Last week I had two coaching conversations - one with a person who had been laid off from her job, and another with a gentleman who was concerned that it might happen to him.  During our discussions, both people expressed concerns about relying on someone else for work.  And, they each had a hidden desire to try working for themselves.  So, I shared a newsletter I wrote a couple of years ago that included steps on how to do just that. 

Given the job climate at the present time, I thought this idea (and these resources), might be a useful reminder for you, too.  After all, when we work for ourselves there are several benefits - the freedom that comes from setting our own hours, the ability to work according to our own natural rhythms, the opportunity to schedule our personal needs around our work lives, and the chance to express our unique, creative talents.  Yes, there's hard work and a learning curve, but there's also the satisfaction of knowing that every single hour invested directly benefits us and the people we care about.

With advances in technology, the opportunity to become self employed is becoming more of a reality than a dream.  Some people set up their own websites to sell products (just look at the success of eBay), others use "freelance" type websites to advertise their skills to people who are in need of their services, and more and more people are taking the sub contractor route - working for more than one organization as a contract consultant, sharing specific talents that a variety of companies can use.  These skills include things like:  computer programming expertise, writing and/or editing services, research assistance, ,designing and/or maintaining websites, or the upkeep of social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace.

If you'd like to consider self-employment, I encourage you to consider a few key steps:

1.  Take a basic business course.  Many adult-ed organizations or local universities offer a "Start Your Own Business" type course where you can learn about the basics of planning, bookkeeping, or marketing, in a safe, supportive environment.  This is a great way to challenge any preconceived assumptions you may have about yourself as a possible business owner. Learning about the realities of being self-employed will give you a chance to evaluate whether or not being a business owner makes sense for who you are.  When looking for a course, make sure you find one taught by a successful, well-established teacher with business experience.

2.  Know what you have to offer.  Identify the skills and talents you possess that would be useful to others (trust me, everyone has something to offer).  If you're not sure, consider a session or two with a career coach who can objectively help you assess your skill level with appropriate questions and tests.  If you discover that you don't have enough experience to offer a viable service just yet, you'll at least know where your interests lie and where to invest in additional training.

3.  See what's out there.  Spend some time looking through websites like craigslist.com, freelancer.com, or guru.com to see the kinds of services being offered by others.  You might be pleasantly surprised to discover that there are people just like you who are already earning a living working for themselves.  As you review the listings, take note of several things.  First, what words or phrases are being used to describe the type of work that's similar to what you might offer?  Write them down.  They'll come in handy if you should decide to create your own listing at some point in the future.  Can you locate any pricing information that might help you determine your fees?  What qualifications seem to make the most impact?

4. Test the waters.  There are some of you reading this newsletter who are ready to see whether or not there might be a market for your services. Why not take a chance and offer them on a part-time basis?  Post your skills on one of the websites listed above and see what happens.  What have you go to lose?  Except maybe your fear or dead-end job :).

While I know there are many factors to consider when working on your own - health insurance costs, cash flow, or the need to market your services consistently, this newsletter is meant as a source of inspiration, encouraging you to keep your eyes wide open for soul-nourishing work options.  If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that when we take steps that honor our soul, doors open, and opportunities often fall into place.  If you're willing to take a bold move toward something you dream about, there's a good chance that you'll get a Divine boost.