It’s always been this way

Banks have always been a safe investment (until they weren’t)

Property prices always rise (in the end)

It always rains in Manchester (until the sun shines)

It never rains in Southern California (has it ever rained?)

A job is the best way to earn a living (well, we know that’s not true)

The Pope is infallible (until he decided he wasn’t any more)

Interest rates will remain low

You need an education to be a success and conversely a decent education gets you a good job

The only certainty is uncertainty.

We live in a changing world. In fact, whatever you may think, it’s always been changing and will continue to do. That golden age you want to return to? It never existed. Get over it.

But with uncertainty comes opportunity.

Opportunities to do new and exciting things.

To change that rut you’re in.

To finally do something worthwhile.

To turn all that positive self-talk into reality.

It hasn’t always been this way and doesn’t need to be any more.

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Idle chat, clean teeth and how great ideas come out of nothing

Here’s the scenario.

A while ago I was talking to a friend who asked me to do some “proper” copy and stuff for her web site. I had one or two ideas and I asked her to call me when she had a moment to talk them over.

And I waited.

And waited.

She did message me to say that she hadn’t forgotten, she’d just been busy.

Then she changed her Twitter name and it was starting to look like something was going on and my little bit of work was flying out of the window.

This is the story of my life!

Then she did call me. She explained the hand ringing she’d been through. It seems like her business was at a crossroads and she didn’t know what to do. “I want to be able to do this and not that”‘ she said, “I want to be in control”. I can relate to that.

We talked about her area of expertise; she’s a dental hygienist

She knows about teeth and mouths. She really cares about what she does and gets really wound up about the lame excuses people invent for cancelling their appointments. You really should be more careful about saying your grandmother died. Especially if she didn’t. It could get you into hot water. And imagine how you’d feel if she did topple off her mortal coil soon afterwards. Guilty?

I asked her a simple question, “OK, it seems like you have a loyal customer base AND you know where they live!”.

“How can you help them?”, “From what you’re saying it seems like they’re screaming out for your help. Gagging for it”.

“Oh but I’m not qualified”.

You what?

If you can you the job, you’re qualified. “Did I ask if I was allowed to be a translator?” No, I was penniless and sick of pasta. I just did it.

If the world’s greatest entrepreneur’s waited to be “qualified” to do what they do, no-one would ever make any money.

If you do the job already, you’re qualified.

With a little gentle suggestion from me

She came up with her new business idea. I won’t say too much about it because it’s a little hush, hush at the moment but it just seems so obvious now. It was standing right in front of her. She was so blown over that she rang me back later to tell me.

I get a kick out of that.

So what’s the moral of the story?

  1. Don’t sit around all day stewing in your worries or worse, your self pity. Running away is not the answer and will only lead to you making matters worse. and probably making you broke.
  2. Idle chat is sometimes a great thing because it can have unexpected outcomes. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll probably feel better because you won’t be thinking about your crap for a while.
  3. Share your challenges with people. They all have different areas of expertise and experience and will probably be able to help
  4. Clean your teeth twice a day or I know someone who’ll be after you!

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9 things I learnt last week

1. That person/partner/mother/friend that’s just doing you down is no good to you. People that whine at you suck your energy. Why give them space in your brain? Your internal dialogue is freaky and complicated enough trying to come up with brilliant marketing ideas, don’t let them get in the way of your brilliantness (yes, I know that’s not a word but I just thought it was nice).

2. If you drink water along with that vat of coffee on your desk you’ll find you digest it better (don’t worry about peeing all the time, your body will eventually get used to it, absorb it rather than reject it, and your complexion will probably look nice and smooth).

3. Vitamin supplements are probably a good thing.

4. My stepson asked me today who started the Vietnam War rather like who started a playground fight. It made me feel a bit old.

5. Stay away from viruses. My wife had chicken pox at Christmas and it knocked her out completely (yes, you can get it as an adult and yes you can get it twice). Then I started feeling run down and lethargic, I’d fall asleep at by desk at 2 in the afternoon and hadn’t even had one beer for lunch. I’d been had, that damn virus had got me. Whoever invented paracetamol, I love you!

6. Money is only a commodity. An important one yes, but a commodity still. If you haven’t got enough at the end of the month, you ain’t going to lose your house. It’s not a good idea to go too many months like that, but missing one is no big deal.

7. A great Chris Brogan quote, “Do the work. Make it sexy. The practice is the reward”.

8. Taking time out for a walk or a run is good for productivity. So is sleep.

9. Conversely, staying up till gone 1 in the morning reading is not good for productivity. Even if it’s fun.

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I don’t have a job, and I’m happy

“Why don’t you get a proper job?”

 

You know, one that gives you a pay packet at the end of the month. One that doesn’t change from one month to the next. That gives you a holiday every year and time off at weekends.

I used to get that refrain quite a lot a few years ago. I’d just started my business and things were a little tricky. But I stuck it out, had some good times and bad times, but 15 years later I’m still here.

For some reason, you think “having a job” is a good thing by because it’s secure.

They have an employer, what could possibly go wrong?

Oh yeah?

Now substitute the word employer for client. Just one client. Is that a good strategy? What kind of future would you have if you lost that only client?

Not looking so secure now are we?

Let’s get one thing straight, job security is a myth. You’re at the whim of any two-bit boss (or his accountant) who may just one day decide you’re surplus to requirements.

Scrapheap.

Bye, bye.

What do you do now?

Welcome to the world of entrepreurship. A world where you live and die by your successes and your failures. Where you have no corporate desk or name to hide behind. Where when the shit hits the fan it splatters in your face so you do your dammest to ensure that there’s no shit (or no fan).

That may fill you with fear. It sure did me when I started but I had no choice. I was desperate. I needed money, fast. You may be in that position now. Or you may be just thinking about doing it.

Consider the benefits

  1. You can’t get fired.
  2. No boss. You make the rules and break them. But then again, if you’ve made them, why would you?
  3. No commuting. Save money, time and boredom.
  4. Unlimited earning potential (if you work hard).
  5. Time off when you want it. I love taking a Thursday off.
  6. Freedom to set out your agenda. See above. Also, the ultimate in flexible hours. If you want to start at 5 am in summer because it’s cooler than the afternoon, you can.
  7. More time with the family (if you like them, that is).
  8. Everyday is dress down Friday. No suits, no ties, no matching clothes. In the summer, you can answer the phone stark naked if you fancy. Sorry to those clients to whom I’ve done this. You don’t know who you are.
  9. No office politics.
  10. Take as many breaks as you like without the boss, supervisor or colleagues throwing you dirty looks. As long as the work gets done, does it matter?
  11. Live anywhere in the world. Have broadband, will travel.
  12. Greater variety of work. Doubled-edged sword, this one. You can get some really interesting stuff but also some really boring stuff.
  13. Work in the garden (or in a pub, coffee house, park).
  14. Choose who you work with and for.
  15. Turn down work when you want to. If a job doesn’t take your fancy, just say no.
  16. Choose your environment. If you want to listen to Metallica at full blast, you can.

My advice? Just go and do it anyway. The road is mighty rocky, very scary (when the phone doesn’t ring – yes I have checked the line to make sure there wasn’t a fault), but it’s worth it.

What’s the worst that can happen?

And?

If you don’t do it, you’ll regret it.

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