Good morning! It’s 5:30 a.m. and I am up and ready to do a little writing! I absolutely love the freedom that being a virtual entrepreneur allows. You can work at the break of dawn or late into the night. In a way it suits our natural body rhythms and allows for one to take a mid-afternoon nap (as has been known to happen with me). Numerous studies have shown that taking a 15-20 minute nap actually makes us more productive. Similarly, working when you are the most efficient is a good use of time and energy.
As a Career Counselor & Life Coach, I encourage people to do the necessary research to make sure that a field is the right one for them. It still amazes me how few people are willing to take the time to do their own first-hand research. Making a career decision is a big investment in yourself so please take the time to do the research. Conducting informational interviews where you speak to the people that actually do the work in a particular field is a great way to understand what is really involved in an occupation. For example, if you are considering transitioning into the healthcare field doesn’t it make the most sense to speak to people in that industry prior to trying to make a move? One would want to find out information such as the true nature of the role, the trends that impact the industry, what the practitioners wish they would have known prior to entering into the field and so on. Online tools, such as linked-in and twitter make it possible to identify individuals who can provide such valuable information!
I was reading an article the other day about a surgeon with 30 years’ experience explaining how much the medical field has changed due to all the insurance regulations and bureaucracy. That is the type of information one needs to consider when selecting an occupation. Whether you are a new college graduate or have been in the workforce awhile you should always do your research prior to making a decision. I remember a friend who always wanted to be a lawyer so she completed her education and passed the bar only to find out that the reality of the occupation was not congruent with her personality and values. She has been told by her father repeatedly that he thought she would make a great attorney so she took his advice at face value and blindly prepared for the occupation. After all of that preparation and education she ended up getting another master's degree and switched fields.
You should closely examine your values to decide if they are congruent with the field and industry you are considering entering. What is a deal breaker to some people may not bother others as we all have different values to consider. The old saying that “everybody has their price” may be true but people value different things. I carefully help my clients identify and examine their values prior to making a transition. As a result of working with many clients and students throughout the years, I have realized people are more alike than different in what they really want out of life. Often people want to be able to make a living while contributing to the world in a challenging and fulfilling way. However, we want to do it in different ways using various skill sets and interests.
That is why career practitioners frequently preach about selecting an occupation that gets you excited! People are more productive, happy and fulfilled when they are passionate about what they do! For example, I am awake at 5:30 in the morning sharing this message with you because I believe in what I do and am excited about my profession. That was how I knew that working as a career counselor and life coach was a great fit for me! It certainly has worked well for over 20 years and I defend the importance of passion and excitement in a career since we spend most of our lives performing our work.
Furthermore, I am learning more every day about the necessary traits and requirements to be a successful entrepreneur. Self-discipline and good time management skills are some of the most valuable skills to have if you are self-employed. Some people can work in a virtual and unsupervised fashion while others would do not do well with it. Advances in technology have made it possible to perform many jobs in a virtual sense. That may appeal to some people while others would miss the social aspects or the sense of structure that reporting to a physical location provides.
What I have found is that I still interact frequently enough with my clients and other individuals so it works fine for me. I seek out the assistance and interact with colleagues and other individuals throughout my day so it has been fine. While I have always enjoyed working on a team, I also value the autonomy, independence and solitude of a virtual environment. Getting involved in speaking opportunities and other types of community programs supplements my social interaction. I am also involved in numerous professional organizations so continue to connect regularly with my colleagues. I also receive many referrals from the relationships that I have developed over the lifetime of my career.
Being a virtual entrepreneur would certainly not be for everyone. It works for me since I have all the necessary skill sets to be successful. I am already well known and have a strong network within my field as well as possessing strong skills in marketing, writing, sales, recruiting, administrative, technical and other skills required for being a successful entrepreneur. Like many entrepreneurs, I could seek assistance or even pay others to supplement the skills that I do not feel as efficient or interested in performing. I also consult with fellow entrepreneurs to build a community of support to exchange resources and information. There are now even co-op arrangements in many communities which aid in facilitating this arrangement.
Research shows that many of us will be working out of our homes in a virtual sense in the future. Technology continues to make it easier and easier as simply taking a cell phone, ipad or laptop and PayPal type account will enable many to work almost anywhere with a strong internet connection. Also, be sure to check out the new ways to become more productive with products like Calendly and Dropbox, among others.
Again, you have to carefully assess yourself and examine if your personality, skills and values are consistent with the lifestyle for different careers. Many people find a new challenge and change refreshing. However, be advised that being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. It is hard work as you rely on yourself and need to be well-versed in multiple skill sets. One has to learn to be flexible and go with the flow. The trade-off is that it offers great flexibility and autonomy. You may enjoy it if you like to choose when you are going to work on what piece of your business. Just realize that every industry and occupation has pros and cons so speak to lots of people who do the job that you are curious about.
Remember, our country was built on entrepreneurs and the corporate structure of the world of work is changing so much that many may find themselves thrust into this role regardless of choice. I always stress the importance of skill security with my clients. Be sure to know what skills you have to offer to the world and keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
The great thing about life is that we all have a choice about how we spend our time on earth. Choose wisely and live your best life!
Did this move the needle for you some? Need help? Feel free to contact me at Career View for career assistance.
As a Career Counselor & Life Coach, I encourage people to do the necessary research to make sure that a field is the right one for them. It still amazes me how few people are willing to take the time to do their own first-hand research. Making a career decision is a big investment in yourself so please take the time to do the research. Conducting informational interviews where you speak to the people that actually do the work in a particular field is a great way to understand what is really involved in an occupation. For example, if you are considering transitioning into the healthcare field doesn’t it make the most sense to speak to people in that industry prior to trying to make a move? One would want to find out information such as the true nature of the role, the trends that impact the industry, what the practitioners wish they would have known prior to entering into the field and so on. Online tools, such as linked-in and twitter make it possible to identify individuals who can provide such valuable information!
I was reading an article the other day about a surgeon with 30 years’ experience explaining how much the medical field has changed due to all the insurance regulations and bureaucracy. That is the type of information one needs to consider when selecting an occupation. Whether you are a new college graduate or have been in the workforce awhile you should always do your research prior to making a decision. I remember a friend who always wanted to be a lawyer so she completed her education and passed the bar only to find out that the reality of the occupation was not congruent with her personality and values. She has been told by her father repeatedly that he thought she would make a great attorney so she took his advice at face value and blindly prepared for the occupation. After all of that preparation and education she ended up getting another master's degree and switched fields.
You should closely examine your values to decide if they are congruent with the field and industry you are considering entering. What is a deal breaker to some people may not bother others as we all have different values to consider. The old saying that “everybody has their price” may be true but people value different things. I carefully help my clients identify and examine their values prior to making a transition. As a result of working with many clients and students throughout the years, I have realized people are more alike than different in what they really want out of life. Often people want to be able to make a living while contributing to the world in a challenging and fulfilling way. However, we want to do it in different ways using various skill sets and interests.
That is why career practitioners frequently preach about selecting an occupation that gets you excited! People are more productive, happy and fulfilled when they are passionate about what they do! For example, I am awake at 5:30 in the morning sharing this message with you because I believe in what I do and am excited about my profession. That was how I knew that working as a career counselor and life coach was a great fit for me! It certainly has worked well for over 20 years and I defend the importance of passion and excitement in a career since we spend most of our lives performing our work.
Furthermore, I am learning more every day about the necessary traits and requirements to be a successful entrepreneur. Self-discipline and good time management skills are some of the most valuable skills to have if you are self-employed. Some people can work in a virtual and unsupervised fashion while others would do not do well with it. Advances in technology have made it possible to perform many jobs in a virtual sense. That may appeal to some people while others would miss the social aspects or the sense of structure that reporting to a physical location provides.
What I have found is that I still interact frequently enough with my clients and other individuals so it works fine for me. I seek out the assistance and interact with colleagues and other individuals throughout my day so it has been fine. While I have always enjoyed working on a team, I also value the autonomy, independence and solitude of a virtual environment. Getting involved in speaking opportunities and other types of community programs supplements my social interaction. I am also involved in numerous professional organizations so continue to connect regularly with my colleagues. I also receive many referrals from the relationships that I have developed over the lifetime of my career.
Being a virtual entrepreneur would certainly not be for everyone. It works for me since I have all the necessary skill sets to be successful. I am already well known and have a strong network within my field as well as possessing strong skills in marketing, writing, sales, recruiting, administrative, technical and other skills required for being a successful entrepreneur. Like many entrepreneurs, I could seek assistance or even pay others to supplement the skills that I do not feel as efficient or interested in performing. I also consult with fellow entrepreneurs to build a community of support to exchange resources and information. There are now even co-op arrangements in many communities which aid in facilitating this arrangement.
Research shows that many of us will be working out of our homes in a virtual sense in the future. Technology continues to make it easier and easier as simply taking a cell phone, ipad or laptop and PayPal type account will enable many to work almost anywhere with a strong internet connection. Also, be sure to check out the new ways to become more productive with products like Calendly and Dropbox, among others.
Again, you have to carefully assess yourself and examine if your personality, skills and values are consistent with the lifestyle for different careers. Many people find a new challenge and change refreshing. However, be advised that being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. It is hard work as you rely on yourself and need to be well-versed in multiple skill sets. One has to learn to be flexible and go with the flow. The trade-off is that it offers great flexibility and autonomy. You may enjoy it if you like to choose when you are going to work on what piece of your business. Just realize that every industry and occupation has pros and cons so speak to lots of people who do the job that you are curious about.
Remember, our country was built on entrepreneurs and the corporate structure of the world of work is changing so much that many may find themselves thrust into this role regardless of choice. I always stress the importance of skill security with my clients. Be sure to know what skills you have to offer to the world and keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.
The great thing about life is that we all have a choice about how we spend our time on earth. Choose wisely and live your best life!
Did this move the needle for you some? Need help? Feel free to contact me at Career View for career assistance.