Saturday, September 24, 2011

Working While Building A Business

On Sep 23, 2011, at 2:25 PM, Robert wrote:

I understand your view - start a business because even if you fail it's the quickest way to learn.. and hardship should not affect those with a burning desire to be self employed. 

***You do not fail if you do not quit, and I think you are applying an objective estimation of failure, not a subjective; to an individual, failure is subjective...***


Some people do start businesses with no experience.. they're probably either lucky, extremely talented or have an extremely high level of motivation.

***You mean succeed with no experience...  plenty start with no experience, but again, you are using a objective definition of success...***

They're like prodigies, so rare..

***I don't think so...***

most people start businesses after their forties

***Nothing to support that...***

But that's not your point - your point is that wherever you are you will learn more by starting now. OK, I accept that.

Following on question - if you have to work 8 hours a day anyway, better it be in something closely related to the business you're working on in the evenings and weekends than working behind the burger counter.

***there is nothing closely related to your business, because your business will be new...***


Or would you argue that such a job would reduce your motivation to be self employed?

***Partially...***

Or that you would spend more time worrying about your career, getting qualifications, working overtime, that you would not actually be able to work on your business after work?

***Partially... mainly it is there is no reason not to go straight to it.... it's social conditioning to be "successful" by some objective norm.  I really do not think hesitancy is in the area of "needing to eat" but in the area of "lacking passion"...  you got to get to that match of suffering (passion) over something that needs to be changed and the joy in working on the problem. 

All these successful people in big biz and big govt, with good educations, nice careers, well-respected... they are the ones who bring us war, genocide, bailouts, torture, spying, and general lawlessness.  They choose decay over reform, they'd rather rule over ruins than be a shoe clerk in paradise.  They are eager for resistance, so they can bring overwhelming violence to bear.  They offer security for those who sign on.  It is extremely attractive.  

Starting a business, solving a problem, serving others is an example of nonviolent resistance.  Those huge businesses that would not exist without subsidies, that is the violence-backed mulcting of taxpayers, are threatened by a start-up.  The skills to work for them and the skills to start up and thrive in self-employment are inimicable. Problem is, they are the only ones hiring.  

So the problem is 2 part: there is no "closely related field" and anyone hiring will teach you anti-creativity.  If you want to be self-employed, you got to go straight at it.

This exchange did precipitate a suggestion for employment, which I sent out to the listserv...  in essence, it is to make money teaching your passion, which I suppose would help by allowing one to work in a closely related field...  teaching what you are passionate about...  it follows...

Folks,

If you are concerned about the economy, especially as it relates to yourself, let me pass on some advice I got way back when, from an old-timer, when I mentioned I was starting my own business. He said make sure you've got something you can do to make money when times are tough. If you are going to be self-employed, there will be tight times. There is always demand and big turnover for bank tellers, short order cooks, customs brokers... if you need to make some money quick, you can always get a short term job doing something like that. 

At the time I was reading a book about Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's greatest swordsman. He was so poor at one point he had no sword, was obliged to fight with a wooden copy. To make ends meet he tutored kids in calligraphy. I though, hmmm... maybe I will teach. No matter what happens in Washington or on Wall Street, there will always be schools and teaching. 

Well, teaching, noncredit that is, is a wide open field, no credentials required, and no end to the opportunities. For me I like the creative part of putting together my classes (product development in essence) and then marketing it. That was 25 years ago, and both parts are much easier now. It led to a book that has been gratifying, and a fun side line.

I've never advised anyone to pursue any specific business as you know, but I am advising everyone to take up teaching as a sideline. Why? Recall my inquiries a few years ago as to why people do not start businesses? Fear and making ends meet where big reasons. I just finished a series of exchanges with a lad who wanted to know a path to self-employment that included working for others, since he needed to eat. I told him, start the biz, and flip burgers to make ends meet. I should have told him to start teaching. You decide your topic, but everyone should have this fall back. Indeed, if times are tough, you gain distinction by teaching, as opposed to collecting unemployment, or worse. And is sure beats flipping burgers.

I wrote a book on this, and you can have it free at the bottom of this page (it's on amazon too if you want it in print...)

http://perishyourpublisher.com/


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