This is just a nice take on the self-promoting without self-promoting viewpoint.
Marketingn is one of those things that I’m definitely not good at. I feel like everything trying to teach marketing skills for baby entrepreneurs is saying we have to be out there in the face of those we have identified as our target audience.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not good at throwing myself out there and talking about myself. I never have been. Interviews are a nightmare for me because no matter how much I prepare, I can never just sit there and talk about myself or what I do or have done. (In case you’re curious, I spend no fewer than three to four hours prepping for interviews.)
Using these blogs to write about what I read, what I think, and what I know is much more comfortable for me becasue it helps deflect the attention away from me and places it on the information. Before I even had a chance to think how it would look, people were commenting on posts or contacting me via email with questions, and I was still well within my comfort zone of interacting.
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 9:36 AM EDT
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This is a useful activity for anyone in a leadership role, be it as a manager, a business owner, an officer of a club, or anywhere where one might need to step up and lead.
I’m thinking about creating one of these memos for JewelryNiche, even though it is nothing more than a handful of pieces at a consignment shop several states away and a non-informative website. But I think the memo sets vision as much as it sets “What would (absent leader) do” guidelines, and that’s important, too.
Posted by Rebecca as Leadership and management at 9:34 AM EDT
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They say that if you do what you love, the money will follow. It sounds great, but they forget to mention all of the hard work and planning involved with making the money flow in the desired direction.
It doesn’t have to be a chore, though, if you are prepared for that transition.
Most importantly, think carefully before taking your hobby into a full-time job. It’s best to start out part-time to see if you enjoy doing your hobby all the time, or if you need to strengthen any business skills before you take the plunge.
Found via the Business Opportunities Weblog
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 7:49 AM EDT
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I don’t remember exactly when I first encountered the idea of multiple income streams. I think it was last spring after joining a community on LiveJournal that is dedicated to supporting budding entrepreneurs and those who wish to work outside the box. We have a list of recommended reading, one of which is Barbara Winter’s Making a Living Without a Job. I read it, worked through each of the worksheets, and somewhere along the way decided tha it might actually be possible to do such a thing.
A year or so later, I’m juggling two jobs with a third imminent, working on my jewelry business, and love to get out of the bed in the morning. Since I’m still at formal jobs, I’m sure I don’t match this concept of multiple income streams, but I feel like claiming it anyway.
The even better part is that here, a year later, Monster is starting to celebrate what they call the "portfolio career". Maybe there’s something to this lifestyle after all.
The next great challenge, one I’ve penciled into my to-do list for next week, is how to incorporate all of this great experience into one’s resume.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 9:16 AM EDT
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This week is just as crazy as the last. I am happy to say that me in my teacher hat is a much wanted commodity here in the Puget Sound. With all of the great opportunities around me right now, I’m going to be spending some time in the next couple of weeks updating my resume to reflect it all.
Truth be told, I like to update and tweak resume every few months. I like to make sure it reflects both the person I am, and the person I am becoming. Occassionally, I’ll just rewrite or reformat the whole thing in an attempt to present the information I want noticed in a more noticeable fashion. In fact, when I do my next update, there be a slight format tweak involved as well to better demonstrate my worth to future employers.
Along with being somewhat obsessed with updating my resume (and helping others work on theirs), I also like to read resume theory. You know, all of the various books, articles, and other resources dedicated to producing job-winning resumes. Recently, I came across this post from the Monster blog that neatly gathers some of their past articles on developing that job-winning resume. Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time is aware that I often find Monster contradicting itself in their article collection, but this gathering seems to be a good start for anyone looking to begin, update, or improve their resume.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 9:52 AM EDT
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This week is shaping up to be as crazy as the past few have been. I have training for another teaching position today, a potential second-round interview some time this week, and may have to track down some inventory lost in the United States Postal System. Thank goodness for insurance!
I will also be finishing a move that started a month ago, which means I will also be unpacking and settling in this week. One of my main objectives wil be to establish the area of my room that will house my business, which means creating a detailed inventory of the contents of that area.
I’m actually behind on getting most of my paperwork initiated because of everything that has gone on, but I’m working on correcting that. I found this quick and easy guide on record keeping to help me get my act together.
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 8:30 AM EDT
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A friend of mine has been looking at updating his resume (and it is in desperate need of updating). The biggest problem with his resume is it lacks anything resembling focus. The next biggest problem is that, while you can see what he did on a day-to-day basis, you really can’t see if he feels he brought anything useful to his company. It lacks self-confidence.
Trying to help him with his rewriting efforts has been a very trying experience. He thinks the only way he can write this new and improved resume is to copy someone else’s resume. I think he just needs some good resume advice.
I can only hope he’ll get his act together and get his resume updated soon so he can find a job closer to home, but I’m afraid his natural attitude may shine through in the interview he’ll get when we finally finish updating his resume.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 9:06 AM EDT
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The hustle and bustle that filled last month is still propelling me right along this month. I’m still somewhat amazed at the direction my life has suddenly turned in the past two months. It’s been an incredible ride, and there’s currently not an end in sight. Normally, that wouldn’t sit well with me, but these days it’s a rather comfortable seat.
Over the weekend, I was catching up on some reading when I stumbled upon this list of traits that can help lead you to success. It can never be said enough that the person who controls your pirection in life is yourself. You control your activities, your attitude, and your fear. Once you accept those and start building them into a positive force for yourself, you are headed toward being successful, regardless of your definition of that term.
Found via The Occupational Adventure (sm)
Posted by Rebecca as Responsibility at 1:39 PM EDT
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I’m still in the middle of a number of things that require much of my time. I’m hoping some of it will settle down this week.
One of the things still requiring much of my attention is this jewelry business. Last week, I sent some pieces to a consignment store in Ohio. I’m hoping to have some pieces up on eBay by the end of the month. I’m even hoping to have the website up and running the way I want soon.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading as I’ve been working on getting the ball rolling, and this article on things that can kill your business made its way to my blogging to-do list.
Found via Business Opportunities Weblog
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 8:09 AM EDT
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Among the many things I’ve been wrestling with over the past couple of weeks has been the issue of pricing my jewelry pieces. Realizing nobody actually enjoys this part, I feel a bit redundant in pointing out that I hate this part. I’ve often lamented the lack of a business partner who does actually feel comfortable doing it.
When I first set my prices a couple of years ago, I had the worst time because I wanted them to be fair and reasonable while attempting to achieve some sort of competitiveness. Reworking my prices last week, I discovered that while my prices are fair and reasonable, they aren’t exactly competitive. However, they’re what I’m comfortable asking.
I feel like I’ve read a million books and websites on the issue now, but I really kind of like this one because it’s just a bit of common sense.
Found via Business Opportunities Weblog
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 8:45 AM EDT
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