Rachel Brushfield

This is part 3 of a 4 part blog series about becoming self employed.

Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/how-do-i-become-self-employed-part-1/

Read part 2: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/how-do-i-become-self-employed-part-2/

Both Peter and I have run our own businesses for many years. I (Rachel) have spent many more years doing my own thing than being employed. In 2021, it will be 24 years.

Here are 10 tips

1. Follow up is key – don’t waste effort going for the ‘new shiny thing’
2. Be clear on your attitude to risk
3. Adopt smart tech to work expediently and plan IT reviews and updates
4. Create a financial ‘cushion’ for quiet times 
5. Design your business and working environment around your personality type e.g. extrovert or introvert
6. Make the most of the quiet months (August/December/January) to think and plan, don’t worry that it is quiet – it is a gift! 
7. Utilise the support of a Virtual PA – play to your strengths
8. Be honest with yourself – what do you really want, rather than what you think you should do?
9. Know the key words for your specialism – use Google Keyword planner
10. Define your personal brand and personal brand assets, e.g. avatar – this is increasingly important in the digital age

What tips would you add?

More

Read about some of our clients and how they became self-employed.

Starting a charity: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/starting-a-charity/

From insurance to being a piano tutor: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/from-insurance-to-being-a-piano-tutor/

Contact us to arrange your free 20 minute meeting to explore what would be useful for you: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/

This is part 2 of a 4 part blog series about becoming self employed.

Read part 1: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/how-do-i-become-self-employed-part-1/

Both Peter and I have run our own businesses for many years. I (Rachel) have spent many more years doing my own thing than being employed. In 2021, it will be 24 years.

Here are 10 tips

• Utilise social media to create awareness free – be focused
• Build your skills – gives you options to develop a portfolio career over time
• Co-opetition vs collaboration – there can be a fine dividing line between people who do similar work to you being an opportunity to collaborate and being competitive
• Protect yourself with legal docs e.g. web site terms and conditions, associate agreements etc.
• Create case studies to demonstrate how you can help clients
• Gain and share client testimonials
• Design your business around your personal values – what is really important to you
• Create a compelling verbal business card – what you answer when asked ‘what do you do?’
• Support your clients in their roles/careers and they will support you
• Timing is everything – monitor business and seasonal cycles which influence

What tips would you add?

More

Read about some of our clients and how they became self-employed.

Turning a passion into a business:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/turning-a-passion-into-a-business/

Turning a strength into a business:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/turning-a-strength-into-a-business/

Contact us to arrange your free 20 minute meeting to explore what would be useful for you: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/

This is part 1 of a 4 part blog series about becoming self employed.

Both Peter and I have run our own businesses for many years. I (Rachel) have spent many more years doing my own thing than being employed. In 2021, it will be 24 years.

Here are 10 tips

1. A key decision is whether you want to have your own business or be an associate of someone else’s business, or a mixture – time, money, control and self-marketing considerations of these choices
2. Use your career heritage as a springboard/foundation for change 
3. Research thoroughly to ensure a robust decision
4. Have a coach, mentor and/or personal Board
5. Do things ‘just in time’ in response to client interest/trends, rather than having everything in place – let go of perfectionism  
6. Make time to plan, reflect and review regularly
7. Pre-network before becoming self-employed
8. Have a clear niche/specialism that you love
9. Choose the right not wrong associates – do due diligence re referrers – many have established referrer relationships already – don’t waste your time with the wrong ones
10. Think ‘out of the box’ with your marketing and networking. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money

What tips would you add?

More

Read about some of our clients and how they became self-employed.

From civil servant to self-employment:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/from-civil-servant-to-self-employment/

From employment to self-employment – accountancy:

https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/from-employment-to-self-employment-accountancy/

Contact us to arrange your free 20 minute meeting to explore what would be useful for you: https://www.inspiringportfoliocareers.com/contact-us/

This is an example of the successful career change into self employment from being a Civil Servant in the public sector all of his life. Written communication is one of this client’s core competencies, so it makes sense for them to express their story in depth in their own words, rather than us use ours. 

“For 22 years – over half of my life – I was a Civil Servant, so a decision to leave the Service was monumental, the right decision, but still very daunting. During my subsequent career break I toyed, spending money along the way, with ‘new careers’ that I had thought were for me, but which (when faced with doing them) I didn’t feel the passion or enjoyment I thought I would. I became stuck. 

I then found Rachel at Energise who helped me to take a fresh look at myself. She took me on a journey through my career and back again and helped me to reach a light bulb moment: Focus on what I value, I am good at and enjoy doing in a way I like to do it! I saw new insights and clarity about my uniqueness, what I have to offer and how to evaluate work options so that I choose projects that energise me. Armed with this, Rachel helped me take the ‘fear’ out of approaching a jobs market I hadn’t been in for over two decades – how to network and market myself. This all culminated in an impactful and up to date CV and understanding of the increasing role social media plays in finding opportunities. 

In possession of my new CV and new learning I applied for three roles securing interviews for all. I was successful and chose a short term role that fits who I am, honours my values, plays to my strengths and working style. I have to say that I am really enjoying myself and find myself at a stage of starting to look for my next opportunity. The fact I accepted a short term contract and feel no fear about how to go about finding the next opportunity is testament to the insight and knowledge Rachel helped me to access and apply. 

So, if you are at a career crossroads, want to leave the public sector to become self-employed, do something different or do something the same but somewhere else, I would recommend working with Rachel who will share lots of tips and tools to support you and ensure a safe passage to your new world! She is highly professional, has a lot of expertise in the jobs market as it exists today, and provides a personalised and flexible service tailored to your needs. Rachel stays in touch too, introduces you to others who might be able to help you as you begin and continue your journey.” Stephen Poole 

Paul is an example of someone who had to make a major career change and set up his own business in his 50s, having been employed all his life, something that is increasingly common. Not only that, but he’s an accountant, a risk averse profession.

Here’s how we helped Paul successfully transition from employment to self employment.    

Paul was an experienced accountant in his 50s who had specialised in the car trade and wanted to become self-employed, but had never had to market himself. He had pursued and won a constructive dismissal case against his former employer.

I helped him to think about the mix of work he wanted and how he could structure it. I also helped him to set up systems that would make his life easier when he became busy, and shared some thoughts on how to market to his small business clients to add value.

I helped him to put together case studies that would help his potential clients to see how he could help them and to craft his biography. Paul’s business got off to a flying start and he was never short of work, but it was the kind of work he enjoyed, with the type of people and companies that he liked working for – something that I had helped him to think through as part of our work together.

“Working with Energise has given me confidence to sell myself and make approaches to organisations that I never would have done before. I still look back on the time I spent with Rachel and have to say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am still telling people about it.”

Paul Bradly

When Cory was ready for a career change, she sought me out as her coach – Energise. Cory is an American, who shares her time between the US and the UK. She has a great attention to detail, and goes that extra mile in everything she does.

Financial security is very important to her and so while self-employment was her goal, the right things needed to be in place before she took the leap – especially in hard economic times.

To give Cory that extra confidence, I helped her understand more about her talents, what makes her unique and what she specifically wanted from her work. Two areas closely matched Cory’s aptitude and interests; event management and being a professional organiser. Cory researched these two options and chose professional organising because she can see how she truly makes an impact in people’s work and personal lives.

Two things that stand out about Cory are her distinctive name and core values. So in choosing to call her company by her own name, Cory is also creating a brand that embodies her commitment to excellence and outstanding service.

“Working with Rachel at Energise not only helped me discover my true calling for a complete career change, but also taught me much more about myself than I had anticipated. Rachel’s practical exercises, questions and steps prepared me for eventually taking the leap. Rachel’s approach was what I was looking for in a business coach: helping me identify what I wanted, creating the blueprint to do it, and then holding me accountable for taking action. But the best part was that I learned tools and skills that I still use daily in many aspects of my life, not just my career.”

Cory Cook, Professional Organiser & Time Management Coach