ability to adapt. Another option is to hire others to handle those tasks, or provide those traits, that you're missing. For instance, if you're a poor organizer, hire a secretary to manage your schedule or hire a project manager to handle your anticipation and objectivity issues.

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