Question: I have been going over this opprortunity for a long time. Should I freelance and work from home? But the answer, the logical answer, always wins. Can I survive? And the funny thing is that…I always think that I can’t. I am a single mom. If I fail, my kids fail with me. And we eat nothing. So?

Abby

Dear Abby,

I am glad you asked this question because this was the very same question I asked myself 7 years back. I had a needy 1-month-old child then (now I have 2) and I knew that if I leaped into the freelance world (which was something I REALLY wanted to do), it would spell either success or…FAILURE. And I can’t take failure for an answer.

I know every one of us is different. Our situation is different and the circumstances surrounding our decision is different but…one thing is the same. The passion to move out of the corporate confines.

Good questions to ask yourself:

Do YOU want to freelance? Do YOU want to have more freedom? Do YOU want to answer to no one? Do YOU feel that you could earn more money from a business on your own…over time? Do YOU want to have CONTROL over your life? Will YOU be willing to learn everything there is to learn about making it in the freelance world? Would YOU be willing to do anything to survive if you were thrown into the business world? Are YOU willing to learn, make mistakes, make amends and make deals? Can YOU negotiate with people? Can YOU admit that you’ve made a mistake and make amends? Are YOU flexible? Are YOU willing to learn technology? As in internet…of course. Are YOU willing to discard with conventional ways of doing business? Are YOU trustable?

If you’ve noticed, the questions are all YOU questions. Because of one reason…the decision is yours to make, no one else. I can’t help you make the decision because I am not you…and I am not in your position and situation.

Now, before you jump into my bandwagon (the freelancing bandwagon), you’d have to consider whether you have enough financial reserves for the beginning months of freelancing (very important if you want to make sure your kids have something to eat throughout the day). You need to consider, before you start freelancing, if you have the support of your friends and family members (they can crush your dreams within a day!). Are you willing to walk that extra mile to turn your dream into a reality?

It takes a whole damn lot to be freelancing…to make that jump. You’re standing at the edge of the cliff, wondering and pondering, while the rest of the world just evolves.

Listen to your heart, Abby. If your heart tells you you should, go ahead and your head will follow. Communicate and learn from your mistakes (and other people’s mistakes, as well) and you’ll do just fine.

If six months down the road and you’re not making a single cent, go back to employment. If you’re making $150 a month, I say trudge on.

Believe in yourself. Good luck, Abby.

Yours, Marsha
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Very few aspects in life change as quickly as the internet. It is a fascinating phenomenon and it is here to stay. There are many ways to use the internet and if used wisely, there are many ways to create very successful businesses. Outsourcing has become the wave of internet marketing. It is an easy to understand and implement process of allowing your business to grow without losing precious time.

How does outsourcing work?

* Outsourcing is a method by which buyers hire professionals to complete work assignments out of house.

* There are many freelance areas of computer and internet marketing that are available and eager professional looking for the freedom that comes with this sort of work.

* The ability for a business owner to outsource some of their work is priceless and allows them to take in more business than could otherwise successfully handle.

* Business owners remain in close contact with their independent contractors to ensure the work is being done to meet deadlines.

* Independent outsourcing contractors are free to take in as much work as they can professionally handle and work on their own schedule as long as deadlines are met.

* There are no benefits packages and red tape to deal with as independent contractors do not receive benefits.

* There are no extra overheads, no new expensive equipment to purchase. Computers and all costs are covered by the contractors who are working out of house.

* Building relationships with quality freelancers allows business owners to have the help you need when you need it and the feeling that comes from trusting those with whom you work.

Outsourcing is a win-win situation for all those involved. Building a team of professionals to handle some of your workload greatly increases productivity while keeping costs way down. Freelance workers have a connection to their buyers. They also enjoy the security that is afforded by being a professional with an ability to produce quality work.

There is not a lot of good news out there in the business world these days. Outsourcing is an exception. It fits well into the current economic times and promotes a sense of security for business owners that is scarce.

Remember an important aspect of outsourcing is that as a business owner you remain in control. If you are ever displeased, you are free to hire others and there are no entanglements that would be an issue with in- house workers.

Outsourcing is the wave of the future and it is one you will want to catch.
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