Miss P continues her series with a look at the possibilities of running your own business…

While everybody has to make money to survive and buy the things they need, what we do to make money is entirely up to each of us — and that means the sky is the limit on what we can pick! For some, being an entrepreneur might be the right fit. You’ll work very hard, and sometimes, you’ll have to work even when you don’t want to, but it’s not unlike a high paying job in that sense. Most people who make six figures are chained to their desk whether they own the company or not. The downside of course is that like anything else, your company can have a hard time making money, like during an economic downturn. But, regardless of what you do for a living, there will likely be pros and cons to it. I’ve been employed and I’ve been an entrepreneur, and I’ll be honest. The steady, stable paycheck is my preference. I also enjoy not having to worry about handling taxes — when you work for someone else, it is so much easier as it comes right out of your paycheck. But, I also love the freedom and flexibility of being an entrepreneur just the same. The work is heavy and you do work a lot but you at least have some ability to take an afternoon off when you want to. It does take a ton of motivation, also — you have to be a real self starter to launch and run a business. But, it can be a great fit for someone who is ambitious and a go getter. In fact, believe it or not but a lot of the skills that people learn on the street are the exact same skills needed to be a great entrepreneur.

If this sounds like you, here are the three quick steps to launching a business:

1. Find a need for a product or service. One of the most important things you can do before launching your own venture is to research the marketplace and find something you like to do that is in demand. It can be virtually anything — in some cities, there are businesses that decorate people’s houses for holidays. The sky can be the limit. Just make sure that whatever you choose is something that people need or you will have a hard time finding customers. Service related businesses like house cleaning, lawncare, etc. can all be launched for fairly low costs, but don’t be afraid to explore creating a product as well. A young aspiring fashion designer once got her start putting together things out of scrap fabric. Today, it’s one of the biggest new clothing brands. Take a little time and think about what you like to do, what appeals to you and what might be in need or demand and you’ll be on your way through the first and most important step of entrepreneurship.

2. Find support (including financial). Launching a business can seem like a giant mountain to climb but it really isn’t. You will need to weed through a lot of steps, learn new things, and of course, possibly finance it through a loan or some type of capital. There are endless resources for things like this. Mentors, government programs for small business, incubators, and all kinds of other support is available. If you’re thinking about taking the leap into owning your own business, do a quick Google search and/or check around in your city for resources. In San Jose, a local organization partnered with a flea market to create an incubator for people who were making and selling products, and it has since increased employment in the area. So, be sure to take a look around. Don’t give up if things take time or require a little bit of effort. It’ll all pay off later if you find the right support at the start. Some people finance their companies on their credit cards — be careful doing this. You’ll want to always keep your expenses very tight and resist the temptation to spend on things you may think you need but don’t.

3. Launch it! Once you’ve got your business in place, it’s time to launch! Ways to market a company can range from passing out fliers to sending out word of mouth emails to family and friends, to advertising and publicity, so after you’re business is ready to go, look into various means to get the word out about it. Believe it or not, most local media around the country can be reached by everyday people who have news, like you. Check out online marketing capabilities as well — social networks are free to join and use, and can be a great way to market a business and draw new customers.

The other piece is to have some direction and be realistic about your job search. Most large companies do background checks so that is something you will have to consider if you have a criminal history. A person cannot expect to land a $100k job as a Manager with a questionable past. You have to be willing to start where you are given the opportunity and show your employer that you can be a good worker, reliable, etc. and work from there. This goes for anybody, not just XYZ. Everybody has to start somewhere.

Today’s post was inspired by someone who emailed in for help this past week. This one is for you.

Lil Miss P continue her series on how to find a job, this week looking at Resumes.

One of the hardest parts of the job hunting process is creating a good resume. Without it, job candidates can be looked over. A good resume can help you stand out in a tight economy where companies often have upwards of two and five hundred submissions for a single position. It can also be the backdrop to ace an interview once you get in the door — everything they need to know about how fantastic you are is right on paper, and all you need to do is reinforce that with personality, professionalism and a smile. The popular format for resumes is to list your work experience and the companies you’ve worked for, including the various job duties you had. But, what happens if you don’t really have any work experience? What if you haven’t held many jobs? That’s where the Skill Set resume can really help. It identifies your strongest traits by what skills you have and puts them first, tucking away your work experience at the bottom of the page instead of the top. I’ll be honest, when I was job hunting years ago I used this format despite having a good work record and I almost always got the interview. It’s a format I’ve also used in mentoring other people and I’ve seen it firsthand help land interviews and jobs. It doesn’t mean it’s the right format for everybody, of course. But if you are a little lean on demonstrating employment or specific work experience to a position, skill set format can be a great way to circumvent this and allow your skills and talent to shine.

The first step in creating a skill set style resume is to identify the main skills you need for the type of job you are applying for. For example, if it is a receptionist role at a corporate office, the two main skills needed might be: 1. Office And Administrative Experience. 2. Project Management Experience. Instead of starting your resume with the companies you worked for, you would start it with those two titles and then the relevant skills you have that relate to it. For example:

Your Name/Address/ETC

Office And Administrative Experience
- Capable of handling and routing incoming telephone calls. Bright, courteous personality and experience in handling general inquiries.
- Experienced in basic office functions — filing, organization, ordering and managing supplies, etc.
- Outstanding multi-tasking skills. Able to juggle many projects at once efficiently

And so on. The goal is to think up all the relevant skills you have that will make you an outstanding fit for the job and put them on paper under each section as I’ve shown above. The key is to really focus on what specific skills you have that are a fit, and what skills are relevant to the job. A secret way to find out the skills you need to include for a position can come straight from the job posting. Lots of times, I’ll go through the requirements requested line by line in the job ad and note which ones on my resume that I have and can provide if hired. Ideally, you want to fill a single page for your resume at minimum so be sure to list as many skills and points you can on yours. Once you’ve completed the skill portion, you must add a section for WORK HISTORY and that’s where you can put various jobs you’ve held in the past or present. With each, you’ll want to note the functions and duties you had including highlighting any successes — such as, “Managed and trained other employees helping five to be promoted to higher level positions,” etc. Then any education you may have would be very last, at the bottom. So, if we were using the example above, here is what your skill set focused resume would look like:

Your Name/Address/ETC

Office And Administrative Experience
(list skills that you have that are relevant — as many as you can think of that fit)

Project Management Experience
(again, list skills you have that are relevant – as many as you can think of that fit)

Work History
(list jobs and a few short points on what you did at them)

Education
(list your education — high school, college, etc.)

By putting your skills first, it can help companies focus on what you have to offer first, and not necessarily emphasize on your work history alone. It can be a good way to present yourself if you are new to the work force or don’t have much work history, or if you are trying to transition into a new industry that you may have great skill for but not a lot of relevant experience. Most of all, it’s a great way to put your best talents and capabilities forward and help you shine!

Lil Miss P continues her series looking at how you can stick to your plan, be persistent and succeed…

I once heard a famous pastor talk about how God writes the plans He has for us on our hearts – that the exact things you wish you could do, the person you feel you could be — are in line with the things God had in mind for you, too. Somehow, somewhere along the line, we can be pushed further and further away from that. Naysayers might discourage you from believing you can be what you feel in your heart of heart’s you can be. Circumstances and situations, such as where you are born or what you have access to, might make it seem impossible. Mistakes you’ve made, even getting into a gang or committing a crime, may make you think you can’t ever the plan God wrote for your life. But, you can. At any time in your life, on any day, you can make the choice to change the course – whether you are 18, 28, 50 or older. In fact, God knew exactly when you’d arrive, and trust me – His plan for you is more than ready.

I write a lot about looking within for what you really want to do in life because I believe God wants you to do it. And I know that things won’t necessarily happen tomorrow just because you’ve decided to take the course, but trust me when I say – when you start to make a move towards the plan God has painted on your heart, it will start to make moves towards you. One by one you’ll start to see how God will open up doors, put people across your path, give you the knowledge and information you need to do the job you know you have been destined for. All it takes, really, is you. Even if you’re keeping a job somewhere else to make rent, you can work towards what’s ahead for you. I was held like a prisoner for years in a job I didn’t like and did not feel fulfilled in so that I could pay the bills. Every day, I was so unfulfilled and tired. It was hard to be motivated to work there every day when I knew deep down I wanted to be doing other things. But, all the while, all along the way, I worked on the side towards what I really wanted to do with my life – and over time, I’ve gotten closer and closer to being able to do it.

No matter what your situation is, no matter what you did before, what’s around you – everything – is just temporary, as the famous pastor I’ve referenced said. It’s going to pass if you stay true to the plan, no matter how bad things get or how impossible it may seem. Regardless of what it looks like, or how frustrated you may feel, keep working. It will come. Now if you are not employed and looking for work, you’ll have to keep moving to find a job, knocking on doors, sending out your resume, etc. But, as you are doing so, each day take a little time to work towards what you really want in life. It can be as small as reading a chapter in a text book to taking one college course, to learning the skills you may need to make yourself more marketable to employers. If you’re at a job, you’ll have a harder time sometimes fitting in the work needed to move yourself forward. Don’t give up! Set aside a short time each week, when you can, to do the things that will help lay down that future job. It can be everything from studying to internship, to researching and learning. No matter what, keep doing it.

If you’re not sure how to find the plan God has for your life, go to a quiet place in your house or car, and just ask. He will reveal it to you.

Cool Careers

My high school had a college and career center that wasn’t very large and unfortunately, didn’t provide much insight or visibility into many careers. I grew up in a smaller town in a suburb of a major city where there weren’t many “big” jobs — mostly factories, doctor’s offices, libraries, and restaurants. It wasn’t until I got a little bit older and had moved into a bigger city that I started to really see all of the career choices out there, and even more so all of the different industries to work in. I also started to realize that the job I would be best at was one that didn’t just match what I knew how to do but what my God given natural born talents were. We all have them, we’re all born with something that we’re innately talented at — maybe not enough to land a pro football career, but without question something that can be leveraged to land you in a good career that you can build on. I had a natural talent for writing and communicating, and a bit of fearlessness. It actually made me a very good fit for a specific career that has benefitted me and given me a good life for more than ten years. I know God had to have played a part in all of it. If you’re reading this today, then I bet He wants to help play a part in your direction too. It inspired this week’s post because there may be others who, like me, didn’t know what opportunities were out there, let alone which ones to work towards. Below are some really cool careers that are not too difficult to get into and the natural skills that fit them:

– Public Relations/Publicist — This is a cool job where you are responsible for contacting newspapers, magazines and television stations to tell them about a client’s news. It can be fun and exciting because every day is different and you are always kept busy, and you’re also working with cool people in the media. You spend a lot of time talking with people, building relationships, emailing and doing research on the internet. It can also include a lot of writing. It’s a great job if you’re a good communicator — great at talking, writing, charismatic, etc. You can learn a lot of the specific job skills you need by doing — offer to help a local business with their publicity one day a week and call the media on behalf of them to build up experience. You can see what a press release and other public relations materials look like online to learn how to write them. Colleges have classes and degrees in the field. The entry level is mostly research, finding contacts, etc. so there is plenty of opportunity to work your way up. Sites like Craigs List and Monster.com list public relations/publicity jobs. What’s cool is that there is public relations/publicity in most industries — healthcare, technology, music, TV, fashion, etc.

– Stylist — If you have good style and a flair for fashion, it can actually be a career. There are personal shoppers and private stylists that work with people, from celebrities to everyday people who need help finding what to wear. There are also stylists for magazines, who handle laying out all of the clothes, and stylists for TV shows and films. It can branch into merchandising, which is more in the retail industry but still relies on a keen eye for putting things together. Stylists work with a lot of e-commerce stores to help style and present items, so there can be opportunity there, too. It’s helpful if you attend a fashion school to make connections and learn the business, but you can get into it simply with talent. There are many personal shopper organizations and groups if you do a Google search. Stylist jobs are a bit harder to find but Craigs List in New York and Los Angeles often have them. Merchandising jobs can be found in the retail category on Craigs List or Monster.com.

– Writer/Blogger — Writing skill can be a career in a few different areas. The obvious ones are writer/blogger for newspapers, magazines and internet sites, which can range from writing short, fast articles about news to writing fun things about handbags or stereos, to longer articles reporting on a topic or issue. To get started, what is most important is to rack up as many published examples of your work — it may require that you write for free a bit to accumulate enough to land a paid or regular job. Other writing jobs can include copy writing, where you are hired to write things like product descriptions or marketing copy for companies. Again, offering to do some work for free can help build up your samples to ultimately land a paid job. The downside of writing is that it can pay poorly or pay great, depending on who you are writing for. Since magazines and newspapers are affected by how many ads they can sell, it can be a fickle career to write for magazines or newspapers. But, if you have a natural talent for writing, you might want to check it out. Writing jobs are listed on Craigs List and sometimes on Monster, etc.

What’s important regardless of whatever work you do is to keep the hustle on. I have mentored hundreds of people and watched dozens more operate in various jobs and careers, and the only difference between those who are successful and those who are not is ambition. Next week I’ll post a few more cool careers and how to get into them.

Lil Miss P

THE JOB HUNT GAME

BY MIKE RAMEY

One of my favorite movies is Spy Game staring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. The most telling illustration for my column is the following slogan from the cover of the soundtrack: “It’s not how you play the GAME…it’s how the game plays YOU.”

Hunting for a job is rough, time-consuming and pressure-packed process. Nevertheless- -when you boil it down–the job hunting process is a game. How well you play it will determine your future economic success. Of course, this game has rules (like most games do), and the rules are meant to be obeyed whether they are written or unwritten. For this month, we’re going to hit on some of the basic rules and discuss how to play the game and keeping your sanity while job hunting in a tight, recession-laden economy.

You may be asking yourself why such an article is needed. Simply stated, it has to do with some of the business articles I’ve been reading–including articles by and about people of color who are out on the job hunt.

Brothers, this is NOT the first recession that this country has been through. News flash? It will NOT be the last recession, depression or job slowdown you will see. As the `old folks’ used to say: “Just keep on LIVING and LEARN your lessons WELL!”

BE YOURSELF THROUGOUT THE PROCESS:

IF some of those articles are to be believed, we are being told that it is `safer’ to `ditch’ your `cultural heritage’ (including non-traditional sounding names, group/association memberships, etc.) in order to `hide’ your skin color and win a job.

Balderdash! If I would have to deny or change who I am before applying for a job, would it be a job worth having? Thirty pieces of silver put Jesus Christ on the cross. Sacrificing your self worth and/or culture for a paycheck is the blast that won’t last.

One of the first rules of the job hunt game is to be who you are. The successful are happy with whom they are–and it translates to solid applications, great interviews and qualified employees. Furthermore, IF you are a Christian, you should not lie on a job application, in an interview or any business deal.

The important thing: BE you…and be the best you that you can be!

FAILURE CAN HAPPEN IN THE JOB HUNT GAME:

The next rule is simple and should never be underestimated: “Life is NOT fair!” There are people who are under qualified and overqualified who manage to get hired BEFORE you do, and it just does not seem fair. It may seem like the race course may be rigged…but just keep on doing what you know how to do. Check the job blogs, mail out the resumes, pound the pavement and contact companies that fit into your employment plan. As one wise sage told me years ago: “A setback is a set-up for a comeback!”

Failure is as much a part of life as are breathing, heartbreak, death and taxes.

A few years back, John C. Maxwell penned a book on the subject is failure. Entitled: “Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success,” this work should become mandatory reading for job seekers. To paraphrase: Many of the successful people of today `failed’ in one (or more) ventures yesterday–and could fail tomorrow.

They won’t roll over and quit! The successful are persistent and KNOW that one must stay in the and play the game until you net that win!

Growing up, my home life had hit some troubles due to my parents’ divorce and some other problems my parents were having. They were unable to be of much help about college and career even though they wanted to help if they could and were supportive. I felt very alone to try to find my way, and when you are a teen that is hard. Money was tight and figuring out all the financial aid was hard. College career centers at high schools aren’t always that helpful — ours more or less told every girl to go one direction. It was only years after that I saw the scope of the very many careers and types of work, industries, etc. you can have! But for many years I didn’t really feel a sense of direction. Having not been exposed to much beyond what was in my city and what I had seen through school, I felt lost. I decided on a path, headed towards it, then tried another, only to find myself again unsure. Luckily, God had a plan.

At 22, I was introduced to a career and industry I didn’t know existed through a hobby: Playing sports. I was lending my free time to it for six months to help promote my team and before long I realized, this was the direction to go. I loved the work and it made me feel energized. It was a challenge each time and I felt fulfilled by it. Most of all, it fit right into my skills — I was not just crazy about the work, but I was actually very naturally good at it. How I had wished someone in my high school career center or my counselor would have showed me this career path earlier! By the time I had set my sights on it as a future career path, I was already capable of doing the work from the past things I had done with it. Within five years later, I was in a job doing it for a living, and two years after that making more money than I had ever before — and all of this having more or less taught myself how to do the work! It’s something that taught me time and time again that there are a lot of jobs you can get into or jobs you can advance in once you’re in simply by learning and educating yourself. I didn’t go to college for the career I had chosen, but I did earn enough work history and teach myself the necessary skills to be able to land not just one but several great jobs! I later continued college because I needed it for future potential, but I never forgot the lesson as long as I lived: You can teach yourself many great careers and you can advance in them by doing so.

Here’s how:

1. Learn. I was adamant to learn whatever I could about not just doing the job but also, in advancing forward. I learned about the industry and how it operated — what were the major job positions and titles? Which were entry level that I might be able to get into, and which would be those I should aim for in the future? I reached out to people at companies in the industry to do informational interviews and learn all I can from them. Almost nobody responded, but I didn’t give up and eventually here and there, people helped. They told me certain skills I should ensure I have, what technology and software were popular in the industry, and what companies were looking for in candidates at my level. I also continued to learn to improve my skill and ability to do the job. Believe it or not, by the time I switched my major in college for a degree specific to this industry, I had not only more or less taught myself how to do the work, but also was in a director position in the industry! Anything is possible with eduction and it is important to understand: Education can come from a variety of ways — including educating yourself.

2. Do. For a few short years, before I got my first “real” job in the business, I worked for free — internship — while earning a living at another job. There weren’t any internships directly at companies in my industry where I lived but I needed background and experience to put on my resume or I’d never land a job in it. So, I offered to work for free wherever I could and as often as I could on the side. I’d work at my regular job that paid the bills and when I had free time each week, “donate” my ability to other organizations, companies, etc. to build up my direct experience. Within a short time, I not only landed a job in the industry, but quickly advanced into higher level positions and better companies that paid more. As you are aiming for your career, be willing to earn some stripes like this. Most corporate careers have low or unpaid internships to give college students skills and training on the job, and in return you can get the necessary background needed to move forward. It doesn’t mean you have to be in college, or that you have to seek out formal internships. You can lend a hand to companies on your own as I did and it will work nearly as well.

3. Hustle. Most of all, you’ve got to be willing to keep moving and working towards what you want — relentlessly and tirelessly at times, but it truly works. Had I not been so aggressive in my pursuit the job and career I wanted, I would not be where I am today. Doors wouldn’t open, people wouldn’t help me — once I sent out over 200 resumes in two year’s time without even a single response! I did not stop moving and I did not give up. If a door felt closed, I looked for another, and another. I never gave in and I never gave up. As you try to get into a career, change your course or turn your life around, it’s going to be difficult at times — don’t sweat it. Just keep hustling! Keep making lists of what you want, who you want to talk to, and keep moving towards it. All those times I thought I was not seeing doors open actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise — I landed in a part of the industry that opened more doors — and bigger doors — than I could have ever imagined!

If you want to be a fashion designer, don’t just look into school — talk with other designers, find them and tell them what you’re interested in, ask for insight and help. Offer to lend your time — even if free — when you can or have free time to learn, learn, learn. If you want to be a musician, keep looking for contacts — most people in business can be found online, who you can reach out to even if by a phone call, note or email. If you want to be a reporter or a TV correspondent, reach out to the media in your town and see if there is any way you can get in — even if just for an internship. It can open up more doors that you ever know!

Lil Miss P