Umfragen » More about the Dottie

Before you decide whether or not running your own business is right for you Eagles Brian Dawkins Jersey , start by pinpointing your area of expertise and assessing your aptitude for business.


Starter Questions


Ask yourself the following questions:


- In what areas do people approach me for advice and assistance? From what parts of my job do I get the most satisfaction?


- What do I like doing so much that I would do it even with no pay?


- What hobbies or interests could I "spin off"into a small business?


- Do I enjoy budgeting and financial planning?


- Do I enjoy making cold calls, tele-marketing and selling?


- Do I have enough self-discipline to work on my own?


- How easy is it for me to bounce back from rejection & setbacks?


Proceed with Caution


Before you take the plunge, it's important to "wade in gradually" or you may just find yourself swamped. Before I started The Training Oasis, Inc. I tested the waters for a few years by doing some freelance facilitation and design work while I was still employed. I enjoyed it.


At the time Eagles Randall Cunningham Jersey , it seemed that a logical transition would have been to become an associate of one of the firms that used my design and facilitation skills from time to time. Things don't always go as planned. Despite persistent effort, I couldn't find a consulting firm that was willing to add me to their regular "string" of freelance trainers. This puzzled me as I consistently received excellent ratings from course participants. Even in the 1990s, many firms were not sure how the majority of their clients would react to a Black female trainer. In short, it was perceived as just too much of a risk.


I realized that I would have to do it on my own if I was to do it at all. I put together some training material in the area of personal marketing strategies for professionals who wanted to make career changes.


Let Your Network Work For You


I discovered that networking is one of the best strategies for building a business. For example Authentic Clayton Thorson Jersey , by joining a professional association related to your area of interests, you can make contacts and increase your profile. To be successful, it is important to go with an attitude of giving rather than just getting.


Write articles for the newsletter, volunteer to help out at meetings and conferences. Join a committee to help the organization plan a special event. Mentor some of the younger members who are just entering your profession. To get you must give. Gradually Authentic Shareef Miller Jersey , people will get to know you but it takes time. You'll need a lot of contacts when you're out on your own.


One word of caution... don't overdo it. At the end of each year, if membership in a particularly association is not resulting in buiness, then don't renew it. I once did a total of what I had spend on associations memberships, conferences and sponsorships over a few years and it was a staggering $50 Authentic JJ Arcega-Whiteside Jersey ,000. My business leads were not coming from the contacts I made through the associations. I should have caught this long before it became a big ticket item and such a serious hit to my bottom line. Don't let the same thing happen to you. If a particular membership is not yielding desired business results, you can always pay the non-member rate to attend a specific session or conference that is of value.


If there are structured networking events in your area, attend them regularly. These are usually more cost effective. They don't involve a membership and the focus is on generating business leads. I attended Bette Myer's networking sessions at The McGill Club as well as ConnectUs hosted by Donna Messer and Vicki Vancas.


Advice From the Pros


Identify people who can give you advice about how to make your move and follow their advice. I am going to stress this. Make sure you send a prompt thank you note. If you are ever in a position to give these people business referrals. DO IT!! After 911 when the crunch hit me and a lot of other trainers, I'll never forget wondering what happened to all those people to whom I had given free advice that helped them launch their careers. Most of them never said thank you or looked back once they had achieved their goals.


Bette Myer made it possible for me to have a mastermind session over the phone with Dottie Walters. Later on when I was in a position to do so Authentic Miles Sanders Jersey , I used her to conduct a networking session for a organization when I was on the board.


More about the Dottie Walters consultation. When I told Dottie that I was thinking of using public workshops as my transition strategy, Dottie cautioned me that public workshops were a hard sell and extremely difficult to market. She advised me to target the corporate market, advice that I was not ready to hear.