In 2007, I became an entrepreneur and founded the Virtual Office of Debbie Leveski, LLC. After being a full-time employee in the corporate world for decades I took the risk and gave up the security blanket of a W2 in turn for the freedom of running my own business and the uncertainty of knowing if I would even earn enough income to receive a 1099.
Soon my business will reach the milestone of a being around for a decade. My experience as an entrepreneur over the last ten years has been filled with the ups and downs of life’s roller coaster rides complete with gut wrenching thrills. Overall, it has been an awesome ride; yet scary at times.
In a recent article in Quartz, “Life hacks of the freelance economy” author Aimee Groth states, “The stakes are high for freelancers in America—no job security or benefits,” adding, yet many 1099 workers have chosen the risk for its freedom and flexibility.
One of the many valuable resources in the article is a PDF titled (10)99 Problems and W2s Ain’t One. A good read for those considering taking the risk and for those reconsidering their choice.
Being an entrepreneur means you are your boss and you are your worker. It is up to YOU to get the work, to get the work done and to motivate yourself to get the work and get the work done, every day. Of course, you can always contract with other contractors to help you, but do you really want to be a manager?
Being a successful entrepreneur means that you have to have a product or skill that stands out and you have to have the ability to develop relationships, not only with your clients, but with the people you network with. Strong relationships are the key to YOUR success.
Being a happy entrepreneur means YOU are doing something right.
Having happy clients means that YOUR products or skills and your values are intertwined with other successful entrepreneurs, people or businesses and that is good.
In the Fast Company article, titled “The State Of The American Freelancer In 2015,” it states, “Today 53 million Americans, or 34% of the U.S. workforce, are considered contingent, temporary, diversified, or freelance employees, and that number is expected to reach 40% by the year 2020.”
Yes, 1099 work is risky business, but someone has got to do it! Are YOU ready to take the risk? Do you want to become an entrepreneur? Someone out there is looking for someone just like YOU.
If your answer is yes and you are ready to take a step, even a baby step toward starting your own business and becoming a Virtual Assistant I can help. Contact me and together we can work on a plan for YOUR future.
That’s all she wrote!
Bernard P. Milton Oliver Fife, thank you for the correct answer to my question in my last blog!
debbieleveski.com 