What Business Should I Start?. Rhonda Abrams

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than media outlets.

      

Pursue “boring” topics and media outlets. Yes, it is possible to enjoy writing articles for “Waste Management Monthly,” especially if it pays the bills. Offering seminars on OSHA (Occupational and Safety and Health Administration) compliance may get you more customers than giving motivational speeches.

      

Don’t expect to start at the top. You may have to do proofreading before you can do copyediting before you write feature articles. The key is building relationships, especially with key editors or others who can send business your way.

      

Develop a specialty. You’ll be able to get more work—and command higher fees—once you are seen as an expert in a particular area. You’ll also be able to work faster and more efficiently.

       Watch out for . . .

      

Keep your feet on the ground, financially. While a very small percentage of people in this E-Type earn a great deal of money (John Grisham, Danielle Steel, and other bestseller authors) don’t let that blind you to the financial reality of writing. Most writing-related businesses do not generate great sums of money. Because so many people want to be writers, there’s lots of competition for most every job. So if you need to support yourself or your family, look for a niche that isn’t of interest to many others.

      

Competition will be tough. You’ll have to put in your time to make a name for yourself and build a track record as a capable, reliable writer, trainer, or speaker. It takes a while to get established.

      

Corporations cut their communications budgets in lean times. If you are very dependent on corporate clients, put money away to tide you over during economic downturns.

      

Legal ownership issues. In many cases, your contract will state that you are working on a “work-for-hire” basis. This means that your client—not you—owns whatever content you create. This not only includes any written material, but could include course curriculum you create for company training programs, or PowerPoint presentations. Be clear about ownership—and the ability to recreate and re-use content—before you begin work with a client.

       E-Type: Entertainer/Host

       Overview

      You love a party. Even better, you love to be the life of the party.

      The most social of all E-Types, Entertainer/Hosts thrive on being with people. They’re happy when others are happy. Their mission is to make certain that people are having a good time.

      Entertainer/Host E-Types look for lots of interaction with people. Of course, to be a good entertainer or host, you need to have at least a certain level of talent or creativity. Most care—often very strongly—about their skills or craft. But, there’s a difference between being a chef—who is devoted to making a great soufflé—and being a “celebrity chef”—who not only wants to make a great soufflé but needs to come out of the kitchen and present it to the diners. What really drives this E-Type is sharing their talent with others, often “performing” in front of others.

       The Entertainer/Host E-Type thrives on being with—or in front of—other people. This outgoing person enjoys the spotlight, can command the attention of an audience, and loves making others happy.

      This E-Type includes the obvious: entertainers, actors, musicians, singers, various performers. But it also includes many others who you wouldn’t think of as an “entertainer” but who thrive when they create a positive, entertaining, or diverting experience for customers, especially entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry, and certain service industries. These fall into the “Host” side of the Entertainer/Host E-Type.

       Options for this E-Type

      Performers: Curtain up! Light the lights! You’re ready to take center stage. Someone’s going to be a “star,” why not you?

      Of course, when you said you wanted to be a movie star—or rock star—or Broadway star, your parents warned you that you weren’t being realistic. And let’s face it, making a living in one of those fields is tough.

      But those aren’t your only options. In a society where people have a great deal of leisure time, there are many other opportunities for performers. Many leisure-time situations include “performers.” For instance, every weekend in every community, people put on weddings, proms, bar mitzvahs, anniversary parties, high school reunions. Many of them hire performers—disc jockey/party hosts, bands, singers. Others have parties for their kids’ birthdays and hire clowns, magicians, balloon artists, animal handlers. Even funeral parlors hire musicians.

      Don’t forget the business world. Someone has to stand up at trade shows, department stores, and grocery stores to show how the latest gizmo works or newest frying pan fries without sticking. For an actor, being a product demonstrator can be a way to get an audience and a pay check!

      You can be a “star” without moving to Hollywood.

      Hospitality businesses: Many Entertainer/Host E-Type entrepreneurs are drawn to hospitality-related businesses. They’re the type who would love people to drop over to their home for dinner or a drink every night, but instead—more realistically—open a restaurant, bar, or coffee house.

      Remember, hospitality centers around making people feel welcome. That involves creating an atmosphere—an experience—a diversion from real life. The best hosts often embody a measure of “performance.”

      Fortunately, the hospitality industry is growing and appears to be headed for continued growth. Business opportunities, especially opportunities for small businesses, abound. These include restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, hotels, bed & breakfasts, catering or push-cart espresso businesses. Since hospitality businesses are needed just about everywhere in the world, you can go anywhere you want to start your business.

      Services and retail: Entertainer/Host E-Types may also be drawn to the possibility of operating an entertainment-related venue—anything from a bowling alley to a driving range to a dance club. Another service option is to run events with a strong entertainment component—anything from street fairs to non-profit fundraising events to school proms. Many independent businesses specialize in organizing and running such events.

      Likewise, some Entertainer/Host E-Types flourish operating certain service businesses (such as hair salons or spas). They bring an outgoing personality and certain flair—a panache—to their work that provides customers with an “experience” as well as a good hair cut.

      Many hairdressers, in particular, are Entertainer/Host

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