What's Stopping You From Being Your Own Boss?

A few years before becoming permanently disabled, I realized I would have a struggle trying to continue working as a bartender. My FT with OT became FT and then PT and eventually I was working just 1 day a week and so on. I was out of work for several months after foot and ankle surgeries and although I was busy raising my children, I just couldn’t sit back and not do anything. Even if it meant simply earning some random gift cards here and there and maybe a few extra dollars from an affiliate sale. I was fortunate enough to have a few extra hours each day to start researching and finding new ways to earn an income from home.

After many failed attempts and some that I had to give up due to my medical issues, I finally found something that was right for me and my family and something I could do on a regular basis. I may not earn what I did when I was working 1 or 2 jobs at a time but, I am my own boss and I have the freedom to do this from home!

I have several online friends and readers who are in the same boat or are starting to realize that they have to find a different type of job, even if not due to their own medical conditions. So, I have had many conversations with others about this and the great thing is that there are so many opportunities, you are bound to find one that suits your needs. (And your schedule!)

It seems a lot of people tend to assume that being your own boss or being self-employed means selling products. It doesn’t have to be! Maybe you make something that you would like to sell or maybe you are one of those people who are making a fortune selling products for another company. But, you don’t have to invest in a kit or a company just to sell something or to earn a living. You can simply sell yourself and your own skills! I was never a good salesman (or saleswoman) so, I just never succeeded with the direct sales companies. I signed up for a few (mainly for the discount for my personal purchases!) but, I would have never been able to “get rich” from any of them. There are people out there who have the personality for this and there are those who don’t.

Where Do You Begin?

This is the fun part! Or it could be a little overwhelming. Either way, there are so many business ideas out there, you may end up finding a few that interest you. If you’re not really into starting a blog or becoming a freelance writer, getting involved in affiliate sales, there are thousands of other ideas out there.

Create a list of things that interest you, what are you good at? What makes you stand out in a crowd? Maybe your friends call you for advice for party planning, wedding planning, or they might ask you to share your expertise with makeup and or fashion. Start here to read about some consulting business ideas that could be the beginning of your own dream career!

Some of these startups will require an investment but, don’t fret! There are many that you can start without a lot of money! If anything, you could pick up a few different ideas, make them your own and then use the money you earn from those to start investing in something else down the road. You may end up finding out that you like a variety of things and you’ll be able to reach more clients and earn even more.

Starting from Scratch

Yes, this is, in fact, a possibility. You can start with your friend's  list on Facebook. You should also create a social network (if you don’t already have one.) and start promoting your services. Social media is the perfect way to get the word out and most of the time, this can be used as free advertising!

There are so many books and websites out there where you can start. Searching on Google or even YouTube or finding books written by successful people who are doing what you would like to be doing in a few years (or less!) is an excellent way to start gaining confidence and gathering tips from experts.

If you are looking into starting a consulting business, try reading and connecting with others in your niche. You’ll find a variety of people and startups and a lot of the time, they’re delighted to give meaningful advice.

Managing Your Income When You're Self Employed

Many people dream of having their own business one day. I think there is something very satisfying about being your own boss and making the decisions yourself. Of course, we all want to be successful and wish for financial freedom but sometimes, being running your own business may not be everything it’s cracked up to be. It takes a lot of discipline when it comes to managing your income.

When you work for someone else you don’t necessarily have to worry about how you will pay for an expensive piece of equipment if it breaks or making sure your quarterly taxes are mailed in by the deadline. There is also something called, a paycheck that employees receive and they only have to worry about depositing or cashing their check in the bank each week and taking care of their personal finances. There isn’t much to fall back on when you are in business for yourself.

One of the most important steps you must take immediately after starting a business is separating personal and business. It helps to start a new bank account for your business rather than keeping everything together. Keeping a notebook of personal bills, basically what your mortgage/rent cost, utilities, car loans, groceries, everything in your personal budget is also beneficial. Making sure you have enough to survive and allowing a little extra for spending is crucial when determining whether or not you are even earning enough when you’re self employed. But, you also need to have enough money in your business account to take care of your taxes and the cost of running your business. If you don’t already have a savings account, now is a good time to start one. You can deposit a percentage of your profit each month (or week, depending on how you are paying yourself.) later, you can make decisions on starting a retirement fund. Keeping accurate records is crucial when you are self employed. Not just for Uncle Sam but for yourself too. You want to be sure you are staying above water and you want to be sure invoices are sent out on time and bills are paid. I like to use various programs on my laptop but I also keep paper records. Stocking up on manila folders, envelopes, legal pads, and pens is important and a tax deduction too!

There will be times when you may find yourself short and it might seem like a quick fix to start using credit cards. However, this could lead to some serious trouble depending on your interest rates and how much you are piling onto them. Sometimes, checking into self employed loans is a much better idea considering your monthly payments may be far lower than credit card payments and the interest rate isn’t typically as high.

When shopping for a hard money loan, you will need to have your records in order so you can show your loan agent that you have money coming in and are capable of handling your personal expenses. They may ask for your last year’s tax return or a profit and loss statement as well. It’s important to keep in mind that it is common for a small business to need help from time to time. Don’t get down on yourself if you feel like everything is falling apart. Chances are, it isn’t and after some brainstorming, seeking help from a professional whether a lawyer or a financial advisor, and taking a minute to relax, you will find that you will bounce back up in no time. Always remember that these small setbacks are some of the best learning experiences.

Truck Driver Problems

Do you ever get worried when everything seems to be going OK and you just know that something is just about to go wrong? Whether it's an illness, a broken bone, your vehicle needs $500 for brakes and rotors when you thought all you needed was just an inspection sticker? I lost track of these fun bouts of bad luck and over the years, I have learned to try to find the silver lining. If anything, as long as we have a home to live in, food to eat, and everybody is healthy, we're good. No matter how bad it seems to get, it could always be worse off.

I have also noticed that bad things actually do tend to happen in 3's. It isn't just a saying after all! As long as we're on the 3rd "bad luck" dilemma, that is a silver lining in itself! Then you have a few months of this fun, "good luck" or just no luck at all, kind of just in the middle. But, you know there is something lurking around the corner and you sit and wait. I think this has happened to my family, at least every quarter! Sometimes, only every other quarter.

My husband is a truck driver and we do have our own truck. That does have it's own list of pros and cons, (as everything does!) and sometimes, like when we need a motor overhaul, everything just starts to crumble. I know it does get hard to find that silver lining but, it is usually always there, somewhere. Oh yeah, by the way, we have been through 3 motor overhauls too! Our last truck had 2, the 2nd being immediately after the warranty expired on the 1st! So, very large monthly payments have been a regular part of our budget for a few years now. On top of regular repairs and upkeep, this can put a damper on things, of course. 

If you are a truck driver or you are familiar with the truck driving industry, you are probably aware of the DOT physicals that drivers are required to have updated every so often. My husband usually makes an appointment with our regular doctor and takes his paperwork in so they can fill everything out and have this sent in and he can get back to work. But, this past summer, our family doctor stopped offering DOT medical certifications and we were lost trying to find somebody else who was licensed.

I don't know if your husband has one of these friends who they always talk to, usually a co worker, but, this friend supposedly knows the answer to everything. (Most of the time, they are very wrong and are just talking just to hear themselves talk!) Well, my husband has one of these friends and this guy calls all the time and every time they talk, I can hear his loud voice on the phone, even if my husband is sitting across the room! Yes, this guy knew right away where to go for a DOT certification! (Naturally.) So, my husband took the info and hung up and called this "doctor" right away to make an appointment, She was able to fit him in right away, which was great! Because, it was due in a couple of weeks. So, everything went fine. He sent his info in on time and we didn't think twice about it.....

A few months later, we receive a letter from Penndot...the DOT exam was rejected and my husband's CDL was being taken away! This was a terrible, terrible day. We had no idea what to think, no clue as to why it would have been rejected, nothing. Sure enough, his buddy who knows everything calls that evening to laugh about that crazy lady who did their DOT physicals. It turns out, she didn't have her certification and she wasn't even a doctor! Seriously.

Well, it was all over the news and in the papers, and of course it made it to Facebook. Apparently, she was just some random lady who once held some sort of medical certification, just not a doctor, and she had fake DOT certifications! I really still can not understand how so many people fell for this and why it went on for so long. She was arrested and charged but, all of these drivers were now stuck! Now, some apparently were well aware that she was fake and they went to her because she would lie a bit about medical conditions. My husband had no idea but, I do wonder if his "friend", Mr Know It All, was aware of this.

Luckily, and I do mean, LUCKILY, we were able to get all of this cleared and his CDL was OK because he called and waited on hold for hours and hours and hours. He found another doctor, one that was much further away but certainly certified! Until, he came home from that appointment and showed me his paperwork. He said the receptionist was having a hard time filling out his license number and birthdate and he had to correct her several times. She finally fixed it and said not to worry. But, it was still wrong. This just led to me having to call repeatedly, trying to figure out if this would cause an issue with his license. They assured me over and over again, it would be fine. Well, it wasn't.

We received another letter from Penndot, this one was certified and had my husband's CDL listed as invalid! More time off of work, more hours at the DOT, more drama and a lot of lost wages, all because of a ditzy receptionist who didn't really fix anything at all. What a nightmare!

So, if you know of a doctor who has a good team, especially a receptionist who knows what she is doing, and they don't offer DOT physicals, please, please, please, ask them to get their dot certification training for medical examiners. We need trustworthy, reliable doctors and more of them! I would have never imagined it would be so hard to find a decent doctor who had their certification. I mean, we do live in a very rural area but, close enough to bigger cities that there should be several options!