Are you ready to take the entreprenurial plunge?

With my crazy schedule and my desire to have income coming in from other places, I’ve often wondered whether or not I’m in a place where some small-time entrepreneurship (insert giggle here) is something I can even realistically consider right now. Honestly, I’ve been playing at building this place up for a year now, and haven’t had the time to devote to it, even in small, late-night spurts because of all the other demands on my time.

It doesn’t change the fact that I have to augment my income beyond what I’m earning at my part-time job, especially this month, when so many days have been lost unexpectedly to the snow and wind. I read somewhere that this makes me an entrepreneur of necessity. It’s not so much that I’m doing it because I want to (except I really do want to be my own boss), I have to do it because my life won’t quite work otherwise.

With all of this in mind, I read this great list of tips to help you decide whether or not entrepreneurship should be on your radar right before the wind knocked the power out of Seattle. I’m contemplating on it long and hard right now as I work to wrap up 2006 and look toward 2007. Maybe I’ll figure out the right balance to make it all start coming together seriously because the vast majority of that list sounds exactly like me. I just have to be willing to step up and take charge.

All that aside, I’m still really, really hoping to find a business manager under my Christmas tree…

Partner up for strength

I’ve been shifting from Bloglines to Google Reader, and just finally caught up on all of my reading. One of the gems was an article from Fast Company last week on not being afraid to show your shortcomings. I thought that sounded an awful like my honesty post from Monday.

I think for an entrepreneur or a freelancer, an easy to combat the discomfort of exposing your weaknesses is to find someone who is strong where you are not and team up with them. Ideally, this is really how any entrepreneur should be hiring. In this case, you are recognizing areas that could potentially cause you trouble in the long run, and addressing those areas by finding someone who can do those tasks far better than you could on your own.

What kind of entrepreneur are you?

The Business Opportunities Weblog recently shared a post on the nine types of entrepreneurs.

Despite all of my attempts to sabotage myself, I think I’m actually a blend of the adviser, builder/creator, and the communicator/trainer. I’m looking to build my corner of the world around my teaching, writing, and artistic capabilities, each of which come fairly easily to me. When I remember that, it helps to still the negative voices in my head looking to stop me routinely.

Take a look at the corner of the world you’re trying to claim. What kind of entrepreneur are you trying to be in your own little corner?

Ask for help

I read this great blog entry that suggests that entrepreneurs need to learn to ask for help in completing the tasks they aren’t strong in completing themselves, and somehow misplaced the link.

For some time now, I’ve been saying I need a business manager because I know there are certain things I’m not good at that someone else would be better off doing to make sure they’re done correctly. My friends just sit there and laugh. These would be the same friends who aren’t willing to offer much more than verbal support with no real support behind it.

I think part of what makes a successful businessperson is the ability to identify their own weaknesses and then find creative ways to resolve those weaknesses, even when it includes bringing on more personnel.

Ten ways to improve your business

I’m always looking for ways to make things better around here, and the advice in this list of ten smart moves is a great place to focus!

For me, some of this list is fairly easy and makes sense. I already blog. I stay small and low key, allowing me to present my business more thoughtfully to a focused audience.

Some of it just doesn’t apply to me. Despite my wishes to find a business manager, I have no employee outside of myself (and the two people who occasionally do a little PR for me). I have no fax machine. My current office space suits me just fine, though. It works with my work style!

Some of it…well…maybe we should just ignore that…

Freelancer vs. Entrepreneur

Sensible people get paid for playing.- Alan Watts

If you ask me to explain the difference between a freelancer and an entrepreneur, I’d probably explain it this way:

• A freelancer is someone who works for a company without being hired by said company.
• An entrepreneur is someone who works for himself.

It’s really simplistic, but to me this is the distinction.

The other day, I came across something that challenged my thinking. The part that stood out to me was distinguishing a freelancer from an entrepreneur:

• A freelancer gets paid to work.
• An entrepreneur makes money while she sleeps.

I aspire to be an entrepreneur, but I think I may actually be a freelancer.

The minipreneur

There is this class of entrepreneur growing. A class of those who have their day job, but find fulfillment in running some sort of side business. These “weekend entrepreneurs”, as it were, are now being labeled minipreneurs.

It’s a safe way to break into entrepreneurship, to test the waters, or even just to bring in some side income. I think, originally, this is the path I had intended to take. Even now, I still aspire to be a minipreneur, selling things to raise money to put toward car repairs, grad school, a new computer.

I’m being very pokey about it, but I hope to be a part of this hard-working bunch of people!

Zen and the Art of Entrepreneurship

I love reading book reviews, especially for books I’ve always wondered about. This book review from BusinessPundit actually caught my attention, and made me want to investigate the book.

The book reviewed is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but Rob May has done an interesting job showing the relevance of the book for entrepreneurs. He’s pulled out some lessons from the book and repainted them in a light appropriate to the entrepreneur.

The review is fabulous (and points out just how little I know about the book despite how long it’s been around), and makes me want to read it, just to see what other bits of wisdom I can take away.

Maybe it would help prod me to getting closer to something actually resembling a launch phase!

Building to flip?

I’ve read a number of posts over the last year or so about serial entrepreneurs building businesses for the sole purpose of flipping them. As I understand this practice, the entrepreneur builds a business through a sustainable phase to a profitable one, and then sells it for a tidy profit.

Perhaps it’s my astrological sign talking, but I just don’t get how people can do that. I’m working on this business, and I’m doing it because I want to do work I enjoy. My entire purpose for starting this business is to have an income doing something I enjoy. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t be working on it. I wouldn’t even have started it.

I wonder if I’m just a bit odd, trying to build a business that I expect to be my own for the rest of my working days. I couldn’t imagine wanting to sell it to anyone because it’s my work. Is it possible these people who start with the end goal of flipping at one point in time feel this same attachment to their business? Would the business even be successful to begin with if they didn’t feel this way?

What drives someone to be a business flipper?

The initial consultation: for free or for fee?

I’ve read so many pieces of advice on whether or not freelancers and consultants should charge prospective clients for the initial consultation. I’m of the belief that I would be inclined to lean toward the free consultation, but until I start seriously considering life as a freelancer, I’m sure I won’t make a firm decision. I can see why it’s such a debate though, but I think in the end it all comes down to perceived value.

For the free consultation mindset, the argument is adding value. Clients appreciate being able to consider you as an option at no risk to themself. They also appreciate knowing that you aren’t going to nickel and dime them for every single thing. For every potential you convert to an actual client, the cost of that initial consultation is made up somewhere in the project.

The fee mindset, though, says that one must be paid for every working moment, including working to gain new clients. This isn’t a bad thing, but I’m not sure I understand the theory presented. Most of the people I’ve read endorsing the fee for the initial consultation claim that this brings only serious clients across your table, therefore leaving you with more time to work. I can see that…to a certain extent.

Those who don’t charge for the initial consultation seem to find many serious clients as well, plus they’re in a position to provide a little education to those who are just checking out the industry. It may be the teacher in me speaking, but a little education can go a long way in your client conversions and referrals.

I don’t know. I can see the arguments for both, but I still feel I’d go for the free initial consultation.