Life will oftentimes throw curves at you when you least expect them.
As an example, say you are doing a great job at your company position and then you get the call. You know that call, the one where the boss or your immediate manager asks you to come into their office for a Âchat that will just be a minute or two.
In some instances, that Âchat can be a good thing, perhaps a raise. In many other cases, however, that Âchat can mean a pink slip. Chances are most people reading this piece have been down that road at one time or another. As most will tell you, it isnÂt a road they want to travel all that often.
While you may get that call to Âchat with your manager or the company owner, there are some cases where you can initiate the discussion, not being put in the situation where the bad news is delivered to you.
As more and more Americans have found out in recent years, a sluggish economy has led to many workers having to undergo that trip to the boss office. Oftentimes, the dreaded news they were expecting is in fact delivered.
According to a 2012 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, millions of Americans were taking on the challenge of running their own small companies, via independent contracting or direct selling. A Gallup poll noted that 61 percent of Americans had indicated that they lean towards the preference of being their own bosses. Much of that comes from a decreased lack of job security in many different industries.
Know Your Game Plan Before Initiating a Move
So, what if 2013 is the year that you initiate the discussion by leaving your current job and opening your own business? Yes, scary as that may sound, the opportunities could be endless.
Before you go initiate that Âchat with your boss, consider these factors:
* Always have a game plan – You may have wanted to open your own business for a number of years now, but are you financially prepared to? Keep in mind that you will need to not only replace your steady workplace income, but also account for expenses to get your business rolling, including money for advertising and marketing, supplies, potential office space, and maybe even an employee or two. In many cases, it is best financially to start your small business part-time while maintaining your full-time income under someone else. If you have a good health insurance package with someone, also consider how losing that could impact you financially;
* Expect your life to change – In the event you are leaving your full-time job to start your own small business, expect some changes to come your way. While some people think it is nice to get out of the 9 to 5 routine, working for yourself will likely mean more hours and more work. The bottom line is all the decisions that need to be made rest with you, something by itself that can overwhelm some individuals. If you have a family, they will need to adjust also to your new hours. There will be some days where you will think it will never end, that being meeting customer orders, doing your own financial paperwork, promoting your company in a variety of ways. This is another reason why it is sometimes better to start your business on a part-time business so that you can ease into it, not be thrust full throttle into it;
* Plan to succeed, be prepared for failure – Statistics donÂt lie; many have come across data showing that more than half of all American small businesses go out of business in the first five years (Small Business Administration). With that being the case, what is your Plan B? While you may not be in love with your current job, and while you may have always wanted to hang an Âopen sign out in front of your very own business, you still need enough money coming in to support you and/or a family. Make sure you have a Ârainy day fund set aside so that you can withstand a dry spell or two if your small business hits a rut or does not take off right away. If you donÂt, you may end up regretting having left your full-time job in the first place.
Maybe 2013 is the year that you take those dreams of opening up your very own business to fruition.
If it is, make sure you know the game plan before you begin to play.
Photo credit: learndirect.co.uk
About the author: With 23 years of experience as a writer, Dave Thomas covers a wide array of business topics, including business VoIP service.
