[Courses] chapter six: Running A Business- Money

[Carla Schroder]

Many thanks to Megan, Jenn, and Val for their excellent contributions to this 
thread.

Keeping a rein on expenses is vitally important. It's better to not spend it 
than to have to earn more. Being a business owner does not mean building a 
big fancy house and driving an expensive car. It means developing a canny eye 
for cost-cutting without impairing your efficiency. Debt is the worst- debt 
is a big fat anchor. 

There will be dull chores. This is obvious stuff, but what the heck: answer 
phone calls and emails promptly. Best way to lose a customer is ignore them. 
Prioritize jobs that actually generate income. It is easy to spend countless 
hours refining your business card logo, or waste hours with a customer who 
won't spend money. Hire pros to do important jobs that you don't enjoy, or 
are not good at, like filing and bookkeeping. Being highly organized is very 
important, even if you have to hire it done. It is better to hire some jobs 
out, and focus your energies on what you do best. Anyone can clean a house or 
mow a lawn. You need to focus your energies where they will do the most good.

The whole point of working for yourself is to do what you want, and to be 
more in control of your destiny. Jenn's post has an excellent description of 
what not to do, as well as what to do. The world metes out enough misery- no 
need to create more for yourself. Do you hate getting up early? Then don't. I 
know, getting enough sleep is most anti-American, I hope other countries have 
more sensible values. It is better to be well-rested and put in 4 or 5 
productive hours, than to drag around uselessly for 8.

For me, the Monday-Friday 8-5 routine is not only itchy and galling, I think 
it is evil. Humans are not machines. There is nothing magical about a 40-hour 
workweek. I work less in the summer, more in the winter. I take 6-8 weeks off 
every year. I  dislike crowds, so my 'weekend' is during the week. Your work 
schedule will be determined by the type of work you do. I chose work that 
gives me much scheduling freedom. Sometimes I take a nap, then work all 
evening. Sometimes I work like a fiend all day and all night. Being in 
control of my schedule lets me take advantage of extra-productive times.

The tricky part is staying disciplined. I love to loaf. You're probably 
getting sick of hearing it- "The Millionaire Mind" is a great motivator. The 
world is chock-full of motivational tapes and books. They work- use them. 
Victoria Johnson and Susan Powter rev my engines. Short o money? Public 
Library, my little grasshoppers!


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Carla Schroder, Bratgrrl Computing
Plain English Spoken Here
www.bratgrrl.com
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