I’ve had a couple folk ask what’s up since I left my previous employer to become self-employed, and how my apprenticeship is going. The short answer is, I’m still self-employed. This journey into self-employment hasn’t been what I thought it would be. I’m learning, or reaffirming actually, some hard lessons about people and myself.
About People - People don’t seem to think you will actually do what you say you will. The gentleman who I am apprenticing under didn’t figure I’d hang around like I did. He never really prepared for me because so many before had either failed the exams or just left. After the first of January he began helping me get set up a little better. It’s still an awkward situation. I’m an associate with a different company training under him. He’s not a good teacher, but a great person. When I ask him what I’m supposed to be doing he says I have to speak to the people I know and wait. Something tells me there is more to it.
About Me - I’m uncomfortable in sales. That in and of itself is probably going to screw me. I’d figured that I would be taught with the established clients, then as my understanding and confidence grew I’d be able to ’sell’. But, I’ve been handed some forms and basically set in the street and instructed to “sell”. [sink or swim] It’s driving me bananas.
I have a long-distance friend, Ralph, who sells ADT in North Carolina. He’s a great salesman. I need to contact him and ask for help in just getting started. I think if I could just learn how to get started I would be ok. It’s a lot like starting that new book or blog post I imagine. Execpt, where writing is concerned I can start anywhere and go back and fine tune. Here, I don’t think I can just start anywhere.
I thought about taking my PDA and just going through my contact list asking people to consider me when their coverages expire. But I know how I feel when I get calls like that, I feel put-upon.
That’s another problem — feeling. As a Pisces I tend to relate to emotions a little more than most. Although I’m a conservative, I can relate to, and on occassion support, the perspectives of my liberal buddies. That’s why I am occassionally called a liberatarian.
My free-lance writing has slowed. But it slowed at a good time. I’ve some outside issues pressing and needed a little break. I do have a new agreement to develop a brochure for a small non-profit. [Which, by-the-way, I have to knock out this morning.] It won’t bring in big dollars, but will expand my client list.
So, I’m still hanging in with the self-employment, but it isn’t the rosie picture I had a few months ago. Would I still have left my old employer if I knew I’d be in this spot six months later — oh yes! But, I have almost 20 years of experience being an employee and only 6 months experience being my own boss. I’ve still not made a full adjustment.
1 Comment
February 19, 2008 at 8:51 am
If you are not into sales, don’t go there. Everyone has a nitch. Find yours. If you want to start your own business. It is hard. First find your passion and if you can’t apprentice under someone you feel has your best interest at heart, then; basically go to networking anywhere, everywhere, and let people know what you do. Give some samples in things you send, if possible, i.e. bills. NETWORK, NETWORK. You will find your area, it takes time, nothing is an overnight success story, if it is truly worthwhile, from a Mature Lady facing umeployment as well. We Mature’s aren’t dumb, we are scratching and scrounging, just like everyone for a decent chance. Just Believe In Yourself, if you don’t no one else will!