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Why Don’t More People Consider Self-Employment?

Posted by Valencia on August 26th, 2008

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know the economy is shot. And while some are hopeful and believe things will improve, other’s aren’t so sure. Between high transportation costs, rising food prices, and other inflation issues, many people need a way to make extra money.

Since most people who seek second employment also have full-time jobs, they’ll likely look for work in the evenings or on the weekends, and make (on average) between $6 and $8 an hour - if that. Deduct taxes and the cost of gas and they’re fortunate to walk away with $5 a hour.

I realize everyone doesn’t have the entrepreneurial spirit, and when backed up against a financial wall, their first reaction is to grab the Help Wanted ads and find work. But with so many different ways to make extra cash from home (freelance writing, virtual assistant, affiliate programs etc.), I often wonder why more people don’t consider self-employment.

Maybe it’s because they don’t realize how simple it is to make money from home, or perhaps they’re afraid. Then again, I believe some people are anti-self-employment, and they basically don’t want the responsibility that comes with working for themselves.

I’ll never forget a conversation I had with someone a couple of years ago. This person was having major financial troubles, and they had been in search for second employment. Around this time I had come across this great blogging opportunity that paid a fair per post rate ($5/per 100 words). And the best part, writers could post on different topics and there wasn’t a cap. She could have easily blogged for one hour each day and made an extra $100/week.

This blog network was looking for several new and experienced bloggers, and I forwarded her the contact information. Her response, “I don’t think so, I’m not a writer.”

I know writing isn’t for everyone - I get that. But what I don’t understand is why she wouldn’t give it a try. One of two things could have happened. She could have hated the blogging gig, in which she could have stopped. Or she might have enjoyed it, and discovered a simpler way to earn extra cash. Instead, she took a minimum wage hostess position.

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I’ve had similiar conversations very recently. Some of the reasons are that people don’t want to worry about taxes, and they don’t feel they’d use their time wisely.

I suppose some people just need to do things “the way they’ve always been done”. Everyone is not open to trying new things, learning, and stepping out on their own.

I can’t say I totally understand but I just shrug and say ok.

Sometimes people are trapped into the concept of what they can/can’t do. For me, going freelance was a very scary proposition, and it took a friend of mine months to get me round to doing it.
Firstly, I’d tried it before, and failed spectacularly at it(not enough REGULAR work to pay bills). So I knew the risks, and because I have a child and a morgage, I felt freelancing was a luxury.
Secondly, I was too conscious of my short-comings, which I felt would result in failure (good writer, but not very good negotiator when it came to fees)
So, it was easier to stay in a job that I liked and was good at, rather than trying for my dream job.
Interestingly, in the first month of my freelancing, I made 150% of my salary from my previous job, and there seems to be no let up to the amount of work coming in. But without this friend, who is a business owner and who promised to pass work to me, I wouldn’t even have tried.



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