My client Rich is completely fed up. Another dose of office politics, his supervisor’s cousin twice-removed got the promotion he was up for (and she’s only 23 years old!), if he wants a raise he found out he’ll have to spend six months to a year in Des Moines. It never ends.
He goes to work at 6 a.m.. He comes home from work at 6 p.m. He throws his keys on the table, fixes dinner and turns on the television. Business as usual. Watches the news. Cruises through some entertainment/ detective/reality/ plastic surgery shows. Then the fun really begins. Five consecutive hours of infomercials. He thinks, “If I just call this toll-free number and listen to a few tapes, I’ll be on the path to financial freedom. I can buy and sell real estate with no money down. I can work at home, set my own (short!) hours, and (the ever appealing) “be my own boss”.
He continues, ”WOW! I can earn how much? That fast? Where’s the phone? And within minutes, he’s given his credit card number (just three installments of $79.95 each, plus shipping and handling) to the operator and he received the news that his new business will be arriving in four to six weeks.
Other than the fact that he’s done this at least 16 times over the past three years, you’d probably think he was crazy. Or not. Maybe you’ve done the same thing, or you know someone who has. Such temptation! The answer must be in the Business Opportunities advertisements that barrage our magazines, e-mail, newspapers, and televisions. Medical Billing. Vending Machines. Stuffing Envelopes. Real Estate. Raising Animals. Bulk Email. Psychic Phone Lines.
The FTC has guidelines governing all these kinds of “opportunities”. The resources are out there for that all important “due diligence”. It’s so much easier if you examine these companies before you send them your money.
A business opportunity is the typical Catch-22. These businesses promise the moon and the stars and yes, they actually seem to make sense – on the surface. You want a business opportunity because you need money, but in actuality you have to already have money to create a business opportunity that truly works.
Reality check: Good credit is essential. You need to have enough money to live while you’re establishing your business. You need to have excellent management and sales skills. You have to be prepared to sell, sell, and then sell some more. Sell yourself. Sell your product. Working your own business is not short hours. You don’t make millions stuffing envelopes.
There are legitimate business opportunities out there. Some are independent businesses that are for sale. Some are franchises. Another way is to create an opportunity from your own experience or talent. The entrepreneurial spirit really can move you. But hopefully not to making a toll-free call for the “easy answer”.
Lauren Castle is the owner of Impress Express, a professional image firm, focusing on career development, resume preparation, presentation skills, etiquette and interview coaching. We are members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers. For help with your image, posting your resume, or preparing your internet-friendly resume, contact Lauren directly at 858-459-7400. And, as always, please forward your image and career-related questions to [email protected] for further information.