Are you riding a dead horse? Get off!
The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.” credit: http://www.commonsenseevaluation.com/tag/government/#sthash.LxRcHqnp.dpuf
Many people are “riding a dead horse” by following a paradigm of a business model that has stop working. Continuing to ride the dead horse, even whipping it back to life, is leading you on the wrong direction. A century ago, the majority of workers were self-employed. Then came the industrial age where there was a huge shift to manufacturing jobs. When I started in the work force, the common plan was:
- go to school
- get a good job and climb the corporate ladder
- retire to a life of leisure after 30-40 years (I found that was at 40% or what you were living on when working)
Due to manufacturing moving out of the country, and leaving a higher percentage of service jobs, this paradigm is now obsolete. Today, people entering a career are projected to have 7-10 jobs over their career, but watching the economy and the current shrinkage of jobs, I expect an increase in the number of jobs over a lifetime with significant gaps between. Even the retail side of the market is suffering. This weekend Radio Shack announced the closing of 1,100 stores, and Staples has announced closing 125 of their locations. That only means a bunch of jobs lost.
Stop riding the dead horse but now what?
There are 3 primary options for most people:
- Self-employed with a product or service
- Franchise
- Networking
Self employed: hanging out your shingle as a professional or knowledge worker, to personally acquire customers. While you are in charge, you will achieve a sense of freedom and will probably work hard than you did as an employee, but with the satisfaction of it being your business. This can be the equivalent of ‘buying yourself a job” but with more security.
Franchise: buying a franchise can be a high-ticket adventure, generally from $70,000 to over a $million. With this investment, you will probably work day and night to get it going, and must plug into the corporate system and buy their products as well. You may have more success and time-freedom after you have purchased a few franchises and hired the right people to run them in your absence. I sure hope you like having employees.
Networking: as for me, I prefer a model that leverages my time, and actually creates time and money freedom (at the same time). It is a simple process but it is not easy. Following a proven formula, in a good company, and with good training can allow you financial security. You must be prepared to work hard and generally start on a part-time basis until you have matched or doubled the income from your JOB.
Network marketing (MLM) has received a bad reputation at times but generally more as a result of network marketers using questionable business tactics. Let’s work together to become professionals. As Eric Worre states in GoPro, network marketing isn’t perfect, it’s just better.
I encourage you to take action for your own security! No matter which approach you take, you will be well served in taking the plunge. Does every business succeed? No. But you only fail if you stop working on your dream.
Wishing you success, as well as freedom. And feel free to Comment, Like, or Share.
Ron
Ron McLean, the Dream Roper, helping YOU Lasso Your Dreams
text/cell: 864-404-6696
Schedule a call – ronmclean.biz