Self-Made Me: Why Being Self-employed Beats Everyday Employment Every Time

Book description

Stop working for the man – break free and make sure you're getting paid what you're worth

Stop slogging away 9 – 5 for a set salary (plus the overtime you inevitably do and don't get any credit for). Abandon the day job and go it alone. Start doing what you want to do, when you want to do it. There are currently 4 million self-employed people in the UK –be one of them, join them, set yourself free. It's not about becoming an entrepreneurial whiz-kid, it's about working the way you want to work, on the things you want to work on, and in the location you want to do it from. Remember, you don't have to sit in an office to get a job done. Self-Made Me shows you how to work how and where you want and earn exactly what you're worth – not what an employer wants to get away with giving you. Be your own boss and increase your value.

  • It's never been easier to be self-employed than it is today, with increased communications, mobile working and outsourcing

  • This straight-forward and engaging guide will help you make being self-employed a success

  • Shows you how to get paid what you are actually worth, and how to work as hard or as little required to create the lifestyle you choose

Self Made Me is for a new breed of people, and will show you how to make self-employment work for you.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title page
  3. Copyright page
  4. DEDICATION
  5. Epigraph
  6. INTRODUCTION
    1. ARE YOU PAID WHAT YOU ARE WORTH?
    2. PAID EMPLOYMENT – A NEW-FANGLED IDEA
  7. PART 1: THE CASE FOR SELF EMPLOYMENT
    1. CHAPTER 1 IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU
      1. A HAPPY OUTCOME
      2. TIED TO THE BIG MACHINE
      3. THE SPECIALIST TRAP
      4. FREE AT LAST
      5. DOES HE NEED WATCHING?
      6. IT ALL ADDS UP
      7. RIDING THE ROLLERCOASTER
    2. CHAPTER 2 LEARNING AND GROWING
      1. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU
      2. WHY DIDN’T IT WORK OUT?
      3. THE PERSONAL BRAND
      4. BE A GUERILLA
      5. THE MEANING OF WORK
    3. CHAPTER 3 THE ROLE MODEL
      1. THE VALUE OF GURUS
      2. A LIFE OF CRIME
    4. CHAPTER 4 CALL THE EXPERT
      1. DOOMED
      2. IT ISN’T WHAT YOU KNOW
      3. PRIDE IN THE JOB
      4. A POTENTIAL DISASTER
      5. LOOK FOR THE CRACKS
    5. CHAPTER 5 THE PROFESSIONAL GAME
      1. WHAT SHALL WE DO NOW?
      2. THINK LIKE A SHARK
      3. A LIFE IN CHAINS
      4. WHEN GURUS COLLIDE
      5. THE NATURE OF WORK
      6. IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO BE THIS CHEAP
      7. A TRUE PROFESSIONAL
    6. CHAPTER 6 SHOW ME THE MONEY
      1. GOOD VALUE
      2. LET THEM SEE THE EVIDENCE
      3. IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN
      4. AN EXCELLENT IDEA
      5. LOOKING FOR WORK
      6. THE WINNING TICKET
      7. THE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO THE TOP
      8. NEVER MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE
    7. CHAPTER 7 A CUNNING PLAN
      1. SOMETHING IN THE WOODSHED
      2. THE BUSY FOOL
      3. OH, WHAT FUN!
      4. THEN WHAT?
      5. A DIFFERENT WAY
      6. A SIMPLE ASSUMPTION
      7. THE MADNESS OF BUSINESS PLANS
      8. PLAN TO FAIL
    8. CHAPTER 8 THE MERCHANT ADVENTURERS
      1. A NEW SPECIES
      2. TAKE IT EASY
      3. FAIR SHARES
      4. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
      5. EVERY BURGLAR NEEDS A FENCE
      6. GET OUT AND DO IT
  8. PART 2: EXPLORING THE OPPORTUNITIES
    1. CHAPTER 9 FACE THE FACTS BEFORE YOU START
      1. HONESTY
      2. TOO NICE
    2. CHAPTER 10 WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT?
      1. ANOTHER GIFT SHOP
      2. WHAT THIS PLACE NEEDS IS . . .
      3. NO VACANCIES
    3. CHAPTER 11 JUST THE JOB
      1. THE SELECTION PROCESS
      2. SEE THE TROUBLE COMING
    4. CHAPTER 12 THE FAME GAME
      1. THE NAME IS THE GAME
      2. FAMOUS
      3. TRUST ME
      4. GIVE ME A RING
      5. INVEST IN QUALITY
    5. CHAPTER 13 ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
      1. THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
      2. STAND BEHIND THE BIG KID
      3. RIP OFF
      4. SETTING THE STANDARDS
    6. CHAPTER 14 THE PROFESSIONAL APPROACH
      1. A PROPER HAIRDRESSER
      2. THE IMAGINARY FRANCHISE
      3. FRED’S GARAGE
    7. CHAPTER 15 REASSURANCE
      1. GOAT POLITICS
      2. KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER
      3. THE BIGGER THE BUSINESS, THE BIGGER THE RISK
      4. STABBED IN THE BACK
    8. CHAPTER 16 WORKING THE ROOM
      1. A GREAT BUSINESS . . . IF IT WASN’T FOR THE PEOPLE
      2. PLAY NICE
      3. BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
      4. WORKING FOR NOTHING
    9. CHAPTER 17 MARKETING – THE SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITY
      1. WHAT MARKETING WON’T DO
      2. EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
      3. OPENING DOORS
      4. BEWARE AWARE
    10. CHAPTER 18 WEB OF INTRIGUE
      1. THE WORLD IS YOUR VIRTUAL OYSTER
      2. WHAT CAN THE WEB DO FOR US?
      3. OPTIMIZE DON’T COMPROMISE
      4. WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
      5. WORDS ARE CHEAP
      6. HANDYMAN
      7. SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT
      8. ALL OF A TWITTER
      9. MEET YOURSELF COMING BACK
  9. CONCLUSION
  10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
  11. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Product information

  • Title: Self-Made Me: Why Being Self-employed Beats Everyday Employment Every Time
  • Author(s): Geoff Burch
  • Release date: February 2012
  • Publisher(s): Capstone
  • ISBN: 9780857082657