Do it right for Self Employed Professionals

ARE you one of the lucky few to be self-employed? Brave enough to be your own master? Not many people even realise that they are capable of being self-employed and thus can set off independently. To remain one of the "chosen" to be your own employer avoid some common pitfalls.

Always be on the lookout for new business. You are as good as your client base. Look after the old ones and cast your net to catch new ones.

Assess the market and charge accordingly. Keep up with the market prices otherwise your business will be financially affected.

Sign agreements carefully. Read and double-check whatever you have to put your signature on. If there are terms you do not understand then get it assessed by a lawyer.

Protect your intellectual property. Set clients' expectations. Don't let what actually belongs to you to be used by other people who profit from it.

Be organised, as this will help you stay in control. Don't loose business simply because that all important name or number cannot be located.

Spend your time carefully with schedules and reprioritise if necessary. Sometimes it is all about timing .So make sure you get it right. Don't make your work your life. Have fun. Families are natural stress busters. Spend quality time with them. Budget for `Time-Off'. It will actually increase your output.

Become technosavvy. These gadgets are designed to save time and make life easier. They aren't really difficult to grasp and adapt to. However, avoid techno stress!

Keep up with all the latest happenings in your field. Don't let your professional skills stagnate. Most clients want the best that are available.

Network successfully. Keep the grapevine alive and don't let your contacts whiter away. Keep your visibility high.

"The essence of working solo is to embark on a path of self- discovery through entrepreneurship. It's the freedom to craft the life you want to live." - says Terri Lonier, president of Working Solo Inc in San Francisco and while this is not certainly easy to do, once the plunge is taken, work towards maintaining this independence.

PAROMITA PAIN