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Are You Suited for Self-employment?
A recent poll conducted by Yahoo! Small Business showed that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans have considered starting their own business. In fact, of more than 2,200 adults surveyed, over half (51 percent) said they would like to launch their small business within the next 5 years. Clearly, entrepreneurship is a part of the American Dream. But is everyone suited to being his or her own boss? Here's a 10-question quiz that can give you a quick idea of your chance for success if you decide to go out on your own. Keep track of the score on a separate sheet of paper. Be honest. Give yourself a "2" for every "yes" answer, a "1" for every "somewhat" and a "0" for every "no". 1. Are you organized? Do you like to make lists and prioritize
your day? 2. Are you task-oriented? Can you focus on a specific task
until it's completed? Or do you frequently leave things
unfinished? 3. Are you comfortable working with a personal computer?
Do you have good computer skills? 4. Are you goal oriented? Do you have a 1-, 3- and 5-year
plans for where you want to be? 5. Do you have a wide network of friends and colleagues from previous organizations you've worked for, or schools and organizations you belong to? [ ] Yes [ ] Somewhat [ ] No 6. Are you comfortable serving other people? Have you ever
worked in a service role before? 7. Would you characterize yourself as friendly, cheerful, and
easy to get along with? 8. Would you say that you have a marketable skill that is
needed by other people or companies? 9. Are you willing to work extra hours at night or on
weekends to meet deadlines or to make more money? 10. Is making money and being financially secure more
important to you than having "status" symbols
like a fancy office, expensive car or a big title? Your score: Okay, add up the total. Remember, you should have given yourself a "2" for every "yes" answer, a "1" for every "somewhat" and a "0" for every "no". 11-20 = You're definitely suited for self-employment. 6-10 = You may be suited for it, but should learn more and work on your skill set and service orientation. 0-5 = Don't leave your day job. Self-employment isn't for everyone. It often requires a highly-motivated, self-starter type of person who would gladly work long hours each day because they love what they're doing. If you're that type of person? maybe it IS time to break free and live your dream. Barnaby Kalan is an award-winning freelance copywriter and author of Outsourcing Yourself: How to Turn Your Job Into a Business for Greater Wealth and Security. For a free chapter of his book, visit http://www.outsourcing-yourself.com
Other Articles in This Category: How to Recoup From Missing the Most Important Meeting of the Year5 Steps to Standing Out Above the Crowd at Work Unemployment Blues: Mind Over Mood How to Tell if You are Fired and Just Dont Know It Job Lead Websites To Use in Your Telecommuting Search Everyday Is Saturday: Help for the Suddenly Unemployed Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Career Opportunities for New Graduates Successful Job Seeking ? The Importance of Your Cover Letter The Case For Internships Wake Up and Learn Something New Benefits of Mystery Shopping For Secret Shoppers Career Killers to Avoid 10 Key Career Success Questions Think About a Nursing Degree Employment Under A Microscope 8 ?Thurvival Skills? for 05 What You Should Never Put on Your Resume What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews Resumes Arent Important - They are Everything When it Comes to Getting an Interview |
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