Here’s some link-goodness on how to start freelancing on tech stuff like programming and web design. It’s great if you have these skills, there’s barely any overhead and no special equipment needed, just the computer you already have.

What Cameron Moll learned:

180 days - http://www.cameronmoll.com/archives/000643.html
360 days - http://www.cameronmoll.com/archives/000904.html

Phil Gyford’s Guide: http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2006/10/26/a_beginners_guid.php

Steve Freidl’s Guide: http://www.unixwiz.net/techtips/be-consultant.html

“Just try it. If it doesn’t work, you can try again.” Indeed.

I keep trying to remember that the alternative is not, “If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to the office”! Or the grad school version: “You can always read another book.”

Every one of these points is certainly true for me. I sometimes jokingly tell people that my autobiography will be called “Birth of a Salesman” (a reference to the fact that I had to learn business skills through the school of hard knocks–coming from a family of academics.)

There is a corollary to your analysis for those in the professional services realm: you can have a lot of these things (flexibility, security, etc.) and still work for “the man”. In law firms, for example (the world where I have the most familiarilty) if you choose to build your own practice through marketing and business development, you can create something like your own business. In other words, there is still room for entrepreneurship within the four walls of your existing job.

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Stephen, I think you’re right that lawyers have a lot of entrepreneurial opportunities they can take — if they’re willing. I think a lot of people go to law school to avoid risk taking, so they are not likely to take risks after law school, either.Also, there is irony in that a large part of what makes a lawyer successful at a large firm is that he or she is  is great at marketing and business development to attract new clients. But I don’t think people realize that going into law school.

Outstanding points. Succinct and absolutely correct. The only one that needs more definition is the advertising one. How do you get traction without spending on advertising? That’s the question I’ve been asking a lot lately on my blog.

As an example of businesses that don’t use advertising I think the most successful is the Spanish company Zara.

They rely on their storefronts to be their only source of promotion, that and word of mouth.

Penelope: I found the article extremely thought-provoking as I am currently not happy with my career (or lack of it).

However, I do find these stories of 12 year old and 18 year old whizz-kids to be somewhat of a demotivator. At 34 I feel like an old man when I read some of these stories!

thats nice, but you’re wrong about most businesses suceeding.

the majority of new small businesses fail.

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The point I am trying to make here is that the statistic you refer to hinges on the definition of success. Today, because of the wide range of types of success people can have, you could say more businesses succeed than fail. (The first time I ever heard this idea was when I was talking to Andrew Zacharakis, professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College — that’s what the link is.)

- Penelope

Staying in corporate life is definitely risky if what you really want to do has nothing to do with what you do right now. Make moves while you still can. Terry Bradshaw isn’t the quarterback for the Steelers anymore.

Very encouraging thanks!

Hi Penelope: great observations and great context with the links to other articles you wrote, I was pleased to see you mention Dun & Bradstreets stats that 76% of businesses are still operating after two-years. So many people get that stat wrong.

Entrepreneurship is learned and a survey I read stated that most businesses start with and average of $8,000 and writing a business plan will help you get a business loan. Plus you can use the process of writing a business plan as your own private professional development course.

I have added your feed to my reader. Thanks for adding to the conversation!

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Greg,

Penelope

Awesome list! I agree with almost every one of your “new ideas” … and glad I found some of the links provided by you and your commenters.

Penelope: Cool post — it certainly is a myth that the best course of action is to climb the ladder and pay your dues and THEN hop out of the grind. The National Association for the Self-Employed reports that over time, there’s been a trend toward younger workers entering self-employment. People are realizing that it’s the years when you DON’T have a mortgage or kids or other responsibilities that it’s easiest to take a risk. Well, such as it is — starting a microbusiness can be a lot less risky than working for a big corporation that can eliminate your job with a tick of the stock price. I linked to this post from Grindhopping.com.

- Laura Vanderkam

Penelope-

Just stumbled upon your blog. What a great find. As someone who jumped off the corporate ladder and dove into a start-up, I like your “new rules.” Being part of a start up is a wonderful, wild ride with highs and lows. We’ll refer to your list often, I’m sure.
I also enjoyed the earlier post (it was link in this one) to the 9 facts to sway the on-the-fence entrepreneur.
I’ll tune in more often.

Jocelyn Ring

Old: “I’m going to learn the ropes at XYZ first, then start my own operation”
New: “I wrote version #1 this past weekend at Starbucks. Seed capital = none; Users = 100,000 and growing;”

Moral of the story: Just do it. Y-Combinator companies are continuously pumping out great products at $10,000 a pop (usually straight out of school, if even)