Business Owners: Get Rid Of Some Of Your Hats!

by Maria Marsala

Summary: The self-employed have done one thing - created a paycheck for themselves along with some extra deductions. Most are slaves to their business because they have no one working for or with them. Learn how your business can be different!

Weigh the differences. Did you really go into business to be self-employed?

About being self-employed!

When you're self-employed, you do "ALL the work", of course, AND you're also "the boss", so you do the marketing, the sales, the book keeping, and everything else ________! The self-employed have done one thing - created a paycheck for themselves along with some extra deductions. They went from working for a company to working for themselves AND they have a new job - that of boss. Most are slaves to their business because they have no one working for or with them. Every time they gain a new client, they reinvent the wheel because they have no systems.

And.. the self-employed can't take days off, let alone take a vacation! The words they use - often and to anyone who will listen - are "overwhelmed", "tired", and "have no time for that". (For more on the differences between being self-employed vs. being a business owner, read the Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon L. Lechter).

Go All The Way - To Business Owner!

Business owners, on the other hand, are giving themselves the gift of time and others the gift of a paycheck. They learn the importance of planning for their business. They monitor their marketing activities. They know exactly who their ideal client is and what is unique about themselves and their businesses. They run their business like the "big corporate boys" but without all the hassle - or lawsuits! Now if you've been in business for a while, you might think that you're no longer self-employed or running a hobby. Beware. The amount of time you spend working does not mean much. In 6 years, only 2 of more than 100 clients were really "running" in business when they hired me; the rest had a business stuck in "infancy".

Today, take steps to start the shift to being a full-fledged business owner. Hire people to help you do the things you don't enjoy doing - barter, if that's what you need to do. Create a business and marketing plan, and monitor your marketing activities. Find alliances to bring in extra income, network (at least 2 times a week), create your ideal client profile and then only market to your ideal client. Take your knowledge and package it. Turn it into classes, articles, CDs, etc. that will bring you extra income and notoriety - the "good" kind! Know what your "rack rate" is and stop giving away your time/business.

If you really take a good look at the list below, you will see that there is NO WAY you can do everything yourself.

Your BIG roles as a business owner include:

President/CEO
Salesperson
Purchasing Manager
Office Manager
Technology Specialist
Internet Guru
Human Services Manager
Marketing Director
Accounting/Finance Manager
Compliance/Legal Manager
Desktop Publisher/Designer
Customer Service Rep
Inventory Person
Quality Control Manager
Consultant
Coach - Mentor
Organizer
Trainer
Writer
Janitor
Assistant to you
At a minimum, assistants to all the managers/specialists above

And if you can't yet afford to hire consultants or employees to help you, then create a plan to do so!

©2007 Maria Marsala, former Wall Street Fortune 200 executive, business strategist, author and speaker. As founder of Elevating Your Business, Maria helps business owners and independent service professionals work smarter and earn more. Learn more and receive free business tools at ElevatingYourBusiness.com

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

• You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Internet Veteran, Planning Coach and Operations Consultant, Maria Marsala has been publishing MORE BUSINESS weekly ezine since 1999. If you're ready to make more money, kick-start your markeitng and live a high quality life, get yoru FREE tips now at www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
• Just request permission to place this article in your newsletter, magazine, or on your web site.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE DURING A PAID ENGAGEMENT?

• You cannot use our articles in your ebook, to teach a class, or during a speaking event, without our written permission, period.