I remember back in college when a friend of mine told me she was joining the “Entrepreneurship Club”.
Wacky work, I thought (but probably in more vulgar terms). Only bags of nuts start their own business.
Back in 2007, in the prehistoric (and pre-iPhone) era, wanting to run your own business felt like career suicide…especially for 20-year-olds.
Way too much work.
Not enough profit.
Too many legal risks.
And then a funny thing happened. The year I graduated from college with a degree in “French Language and Literature” (hire me!), THE WORLD IS OVER.
OK, obviously that's not 100% true, but the economy has decided to turn me and the rest of my middle finger upside down. It was April 2009, and I spent weeks after graduation applying for every job on Craigslist and at every retail establishment under the sun. No one would hire me. Not even Target. Needless to say, I regretted spending four years and tens of thousands of dollars on a French degree.
So.
In a strange turn of events, I decided to start my own business. (I bet you saw that coming).
The problem? I AM 21 WITH A FRENCH DEGREE.
Translation:Not a single marketable skill and no idea how to charge money or find clients and clients. I was a certifiable amateur in every way.
Eventually, however, I found something. I started teaching French, offering resume writing services, and eventually found my niche as an online writer for sassy one-man businesses.
Along the way, I discovered some “tips and tricks” that I really wish someone had told me about from prehistoric (pre-iPhone) times.
(I bet they talked about it at the entrepreneurship club. Shit).
Today I decided to let you in on the secret to becoming a pro so you don't have to face rejection from Target the next time the economy crashes. You could even use these tips to make tons of money this year and never have to find a job again!
(Take that, target!)
1. Treat yourself like the CEO of a Fortune 500 company would treat you.
In other words, you have to ask yourself “would I be fired from a job if I behaved this way”?
Whenever I feel like sleeping in until lunch, watching Ellen instead of writing, or going out for a *well-deserved* drink with friends on a Tuesday afternoon, I put on my “boss” hat. and I give myself a pep talk.
One of the best things about running an online business is the fact that I can sleep in until lunch, watch Ellen, and have drinks with friends. But you can't abuse this power or you'll never get anything.
Be honest, if you had a cabin, you'd definitely stay further away from Facebook (especially if Big Cheese was right around the corner).
2. Prioritize lucrative tasks.
When I first launched my "business" (I put it in quotes because I'm not sure if it was a business) I spent about 34 hours a day tinkering with the design of my website.
Does web design matter? ABSOLUTELY.
Is web design more important than sending customer invoices, responding to customer inquiries, launching your first service? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Businesses need to make money. If you don't make money, you don't have a business... (you have a "business").
3. Gather your ideas in an organized way.
Entrepreneurs? We are people of ideas. (Some people aren't entrepreneurs. If that's you, this rule still applies!)
We creatives move from one thing to another faster than those weird vampires in Twilight. We can't focus on projects long enough to see the finished product. We love shiny objects. Seriously – the brighter the better.
YET.
Most of the time, our ideas hit at the worst possible times. You drive, shower, go for a run, or lie in bed at night.
Guess what?
If you want to be a professional, you need to write down your ideas wherever you are when they happen!
Just stop running and email yourself.
You just need to buy shower markers and write things on the wall.
Just turn on the light and write down your idea!
If you don't, your idea goes back to where it originated. Your muse will note that you are not very serious and that she will not return.
4. Screw morning routines.
Do you know why you can't follow your morning routine?
That's because you never consulted each other in the morning when you created it!
Let's be honest:you will always hate hearing your alarm clock. Mornings (even for morning people) have their challenges. Getting out of bed is hard for all of us. Don't complicate things by trying to run a 20k, do yoga, meditate, make the healthiest smoothie on the planet, and work on your novel.
How to make mornings easier?
Focusing on your nighttime routine.
Instead of showering in the morning, take a shower at night.
Prepare your breakfast the night before.
Set your coffee maker to brew at 7:30.
Set your intentions for the next day before closing your eyes.
I shared mine, now you share yours! What work habits do you have that you would like to share? Tell me about them in the comments.
Photo credit :Shimelle Wool
