A summary of things you should know about Free Agent according to Katy Tynan: Introduction In this episode Katy Tynan takes a deep dive into her book, Free Agent, whereRead More
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]]>In this episode Katy Tynan takes a deep dive into her book, Free Agent, where she reveals what it takes to be successful in the business of independent contacting and freelance work.
In her book Tynan provides actionable steps, case studies, and tools you will need to help you transition from a full-time employee to your own independent freelance practice. The goal of the book is to teach you how to become an in-demand resource, understand the business of freelancing, how to get your independent business off the ground, and how to avoid the common pitfalls of freelancing.
This book is perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs who have a special set of skills and are interested in leaving their full-time job in order to start monetizing their skillsets independently.
When I approach writing my feeling is that my reader is somebody that wants to be able to get right to the point and find the information they are looking for. And so when I wrote this book I wanted to make sure it was very practical, that it was actionable, and that somebody could pick it up and get exactly what they need out of it. The second thing that I feel is different about this book is it’s directed at people who are looking to get into this as a career path.
If you are an independent professional and you have a problem you can flip right to the chapter you need.
What I want for people when they read this book is to be able to say I can do this. If you have a passion, skill, and desire to work this way you can.
I divided the book into three sections and the reason for that is because I feel like from a logical perspective there are three reasons why someone would pick up a book like this. So the very first section is where we talk about the emerging trend of this free agent labor force. Who are the people that are doing this? Why are we talking about the free agent force and where did it come from? It’s fascinating to me how these trends arise and one of the things I talk about is the transition from pension plans. In the first two chapters I dove into that backdrop which I think is important for a lot of people who are wondering how and why this freelancing free agent trend came to be and why we are working the way we are working. And also to talk about the fact that this is a long-term thing. I expect that people are going to continue to work independently for the long term and that it’s a career path that a lot of people can follow.
Section two is very practical for people who want to get started and transition from being an employee to being self-employed. This section includes everything that you can possibly think of for how to set up your business, what you need from a professional team perspective, what you need for a corporate structure, and how you are going to pay your taxes. I think what holds people back from pursuing this as a career path is that feeling that they don’t know what questions to ask, who to call, or what structures and mechanics they need in place. So this section is all about the practical aspects of getting setup as an independent professional. It includes inks, resources, practical information, and case studies and stories of people who have made this transition themselves.
The third section of the book is about strategies for long-term success as an independent professional. Another chapter in this section is probably the most important and it’s about balancing independent work and life.
NOTE: That was just a summary. To get the full deep dive, play the audio clip at 08:17
“It’s so hard when you are the one who is responsible for everything and yet it’s so rewarding when you are the one who is responsible for everything.” –Chris Brogan
I’m an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. I started my career in tech and helping people understand how technology could work for them. But really what I found was that I love people, I love working with people, and I love helping people solve problems and figure things out. So that’s how I got started working independently as I just love going around and meeting people and finding ways that we can work together and solve problems.
The inspiration for me to pursue the path of becoming an independent professional came about six years ago and then what I found is it’s tough to do. We don’t teach people in school how to pursue this career path and so I felt like there needed to be more resources, more conversation, and more opportunity for people to understand what this path looks like.
Drive by Daniel Pink
Buy Free Agent by Katy Tynan on Amazon today
Visit IndieWorking.com to learn more about Katy and her business
Follow Katy Tynan on LinkedIn and Twitter
Download the full transcript here (coming soon)
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher , and SoundCloud
Related books:
The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin Johnson
Everyday Entrepreneurs by Ken Horn
The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth by Chris Brogan
Relevant advice and tips:
7 Reasons Why You Should Quit Your Job
What did you like and not like about this episode? Fill out this one minute survey here.
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]]>7 Reasons Why You Should Quit Your Job Is it a good idea to quit your job and chase your dream of being an entrepreneur? Well, there are numerous reasonsRead More
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]]>Is it a good idea to quit your job and chase your dream of being an entrepreneur? Well, there are numerous reasons that tell you not be so foolish as to quit a job that pays you well and helps you live the lifestyle you do and go down the road of uncertainty. But life is too short not to live it to the fullest either!
Need a few good reasons to quit your job and start on your own? Here are 7 that will help:
If you feel that you work, but you never achieve anything, it may be a good reason to quit. Sometimes you get too comfortable in a job to notice that you are stuck in stagnant waters. Do you accomplish anything? Do you make an impact? Do you feel that you have a purpose? If you answered no to any of these, it’s time to move on.
Do you wake up every day and think – why do I need to go to work? Some parts of your job are sure to suck. But if there are no parts that you look forward to (it doesn’t necessarily have to be fun, it can be motivating, challenging, stimulating, or anything else), it isn’t really the best opportunity for you.
You put in your best at work. But if you are just working to build a career for your boss, it won’t amount to anything in the long run. Your pay including the perks and benefits you get as well as the way it boosts your career matter; and if it doesn’t reflect how much you put in at your job, it’s no good.
Sometimes, the job you want isn’t even there; you need to create it. And what better way to do it than to leave your job and start on your business? So, whether you want to write a book, start an online handmade jewelry store, or offer after party cleaning service, the best time to do it is now!
Certain circumstances may make it necessary to have a flexible schedule; and a regular job may not be able to offer you that opportunity. When J. T. O’Donnell wanted to spend more time with her kids, she moved from the corporate world and concentrated on building her virtual career coaching venture Careerealism.
Can you make it with the skills you have? Can you make the money you have stretch to meet your business needs? Can you create and manage a team that will work towards a better future for them as well as for the business? When you take the entrepreneurial road, you are sure to find out!
It’s true that no business can succeed in a day. But it’s also true that your business may have the potential to succeed in time. If you crave to be a success; and are always depressed because you cannot attain it in your present job, it is time to move on and start something where you know you’ll accomplish what you want.
But before you take the leap, you need to exercise caution too. How do you do it?
The best way is to prepare for the uncertain times. Don’t fail to put aside at least the amount that will see you through for 6 months (you’ll still have to pay for food, gas, and such necessities). If possible, opt for a part-time job at the beginning; so that you’ll have a steady source of income when you are waiting for your business to break even.
The Art of Resignation by Steven Feiner
What’s Next by Michael Price
You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think by Wes Moss
The Freaks Shall Inherit The Earth by Chris Brogan
Everyday Entrepreneurs by Ken Horn
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]]>5 Effective Ways To Raise Money For A New Business You may have a winning business idea, but unless you can arrange for the right amount of funds it mostRead More
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]]>You may have a winning business idea, but unless you can arrange for the right amount of funds it most likely will not transform into a successfully scalable venture in the 5 plus years to come. The question is – where do you get the money from? Well, there is always the bank loan; but it’s the hardest to get for a new entrepreneur.
How do you manage to raise money for a new business? Here are 5 of the most effective ways to do it. Remember though, you may have to mix and match all or a few of them to make it work to your advantage.
Self-funding is often the only option for a new entrepreneur, as financial institutions make it difficult for them to get a loan. Liquid assets aren’t the only option though. You can leverage your other assets to raise the necessary money.
It can be anything – downsizing to a smaller home, selling off your luxury car, selling off jewels, and so on. You can also take out a loan against your home, your savings account or even your whole life insurance policy.
While banks will ask for business plans, financial projections, and collateral before they give any loan, you may not have to face any such hurdles when you decide to borrow from your close ones. But it’s easier in theory than in practice.
You may not have to pay any interest (or even if you have to, it’s usually quite low). But make sure you get every detail in writing. And also make sure it is a loan, and you don’t give away a legal stake in your business to everyone.
If you can convince your suppliers to work with you in such a manner that you have a fixed period of time before you need to pay for the supplies, things can work out. It works in the same way for established businesses.
But it isn’t easy. You have to provide suppliers with a good business plan, financial projections, collateral, and any other documents they ask for to make it work. Once you have the agreement in place, you will have a fixed time before you need to pay them.
These are successful entrepreneurs who can help you get your business on track. But remember, it’s not a loan; it’s an equity investment. So, you have to hand over a slice of ownership to them when you get their money.
The advantage is that you don’t need to fret over regular payments or interest rates. But on the downside, you may have to share the authority over your business. And it may be a little difficult at times to ask for approval from every investor.
Certain companies specialize in finding lenders for small businesses. All small business loans can help you find the funds for your new venture. But you need a business plan, financial projections and some money for the startup.
Online lending sites are good places to get loans for your small business too. But they are unsecured loans. And it’s essential that you scrutinize every detail, especially the fine print, of the loan agreement before you sign on the dotted line.
You can also check out the loan programs available from the government to identify possible opportunities to get adequate financing. If you are eligible, it can take out one of the biggest hurdles in creating a successful business – startup costs.
Venture Capital by Elaine and Kaiwen Leong
StartupLand by Mikkel Svane
Everyday Entrepreneurs by Ken Horn
Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal
The Startup Survival System by Kurt Won
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]]>5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make With Marketing and Branding Marketing, when done correctly, is considered as an investment to a business. Since entrepreneurs can’t splurge huge amounts of money on theRead More
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]]>5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make With Marketing and Branding
Marketing, when done correctly, is considered as an investment to a business. Since entrepreneurs can’t splurge huge amounts of money on the promotion of their products and services like larger brands, they need to be very particular about their marketing plan to ensure that not a single marketing dollar gets wasted. A great marketing plan can bolster the market reputation of a business and can help it win the trust of its targeted audience eventually, whereas a bad marketing plan can hurt its business prospect in more than one way.
Building a brand image is never easy. It takes years to build a solid brand but it takes just a few seconds to ruin it. Don’t believe us? Well then, try posting something nasty via your company’s social profile and you will see how the reputation of your company comes crumbling down [safety notice – don’t try this at home/office].
The thing is that most entrepreneurs have no idea about promoting their brand and for that reason, they try different things only to find themselves in deep trouble at the end. Sometimes they prioritize product development over marketing and branding and sometimes, they just ignore the concept of branding altogether. Here are some 5 mistakes entrepreneurs make with marketing and branding:
You Have no Idea About Your Targeted Audience
Imagine a scenario that you are selling anti-aging products and you are targeting mainly teenage boys. The probable outcome of this bizarre marketing initiative is easy to predict – a big Disaster. You need to realize the truth that you simply can’t target everybody around. You need to identify your targeted audience first before even thinking about marketing products. Culture, age, sex, geographical locations etc all play pivotal role while choosing your targeted audience.
You Don’t Care About What People Are Saying About Your Brand
Some business owners tend to remain oblivious to the fact that people might be discussing about their brand right now on different social media sites. You may never know that an irate customer might be venting his anger by spitting venom about your brand on Facebook or Twitter and if you don’t intervene right now or don’t redress his problem, things might go out of your hand. You need to keep a hawk eye on different social media channels otherwise a small issue can get snowballed into a major crisis.
You Are Trying to Be Everywhere
Some business owners are of the opinion that they should be active on social media channels. Now, there are over hundreds of social networking sites available and that means, there is no way you can be active on all of them. Try to identify those platforms that draw large number of your targeted audience and be active on those platforms. Limit the number of official social account to 4 or 5.
You are Trying to Do Everything By Yourself
Some business owners try to do everything all by themselves. It is good to keep eyes on everything but it will drain all your energy at the end of the day. Moreover, sometimes it is good to appoint a professional rather than doing all by yourself and messing things up miserably.
Your Business Does not Have a Website
You gotta be kidding, right? Why would a business not have an official website in the digital world today? To boost the brand presence of your business on the web, your business needs to have a website. There is no way around it. You need to invest some marketing dollars on design, hosting and content. Make the website live as soon as possible otherwise all your attempts to bolster the brand presence of your business will fall flat on the ground.
If you are looking for some great books that provide insights into marketing and branding, I recommend the following 5 reads:
Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days by Jay Conrad Levinson and Al Lautenslager – Listen to my interview with Al here
Business in Blue Jeans by Susan Baroncini-Moe – Listen to my interview with Susan here
Startup Mixology by Frank Gruber – Listen to my interview with Frank here
Everyday Entrepreneurs by Ken Horn – Listen to my interview with Ken here
How To Get Unstuck by Barry J Moltz – Listen to my interview with Barry here
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]]>A summary of things you should know about Everyday Entrepreneurs according to Ken Horn: Introduction In this episode Ken Horn shares his book, Everyday Entrepreneurs which was created out ofRead More
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]]>In this episode Ken Horn shares his book, Everyday Entrepreneurs which was created out of the frustration of not finding all of the answers needed to start a business. This book is perfect for the wantrepreneur who is looking for a reference guide to validate their decision to start a new business. What makes Everyday Entrepreneurs different from other books is that it is based on the experiences of other people who have decided to make the leap in creating a startup.
This is a reference book written out of the experience I’ve had over the years working with thousands of people that have taken the leap of starting their own business.
It’s pretty light; it’s not a heavy read. My wife is my biggest critic and fan and read it in four hours. I really want people to walk away after reading it, wanting to start their own business. I would hope that once people pick it up, they won’t want to put it down.
The fact that this is the information that they need to know right now to launch their business. If you digest this information you will start a successful business for at least 6 to 12 months.
One of the responsibilities for people like myself is to provide people with enough information to go and start a business but most importantly protect them from the information that they don’t need.
The book starts out with all the things that you need to do before you start a business. Some of the research and characteristics that you might want to develop before you start. We talk about the Targets, vision and values of the business.
The second stage refers to the formality of setting your business up. The nitty gritty of the business such as how to create a business plan, what type of business do you want/need and the home and headquarters of your business.
The third stage is all about finance. It gets down to the basics of getting funded, profit and loss, and money management.
The fourth section is about understanding what you are selling and who are you selling it to. I give the reader inexpensive but very effective ways of broadcasting your business proposition, product or service. There are plenty of things we can do to promote or publicizes your business without spending a whole lot of cash.
“We provide people with the information that they need to know and we protect them from the information that they don’t need to know right now.” – Ken Horn
I am new to the book publishing business but been in the startup community for a good number of years. I’ve worked for different leading agencies for enterprise and business startup. More recently I have started my own nationwide field base program helping people startup on their own and providing them with the right level of advice that they typically need.
This book was born out of frustration. We needed more answers to the questions that everyday entrepreneurs have and I wasn’t finding them. That’s when I decided to write Everyday Entrepreneur, to encourage others out there that needed an extra push.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Buy Everyday Entrepreneurs by Ken Horn on Amazon today
Visit KenHorn.co.uk to learn more about Ken and his book
Follow Ken Horn on Twitter and Facebook
For questions contact Ken by email here
Download the full transcript here
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher , and SoundCloud
Related books: The New Entrepreneurz by Simcha Gluck and Ronen Gafni | The Entrepreneur Mind by Kevin Johnson | The Freaks Shall Inherit The Earth by Chris Brogan
Relevant advice and tips: 7 Unique Styles of Entrepreneurs | 5 Important Things That Every Entrepreneur Needs To Know About Starting A Business
What did you like and not like about this episode? Fill out this one minute survey here.
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