High unemployment forces people to look for new opportunities and options to make money, and self-employment is a natural solution to job problems. But for those who have had self-employment forced upon them, it may become a negative experience that’s far unlike that of the passionate entrepreneur who has always dreamed of owning their own business. How does the saying go? Some are born to be self-employed, some achieve self-employment…and some have self-employment thrust upon them.
Choosing Self-Employment
A recent article at the Southern California Public Radio site talks at length about the difference between choosing self-employment, and being forced into it. While some strive toward full-time self-employment because they crave the isolation, the control and the freedom, others find themselves alone and unsupported at a very scary life moment: being out of work.
For some, choosing self-employment isn’t much of a choice at all. High unemployment rates force people to start looking for ways to make money, and self-employment seems like a viable option. But self-employment isn’t something a professional can choose to pick up casually. It can be very lonely, demanding work. There is a support system in place, but many professionals don’t know how to find it or even how to look for it. And with so many people currently struggling with unemployment, competition in self-employment is intense.
Self-Employment Realities
What’s the difference between those who choose self-employment, and those who feel like they have no other choice? It’s like the difference between really liking exercise, and doing it only because the doctor says you ought to. If you don’t have passion and drive for a task, the task feels much, much harder -- it becomes a chore and a duty, instead of a joy. And self-employment is definitely no picnic, despite common misconceptions.
Being successfully self-employed requires constant job-hunting and client-soothing. Some self-employed professionals may have to re-do the same piece of work over and over again to satisfy a client or customer -- extra work that doesn’t come with extra money. Self-employed professionals have to strongly market themselves in order to keep getting money-making opportunities, particularly when competition in any job market is fierce. For many, the loneliness, odd hours and isolation of self-employment is too much to handle. For others, it’s all part of the perks of the job.
Self-employment isn’t a viable fallback position for some underemployed and unemployed professionals who are struggling to find work, but others may find they enjoy the hard work and the responsibility of being in charge. Professionals who struggle with self-employment might want to focus their efforts on local markets, and market by meeting people or passing out business cards rather than learning how to Tweet on the Internet. The key to success at self-employment is finding a way to make it work for you. That’s the beauty of being self-employed: everyone goes about it in their own way.
KC Morgan - KC Morgan has been the featured writer in Self-Employment since 2006, using personal experience to create guides to being self-employed.
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