Should you work for You (Five questions to ask)?

While working for someone else, have you ever thought, I wish I could be my own boss. Then I would not have had to deal with this!

Perhaps the question is not whether you thought, but how many times.

Choose to be an entrepreneur may be the smartest move you've ever done. Or it could be the greatest disaster. Running your own business is like being paid a commission straight. As Bruce Williams, host of finance-oriented Bruce Williams Show, the nation's longest talk show radio says, the worst job in the world are straight commission sales. It works best in the world are straight commission sales.

Early in my career, I had two opportunities to self-employment. One was a mistake, the other was a success.

The bust came after a work experience overwhelming. Has not complied with the management of the company or the way they treated their employees (especially me). With little fanfare, one day I walked into my boss and announced (rather foolishly), I quit!

Since I had no immediate prospects for another job, I decided to buy me a position. I hastily arranged for the purchase of a franchise.

I plunked down $ 4,000 for training, equipment and rights to sell a product in a given geographical territory. I quickly discovered that running a business consists of much more than the receipts deposited in the bank every day.

To begin with, I discovered that the clever name I chose for my company had already been claimed by another company. When requested, the company has expressed little interest in changing its name to welcome me. Since then, however, had already ordered reams of promotional material that bears my name.

Since I was trying to solve other problems of start-up, I had neither the time nor the desire to sell my product - another critical error. I did not want to start pitching the business until I got my act together. I never just seemed to get to that point.

Meanwhile, the franchise company went out of business (no wonder his accountant looked so grumpy when I asked questions about the operation). My bankruptcy looming around the corner until a previous (but not the most recent) employer heard of my situation and has called me to offer my old job.

Undeterred, several years later, I chose to work for me again. Wiser now, I limited my risk by choosing a part-time opportunities - providing musical entertainment for weddings and corporate parties - and sought advice from an experienced friend in the record (yes, this was the first time the CD) before I started and developed a business plan.

This time, instead of paying a franchise fee, I did about the same initial investment in equipment I need. Then I promoted my business manager of each hotel and banquet in the city. A catering manager has taken a liking to me (because I had sent handwritten notes) and, to my regular job required me to move to another state, our 13 years of association was mutually beneficial.

The activity was successful, with my wife and I perform as a team in over 400 events in that period of time. We got an hourly rate that rivaled the salaries of vice-presidents (many doubled on New Years Eve) and senior experience on the job rarely been matched since. It has helped serve as the basis for my language and career training. The excitement and satisfaction gained from several hundred guests standing applause of approval for a job well done is indescribable. As so often happens in the office?

A survey showed that 97% of Americans is better to work for someone else. (Have you ever wondered how the numbers are calculated like this?)

To determine whether you'd be better off in a minority of 3%, ask yourself these five questions:

1) Can I provide a value added product or service is sufficiently different from current offerings on the market? This is known as the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). All businesses and even those of us who work for someone else is needed to determine our USP staff.

2) Do I have adequate capital to start-up and operation to last me six months to a year? Things always take longer than we expect. The lack of cash flow is the number one reason most businesses fail.

3) I can conveniently reach my target market? Sales and marketing consume 50 percent of the typical organization time, effort and money. Certainly do not think the old adage, if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. Maybe yes, but first they must know.

4) I do not have the passion and personality to go it alone? As an entrepreneur, you probably wear many hats, at least initially, including receptionists, sales, IT guru, accountant, tax advisor custodian, administrative assistant, human resources specialist, director of marketing, customer service, and Operations Manager. Wow! It can be lonely without much of a support staff with whom to bounce ideas.

5) It would be a competitor or other outside influence that can force me under? A difference of forty or fifty years ago, the world of retailing, for example, is dominated by big box stores. What niche is currently being served under that one could profitably serve? Do not try to create a product or a service for all, Seth Godin tells us in his best-selling book Purple Cow marketing, because this is a product or service to anyone.

If you can answer these five questions correctly and decides to go ahead anyway, the decision could cost you your life savings.

However, if you can answer these questions to your satisfaction, do not take the decision to go forward could cost some of the most rewarding experiences of your working life. So, enjoy the ride! ......