EnTrends

"Well, it's happening. My employer, the County Health and
Welfare System, is buying me out. I leave in April, 2002.
Seems like a long time from now, but I know it's really just
around the corner. So how do I evaluate my skills? And how
do I begin a new career? And how do I deal with the fear of
the unknown, of the lack of income (other than the
retirement check), of maybe working alone out of this
office?"

This is an extract of an email I received this week from an
AHBBO subscriber, Cecily. Just Friday, driving home from
work, I heard that Ford was about to lay off between 4,000
and 5,000 employees from its U.S. operation. So nothing
unusual about Cecily's situation, unfortunately. Seems like
every day we hear of more and more businesses being
"forced" to downsize their workforces. What we don't hear
about every day is what happens to all those displaced

workers.

Many people just look for another job, find one and get
back into the ratrace, all the while anxiously monitoring the
financial performance of their new employer, hoping they
won't get laid off again. For many, this is just the way the
world works. And it always will be as long as they continue
to work for someone else. Do you really want to live like
this? Well, you don't have to. The solution, albeit not for
everyone,

is self-employment.

In this article, we look at how to determine whether self-
employment could be for you and how to turn that dream
into reality.

PERSONAL INVENTORY

As Cecily correctly identified, a personal skills analysis is an
important early step. Your personal skills inventory is only
one factor to take into account when considering whether
self-employment may be for you, however. Equally
important are your strengths and weaknesses, interests,
resources, attitude and other personal qualities.

Your personal inventory should encompass at least the
following:

=> Skills Assessment

Just because you're good at something does not mean that
you

necessarily enjoy it. If you're good at something that bores
you to tears, then don't use that skill as the basis for your
new business. You'll be miserable! But, if what you're good
at is something you also happen to enjoy, then there's a
HUGE clue about what your business should be all about.

When thinking about your skills, think also in terms of skills
you don't presently possess but which you could acquire with
a reasonable investment in training. If acquiring a new skill
would equip you to enter a business that you think you could
make succeed, then by all means acquire that skill.

To come up with an inventory of your particular skills, pull out
all of your old resumes (or create them if you don't have them)
and recall what you did in every job you had. Make a list of
your activities and the skills that were necessary to perform
them effectively.

Here's some broad categories to start organizing your thoughts:

* Communication - speaking and writing effectively; listening;
expressing thoughts and ideas; negotiating; persuading;
interviewing; editing; facilitating; responding appropriately.

* Human Relations - motivating; delegating; dispute resolution;
assertiveness; giving credit where due; developing team
cohesiveness and rapport; sensitivity; listening skills;
supportiveness; cooperation; cooperation; developing others.

* Leadership - coordinating and motivating; coaching;
counseling; change agent; conflict resolution; decision making;
teaching; managing groups; multitasking; initiating new ideas
and programs.

* Planning - forecasting and predicing; information gathering;
needs analysis; evaluation strategies; acquiring important
information; idea generation; problem identification;
brainstorming; problem solving.

* Effectiveness - implementation of decisions; cooperation;
policy enforcement; accepting responsibility; organizing;
making decisions; punctuality; time management; attention to
detail; goal attainment; meeting deadlines.

=> Strengths

When considering what strengths you possess that you could
draw and build upon in a business of your own, think in terms
not only of personal qualities such as determination,
commitment and dedication but also to tangibles such as
educational qualifications and financial reserves.

=> Weaknessses

Just as you did with your strengths, focus on the tangible as
well as the intangible. Examples include zero financial
resources, lack of personal discipline; and poor health.

=> Values

Values are the things that are important to you and are divided