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10 Tips For Success In The 1099 Economy

This article is more than 9 years old.

The classic 20th-century ideal of employment — one full-time job for every worker — is dying. That Uber driver who just shuttled you to your next appointment might spend some part of his week developing new clothes to sell in his Etsy shop, and the rest of his time offering his copy-editing services on Fiverr to clients on three different continents, in addition to driving during rush hour in Boston.

In part, the rise of the ‘1099 Economy’ is driven by a reduced supply of well-paying, full-time jobs. But it’s also driven by the growth of the Internet, which is making it easier for creative individuals to carve a niche, or two or three, that  reflect their interests. According to the Freelancers Union, 53 million Americans are now freelancing — that’s 34% of the entire U.S. workforce!

Of course, succeeding in the 1099 Economy means knowing how to handle a wide array of money issues. To help other entrepreneurs succeed in this new paradigm, Anthony Humpage founded Legacy Education Alliance, Inc., a leading provider of educational training seminars, conferences and other services. Through his 11 brands, he has worked with countless business owners. Here are his 10 top tips for becoming a better entrepreneur:

1. The ability to raise money is your most valuable skill.

"If you cannot raise money, unless you are personally wealthy, there is no way for you to establish and capitalize your business opportunity," Anthony notes. "Becoming skilled at raising capital, especially in the early stages of entrepreneurship, is vital in order to have a ‘nest’ of money available, as expenses arise most frequently during this stage of a new enterprise."

2.  Seek out a mentor.

Anthony believes in the power of education — both formal and through networking. "Sales skills are learned and mastered with regular, consistent practice," he explains. "You can, and should, read and study everything written by entrepreneurial experts on the art of the sale. But getting insights directly from the pros is even more valuable. It is in your best interest as an entrepreneur to seek out and find a mentor to help you gain sales skills."

3. Don’t try to do everything yourself.

Many entrepreneurs take on too much at once. Anthony advises outsourcing when possible. "Entrepreneurs who attempt to run every single aspect of their business often find themselves self-employed. As the entrepreneur, your job is to secure financing and grow the business. Leave the run-of-the-mill, routine or repetitive tasks for your employees. It’s unwise for you to use up your energy completing tasks that can be easily farmed out, from routine payroll to shipping products."

4. Establish your team of specialists early on.

"After raising funds, you need to appoint an accountant, bookkeeper, lawyer and other professionals you will need on a regular basis," Anthony advises. Why? "These individuals have the special skills and knowledge to complete their jobs at a level of expertise that you personally do not have. And they will do so in a lot less time than you might end up expending on an unfamiliar task."

5. Action leads to success.

Anthony sees a lot of would-be entrepreneurs sitting on their hands out of fear. "The willingness to take action is probably the single most important determinant of success. It is also the primary requirement for obtaining personal financial freedom. Inaction is never an option. Taking the initiative to get started — doing something, anything, to move yourself toward a goal — is on par with money and smarts as crucial keys to ultimate success.

6. Quickly identify your mistakes.

Adding to his point above, Anthony continues, "Not every action you take will work. Some will flop. That’s life and that’s business as well. But if you can quickly identify and abandon your mistakes, and move on, continuing to take action, the likelihood that you will ultimately be successful increases hugely. Don’t wait for others to point out where you went wrong — it’s your responsibility to correct your errors."

7. Surround yourself with a good support network.

Finding good people to work with is helpful, but the real key is to find people who believe in you and what you are trying to accomplish. "To put it as simply as possible, you should associate with people who support you. You may have been told that you should associate with folk who are already successful at what you are seeking to do. While that is good advice, it is not always easy or practical. Instead, the key could be as simple as ignoring (and avoiding) anyone who is negative or discouraging about what you are trying to do.”

8. Don't lose your positive attitude. 

It is long established that optimism (even if irrational) is one of the keys to entrepreneurial success. Anthony flips that fact around and warns about the dangers of letting the pessimists get you down. "Good, cautious advice is always welcome from those who want you to succeed, but be very careful about spending too much time with those who mock or put down your efforts to improve your situation. If you hear their negative comments too many times, you may begin to agree with them, which may spell the end of your determination to succeed."

9. Never stop learning.

There is no end of new information that can help you succeed in business, and working with other entrepreneurs can make a big difference. "There’s always more that you don’t know that could help your business grow. Be open to new experiences. It’s often more productive to learn among a group of like-minded individuals," Anthony notes. For this reason, he promotes Rich Dad Education, which offers seminars on various wealth-building concepts and strategies.

10. Keep on reading. As a busy executive, it may seem that you have precious little time to read. "But this is a big mistake,” Anthony warns. "Time-tested classics offer a wealth of informative pointers that can help anyone do better. Don’t pass up the lessons that can be learned from the printed page." Anthony suggest picking up a copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki to learn more about money management.

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