Being self employed can be one of the most rewarding positions in life. It allows you to be your own boss, work at your own pace and most importantly, become self-reliant. With the state that the economy is in right now, many people are faced with worry and fear that they may be laid off. If you find a good opportunity (that is in demand), being self employed can give you a sense of comfort or relief. It also pays you much better and has the added benefit of paying less in tax. Business owners pay much less tax than employees since they have legitimate right offs. With all that said, Self employment is great for some, but detrimental to others.

You must possess a very high level of drive to be on your own. Your desire level should be right through the roof. You must be Inspired NOT motivated to be an entrepreneur. The road to entrepreneurialism is less travelled because of temporary road blocks and minor set backs. When you commit to something, you will be challenged. Entrepreneurs will go through the road blocks and others will stop at the first one and then retreat. If your desire level is strong enough, you will not be stopped by anything that may appear to be a road block.

You must be inspired not motivated. Inspiration is a deep yearning or drive that comes from within. It is like a fire that can not be put out no matter what happens to you. Motivation is something that you get externally. It can run out leaving you with insufficient fuel to finish your journey. Your inspiration will lead you to success.

You must be independent and very disciplined. You will not have a boss telling you what to do and when to do it. You will have to make sure that you work towards your goals daily and do exactly what you planned to do. Make a list each day and commit yourself to doing them. Remember, if you have a job and show up each day for your employer, do the same for yourself. Most people will not do for themselves what they are willing to do for their employers.

If you are really driven, then yes you can become self employed and will be working for yourself some time soon. Once you really want something and make a decision to do it, your subconscious mind will go to work and start lining up opportunities for you. There will always be bumps, sharp turns and even slippery sections on the road to self employment. However, there will be great rewards and more freedom for the guy or girl that chooses to keep moving forward.

Sometimes changing careers means going to work for yourself. Indeed, one study by economists at Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin found that people who change careers to work for themselves feel more secure in their self-employment than those who work for others.

Whether you want to work for someone else, work in a different field or become self-employed, following an action plan and organizing your step-by-step progress will help you make a smoother, more productive transition.

1. Create an Action Plan. Pro-active steps can put you in charge of your career, instead of the high stress than comes with not being in control of your own destiny. If you are unhappy with your job, and find that you cannot make changes that will allow you to be happier at your job, then decide right now to change jobs, and get started on your action plan. Create a chart on paper. Give yourself a week to research career change options. Ask yourself, what am I truly interested in doing in my work and in my life? During week two, whittle down your findings to one or two potential careers that fit your goals. Then, “go deep” during the third week exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each. Next, start looking, and chart your progress each week to keep yourself on track.

2. Network. Networking still is the most powerful way to find a rewarding job. If you are changing careers, then change your professional networks to zero in on the career you really want. Invest in a membership at your local chamber of commerce, and join committees or subgroups related to your next career, not your current one.

3. Integrate your Lifestyle Goals. Don’t just think about changing careers; think about how you can reach your lifestyle goals, incorporating your career change. For example, if you want to spend more time with your family, consider changing to a career that might pay less, but provides the priceless dividend of time. If you want to be healthier, consider changing to a career that does not force you to sit at a desk for 10 hours a day. It’s ultimately more rewarding to downsize your budget to accommodate a lower-paying, but less stressful job, than to shorten your life with an unhealthy career.

4. Organize. To change careers, you must organize your time to allow you one hour each day to focus on your career change. Make a schedule and stick to it, creating one hour each day to devote to career research, networking, to your coach or to other tasks you have outlined in your action plan. Simplify chores, meals and other responsibilities to create this extra hour in your day.