TELECOMMUTIING employ ment
TTTTEEEELLLLEEEECCCCOOOOMMMMMMMMUUUUTTTTIIIINNNNGGGGEEEEMMMMPPPPLLLLOOOOYYYYMMMMEEEENNNNTTTTTTTThhhheeee CCCCoooommmmpppplllleeeetttteeee GGGGuuuuiiiiddddeeeeVersion 3.10.01.10.02Edward B. Toupin All trademarks mentioned throughout this publication are property of theirrespective owners.Published in 2001 by Edward B. Toupin, Las Vegas, NV, United States.Copyright 2001, Edward B. Toupin. All rights reserved.Manufactured in the United States of America.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Edward B.Toupin.Contact the publisher at publish@toupin.com and the author atetoupin@toupin.com.Visit the online library at http://www.toupin.com/library/.Provide your feedback at http://www.toupin.com/library/form_main.html. TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttssList of Tables .viiList of Figures .viiiAbout The Author .ixAcknowledgements xiPreface xiiiIntroduction .1Why do it? .1Can I do it? 2What do I do? 2How do I do it? 2Making the Decision 3Influencing Factors 3Do I have what it takes? .4Making It Happen 6What are the steps? .9Preparing Your Plan 9Set Yourself Up .10Prepare Your Business 10Market Your Product or Service .10Pack Away the Money .11Easy Does It 11Quit Your Job 11Planning .13Determining the Objectives 13Steps to Defining your Objectives 14Defining Your Mission 15Steps to Creating the Mission Statement .16Defining Your Vision 17Steps to Creating the Vision Statement 17Redefining Your Goals .18Steps to Defining Goals .19Establishing an Action Plan .19Steps to Creating the Action Plan 20The Basic Business Plan .20Setting Yourself Up .23Establish Yourself 24Locating a Job .25Make Yourself Known 26The Presentation .27Interviews 28Offers and Acceptance 30Telecommuting 31 Possible Telecommuting Jobs 32Business Ideas 35Business Consulting 35Booklet Publishing .40Home-Based Typing 41Personal Factors .42Imagination 42Ensuring Success and Survival 43Lack of Money is No Excuse for Failure .43Your Banker 44Naming Your Business 44Pricing .45Service Guidelines .45Pace Yourself 45Information Brokering 46Phone Counselor .47How do you qualify? 48How do I get started? 48Ok, I can read tarot. Now what? 49How does this work? .49What's the catch? 50For you, I see . 50Resume Writing .50Setting Up .52Resumes and Cover Letters 52Marketing 53Interviewing the Client .54Preparing the Resume .55Fees for Your Service 56Cover Letter 56Make It Happen .56Self-Publishing 57Find Your Market .57Cash in on Your Creativity and Expertise .58Packaging .58Focus on Salable Material .58Fill the Material with Benefits .59Emotional Appeal 59Advertising 59Remote Temporary Help 61Setting Up Your Business .69Creating the Organization 69Sole Proprietorship 70Partnership 70Limited Liability Company 71Corporation .72The IRS .73Payroll Taxes 73Federal Income Tax Obligations 74Sales Tax 75State Tax .76Insurance 76Business Resources 77 Marketing Your Wares .79Writing Free Content 80Using the Internet to Promote 81Web Site Madness 81Discussion Groups 82Zines .82Newsgroups 83Make Sense of the Search .85Why so many? .85I'm over here! 86The Search Methods .87Using a Tool 88The Presentation .88What's next? 88Locating Opportunities 91What can I do? 91How do I smell? .92Locating Opportunities .92Search Sites 93Other Resources .93Make Yourself Known 94The Interview .94Landing a Job 95Balancing Your Finances 97Financial Planning .97Paying the Bills 98Working & Living at Home .101Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day 101Combining Work and Home .102Your Home Office 104Can your business thrive out of your home? 104Dealing with Customers and Suppliers .105Neighbors and Family 106Being Your Own Boss .106Professionalism .107Healthy Lifestyle 107Work Hours .108Legal Restrictions 108Tips to Help You Telecommute Successfully 109Taking the Leap .111Before You Quit .111Quit—With Dignity! 112Things to be aware of . .113Security .113Socializing and Being Liked .114Promotion and Visibility .114Fear 115Bartering for Work .115Sure, I'll Do It For Free! .116 Scheduling Your Time .117Starting Out .117If You Schedule It, Make It Happen 119Last Minute Scheduling .119A1. General Links 122A2. Research Links 124A3. Tools and Software .125A4. E-Book Marketing Links 127A5. Web Site Marketing Plan .131A6. Telecommuting Web Sites 132A7. Telecommuting Companies 134A8. Government Links .138A9. Personal Objectives 139A10. Do I have what it takes? 140A11. Am I ready? .142A12. Business Plan .143Information Resources .144A13. Job Search Checklist 147A14. Glossary 148Index .151 LLiisstt ooff TTaabblleessTable 1: Potential Telecommuting Jobs 32 LLiisstt ooff FFiigguurreessFigure 1: Creating Your Goals 18 AAbboouutt TThhee AAuutthhoorrEdward B. Toupin is a freelance consultant, writer, and published author living in LasVegas. He currently handles technical writing tasks for various companies in New York,Chicago, and Denver as well as imagineers and markets feature-length and shortscreenplays.Edward provides quality Web site design, development, and marketing as well aswriting, document design and planning, and e-book publishing services. You can visithis Web site at http://www.toupin.com or contact him at etoupin@toupin.com. [...]... successful independents are as follows Pay attention to them and judge yourself for each! • Achievement: Many people measure their achievement based on their money, while others through their accomplishments You'll need to gauge your success on your accomplishments and achievements This means that you must be able to accomplish your goals and move forward to the next in an established pattern • Social: It's... some people know You're in business to achieve your goals, and that's all there is to it! Be a nonconformist • Commitment: You have to be able to follow through on a commitment This means that when you sign a contract or shake a hand, you're in to the end • Objectivity: With commitment comes the need for an objective view You need to weigh risks associated with a course of action as well as be realistic... management Once you take the first step and decide to work for yourself, or by yourself, you then have to make it happen, successfully That's an entirely different situation It takes a certain set of characteristics to make an independent endeavor successful Some of the more common, yet unique, traits of successful independents are as follows Pay attention to them and judge yourself for each! • Achievement:... developer, a writer, a software engineer, and a mathematician I was working in every department doing all kinds of things from tutoring developers in software engineering processes, to writing Internet applications, to Web design, to writing manuals and white papers I was even used in various meetings, and on various documents, to translate highly technical items into layman's terms for the clients One day,... not easy! In fact, at the beginning, you'll end up with sleepless nights and probably end up wishing you were employed full-time again But, after all is said and done and you break out of the corporate mind-set, it's rewarding and it's yours! Introduction About a year ago I wrote Gainfully Unemployed It was a short e-book about how I planned the steps to quitting my full-time day job and go to work... represent yourself under all circumstances • Communication Skills: Communications skills are important, as you will need to provide legible presentations, reports, e-mail, and documentation • Anticipate: Be proactive and anticipate developments before they occur If the issue is an important one, act on it before it requires attention • Organized: Be able to maintain a tight, prioritized schedule and don't waste... you can walk into your new endeavor with confidence This is just as important as finances! Your new work environment and lifestyle will affect everyone differently Quit Your Job We reach that glorious day when you quit your full-time job Do it with dignity and style You never know, your former employer could be your first, full-time client and your best reference for other clients Thank you for reading... part-time hobby was grossing more than my full-time day job I never realized that I could succeed on my own until I took a long, hard look at what was happening in my life I was brainwashed by the corporate mentality! I felt as though I needed to work for others to make it in this world My actual realization was not that I just had to quit my job—I had to work for myself During the past six years, I learned...Acknowledgements First and foremost, I want to thank my clients and my friends for supporting me when I decided to take the leap into the telecommuting lifestyle It was very much like skydiving for the first time—massive... definitions To some, it is working at home a few days a week To others, it is working full-time for a company in their home office For others still, it is simply working at home for themselves The one common element is the idea of being independent in your life and your choices In the long run, what it is to you is up to you! Why do it? I had a hundred reasons to want to telecommute and I knew I had to do it . yourself for each!• Achievement: Many people measure their achievement based on theirmoney, while others through their accomplishments. You'll need. shortscreenplays.Edward provides quality Web site design, development, and marketing as well aswriting, document design and planning, and e-book publishing services.