In 1900,  90% of Americans were self employed. A hundred years later only 10% were. But the trend is shifting back.

The Rise of Women

 A recent Time magazine special report on women, pointed out that by the end of this year it’s expected that the majority of U.S. employees will be women.  And women are leading the pack in starting their own businesses.  Currently 35% of self employed people are women – I’m one of them.

There are lots of different reasons for this trend back to self employment: a search for stability in this weak economy, a desire for work/life balance, a need to be more creative, etc.

 Plan for Self Employment

But whatever the reason, if you’re thinking about becoming self employed, you need a PLAN.  What will you do?  How will you make money? How will you find customers?  Like any business, you need a Self Employment Plan.

 Whether by choice or by force, you may soon be self employed. So you need to be ready.  I’ve created a template of a Self Employment Plan.  If you want a copy (it’s free), just send an email to petti@theworkplacereview.com

I think that everyone has lied sometime in his or her life. I can remember a couple times from my college years (decades ago!). But as I matured, I came to value the truth and expected it in my friends and those I work with. My friends have remained truthful, employers not so much.

One employer statement that seems really untruthful, and grates on me, is “our people are our biggest asset.”  I can list employer policies and actions that make that statement a lie. I’ll bet you can too.  Let’s start with those popular euphemisms “downsize” and “outsource”.

What’s your current employer doing to destroy your trust and loyalty? Have you told them?  Do you dare?  Do they care?

The smart companies today are identifying those key employees they can’t afford to lose. They are those creative people that create value for the company. And they’re creating a workplace that supports them and retains them. There’s lots the company can do – but it starts with TRUST – and no lying.

Petti