|
You should be in business for yourself. We all should. I don't mean quit your job and form a new company. I mean right now - at the job you are in - you should be in business for yourself.
You see, we manage ourselves differently when we're self-employed versus working for a company.
When you 'work for a company' you rely on systems within the company to:
- recognize the great work you do,
- reward your achievements,
- upgrade your salary when appropriate, and
- promote you to a more challenging role.
- (I should also add... fire you when you're no longer growing or adding value.)
When you're in business for yourself, as a freelancer you don't have "systems." You have you.
Many of us have learned, during the interview process, to interview the company just as much as they are interviewing you. But that is often where many of us stop managing ourselves.
Instead of thinking of them as your employer, see them as if you were a freelance worker - supplying projects and experience in exchange for compensation.
In business for yourself, you manage your own marketing mix. You manage your "Four P's"
Product - You would seek out projects that appeal to you and/or provide experience. You provide the products and services based on your core strengths.
- Instead of filling out the company forms and business templates, is there a better way to present and communicate information?
- You set your own standards - hopefully higher and more critical than the company's.
Price - You would negotiate your fee (compensation) based on the value you provide, versus being dictated by the annual percentage.
- While human resources does outline guidelines, reality is, compensation rules can be broken. While a taboo subject - I'm sure you've heard stories and know others around you are making less and making more in the same job title. A freelancer manages this much different than the 'employee' who is at the mercy of the system. I look to be paid for the value I provide versus simply a flat rate, hourly sum. (Caution, if you don't perform well, this can work against you. You need to be good, not just independent).
Promotion - You manage your own advertising, sales promotion, publicity, and personal selling.
- You may have a great boss who is into 'personal development' and helping you grow. More than likely they are motivated by their own measured goal of 'people development' versus the joy of helping you. (Don't get me wrong... There are plenty of great bosses out there - but unless you work with your mom, there is no other person who cares about you as much as you.
- Comping Yourself - You may get high marks from your boss during your performance review, but still lack challenge and opportunity. If you were a business you'd measure your comp scores - how you're performing this year over last year. Are you growing? Do you have new opportunities? Are you better off than last year? If not, you can do something about it.
Placement - How you reach the the customers (your employer). What are your channels, geography, segments?
- Instead of following standard company protocol and working within your department silo... In business for yourself, you gauge who, where, how, and when you deliver your messages. Networking, informal relationships, and looking at the broader horizon within the company offers more opportunity.
One of the most important benefits of being in business for yourself is knowing when to let a customer go. Most often we quit a job after an extended period of dead-ends, or perhaps to preempt being fired. If you're not growing or 'comping yourself' you need to move on to a different role, or a different company.
Finally, I need to note... Being in business for yourself doesn't mean being disloyal to the company you are doing business with... You are bound by the minimum performance and legal requirements as a typical employee.. But you are empowered with looking out for your best interest while supporting your employer's interest.
Give it a try. You'll find yourself energized and with power you didn't even know you had. It feels much better to be the driver of your career rather than a passenger.
So, start minding your own business!
|
Comments
Excellent article/post, Paul. Thank you for a refreshing way to think about career management.
A few years ago I wrote a book titled "The Potato Chip Difference." The subtitle is "How to apply leading edge marketing strategies to landing the job you want." See www.potatochipdifference.com.
One of the key messages in that book is that you should be delivering for your [next] employer as if you were an outside consultant in your job. You've done a much better job than I have at making that point. Wanna write a book about it?
Thanks again for a nice presentation of a compelling idea.
Posted by: Michael Goodman | 10.29.07
Michael - I'll have to check out that website. Thanks for your comments! - Paul
Posted by: Paul Williams | 10.29.07
A few years ago I literally went into business for myself but what I discovered was I wasn't working for myself I just had a more diversified "portfolio" of income streams and I was my own "money manager." Conversely I have learned to look at my work and who I am differently and if I ever need to go back and work full-time for someone else my attitude will be different than in the past.
I think a potential disservice we have in the current work force is the sense of entitlement and babying via "benefits", vacation days, etc. Not that those are wrong by any means but all too often we can find a false comfort in such things.
Posted by: Patrick | 10.29.07
Paul,
I think this is an excellent way to look at your career. It boils down to nobody else cares about your career as much as you do, so you might as well take control of it. Nice take on the 4 p's.
Posted by: Bill Gammell | 10.29.07
Paul,
I couldn't agree more. I've always tried to frame my career in this way and believe it's made me a better employee in the past. Now that I own my own business, I encourage my employees to do as well. I believe it's better them AND for our company. They have authority, accountability, and feel in control of their own destiny so they're more relaxed and make better decisions.
Posted by: Andrew Brown | 10.29.07
This way of thinking also puts a different perspective on ideas of professional risk. If you dare to work differently you will be rewarded differently. Good post.
Posted by: Timothy Coote | 10.30.07
I started a SEO consulting business this year here in Tucson. I've somewhat owned the SERPs here for SEO.
Lately some of the big net marketing firms here have taken note and asked me to consider their job opportunities.
After the swelling in my head subsided I gracefully declined.
I am an entrepreneur at heart and I will not give up that freedom... Inspiration and motivation in my world... Don't comprehend 9-5 or not being the "boss." If the business succeeds or fails... Well, it's all on me. I'm a serial entrepreneur and that's OK...
Posted by: Boris | 10.31.07
Patrick - Going back to a company after working for yourself *will* provide you with a level of confidence and a different approach. Thanks for your comment. (And I checked out your site Spinning Silk Multimedia... good stuff!
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.01.07
Bill - Thanks for your kind words.
Yah. I wonder if this is much an issue for those who have been in the workforce for less than 5 years.
I've been in the workforce for over 15 years... and coming out of school there was still a sense of "be the best employee you can be and the company will take care of you."
Hopefully universities are teaching this entrepreneur approach...
Thanks again for your comments!
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.01.07
Andrew - The focus on my post was more about the personal affect being in business for yourself...
But you bring up the other dynamic... If you were to treat the business you are in as your OWN business you may take a different approach AND take more accountability.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.01.07
Boris - Good for you. It's a good feeling to be successful enough in your job (whether at an employer or your own business) to turn down job offers.
I remember when I received my first phone calls from head hunters - that felt good. Congratulations on your business.
When you say SERP you are referring to Search Engine Results Page, right?
Thanks for the conversation.
Posted by: Paul Williams | 11.01.07
Thank you Paul for this wondeful post, I was trying to find something to say to my team but I won't find better than what you said to express what I feel !!!
Posted by: Tarek | 11.01.07
Thank you Paul for this wondeful post, I was trying to find something to say to my team but I won't find better than what you said to express what I feel !!!
Posted by: Tarek | 11.01.07