Thursday 11 October 2012

Work to Live or Live for Work

A Dilemma.  
Many people who can't get the sort of  jobs they aspire to or trained for at the moment are trying instead to set up their own enterprises.  
These are often to do with personal passions or talents.  Look at this beautiful film, made by talented Media graduate Tom Parnell, a talented photgrapher, director and cameraman.  It showcases his embryonic wedding video production company and clearly sets him apart from his run of the mill competition.    http://vimeo.com/m/49608865
Tom absolutely loves his work and can't imagine not having a creative career.  
But being an Entrepreneur is hard and often requires 24/7 self-motivated effort.  As these folk plough through the cash flow plans and crises, try and often fail to raise backing and struggle in the lonely land of the self-employed, many are Life Auditing to see if they'd be happier stacking supermarket shelves or the equivalent.  At least that way, they reason, they'd earn enough to keep the lights on and would get their lives back. 
However, it would appear from The Life Audit inbox, that most are deciding to set a time limit to really 'go for it' businesswise.  Here are their top tips:
  • Set a deadline by which, if you haven't made significant progress you will reconsider your options.
  • Approach making your business a success as a military campaign.
  • Create a strict timetable of marketing, production and sales
  • Work regular hours
  • Build in time for an interest of something completely different ie going to the Gym
  • Laterally think your spare time to see if some pin/beer money can be earned ie shifts at a local pub, restaurant.  (Try and make this a sociable interlude ie NOT overnight supermarket shelf stacking!)
  • Go through your contact lists and those of family and friends and ask for advice and support.  You'll be surprised how pleased people will be to help.
  • Don't fret about the "What ifs....." until you reach your deadline.

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