Customer Reviews

Secrets of Self-Employment: Surviving and Thriving on the Ups and Downs of Being Your Own Boss

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I found this book to be quick and easy to read, with very applicable and down-to-earth information about the rites of passage to the entrepreneurial world. Their advice does not focus on actual business management, although they do offer wonderful tips on such topics as time and paper flow management. Instead, they address all the things typical business texts and professors do not mention. I have an MBA from a top 10 business school, and I am learning more from this book about the psychology of starting a business than I ever did in school.

The Edwards have helped me to understand the fears and doubts I have had over the last few months, while I have been contemplating leaving my well-paying and secure position at a large consulting firm. Until I picked up this book I thought I was the only one who questioned their decisions and their capabilities as an entrepreneur. Now I know that everyone has similarly scary feelings, and that there are ways in which we can minimize them, and even take advantage of them. Every page offered some form of support or valuable advice, and I felt myself gaining confidence with each chapter. I also learned more about myself and what type of business I would prefer, after reading their description of classic entrepreneurs vs. "propreneurs" (their term for individual professionals and craftspeople). I have gone from a state of anxiety to gung-ho enthusiasm!

It is apparent that these authors speak from direct experience, not from a podium in front of a classroom. They are brutally honest about their own mistakes and doubts, which serves to make a positive and helpful connection with the reader.

People who look to this book for a how-to manual on financing, marketing, incorporating, etc. will be disappointed. And that's OK, because it offers something much more precious - peace of mind. That's not to say there isn't general advice about some of these issues and even some real targeted suggestions to solve certain problems, but the focus is more on the mindset of being your own boss, at start-up and beyond. A step-by-step, "put Tab A in Slot B" book almost seems like putting the cart before the horse after reading this. If the mind isn't ready or is struggling, everything that comes after will be a struggle too despite the best instruction manual.

I am in the process of opening my own business after being "downsized" for the last time. Some days have been up and some days have been down. Some days I thought I should throw in the towel and go live in a hut somewhere far, far away. This book has shown me that all of this is normal and has shown me how to use the up moments and push past the down ones to get what I want. It's amazing the way the authors almost seem to step inside your head. They are supportive, clear and offer real, usable advice to keep on track mentally, exult in your victories and deal with the difficulties as they arise. The format is conversational, friendly, uplifting and confidence-building.

This book will be part of my "business bible" collection - those books I will refer to again and again as I grow my business.

Paul and Sarah Edwards are probably one of the top leaders in the Home-Based Business revolution. In the Secret of Self-Employment, tips and guidelines are offered on topics ranging from the proper self-image to marketing to time management, and much, much more. Their advice are genuine and come from personal experience as well as extensive research on other self-employed individuals. Getting this book would be a great asset to anyone, especially those considering a home business. This book is well-written and easy to understand. I'd say this book is a winner!

I am working from home with my third business,its very sucessful by my standards, and I have its growth firmly under control.I picked up a copy of this at the library, wish I had read it two businesses ago.
If you have a small business, or want to start one, please read this first, its the best small business book you can read. Its honest, no hype or promo work, I now have a copy and use it it to keep on track wit hsome of my details.
Many of the lessons in the book I learned the hard way over the last ten years, by reading this you can avoid a lot of Pain!

My daughter bought this book for me and it made me tenfold over the price of the book within one week by using one of the tips. The Edwards' format is easy to read and they go through all the possible setbacks of self-employment and how to avoid them. I've been a freelance writer for two years, but anyone - whether starting to work on their own or in the business for 10 years - can learn from this book. It's well worth the price.

Pay no attention to the fact that this book was written in 1991/96. The concepts in it will still apply in the year 2591 and beyond.

As long as humans think, they will certainly have bad thoughts which will hurt their chances of being successful in their own business. This book show you how to overcome those negative thoughts that you will have from time to time as you build and grow your business. In fact it applies to all areas of your life, not just business.

In business, you must convince other people that you are worth investing in. You'll have successes and failures. What is most important is that you bounce back up from your down times.

This book has an amazing reference section right in the middle with darkened edges called "The Emotional Road Map". It lets you identify the negative emotion you are feeling, and shows you how to overcome that emotion, so you can get back to being productive in your business. Since it's your business, you'll need to kick yourself in the butt when you need it. This book shows you those secrets.

If nothing in your business is going well, and you're depressed and angry that everyone else is doing better than you, that type of feeling can destroy your chances of success. What this book shows you is how you can stop looking at how far away you are from your goal, and instead look at how far you've come from where you've started. That helps you keep on moving toward your goal.

I wish someone would turn this into a movie, then more people would learn from it, and maybe we would have a much better economy. With some much negativity in the world and on TV and the web, you really need a way to stay sane. Read this book, memorize it's lessons, and apply them daily, and you'll be much better off because of it.

As others have indicated, this is a book that addresses the psychological aspects of being self-employed as a small business owner or solo practitioner. Definitely one of the best business books on the market that offers honest and "real world" advice despite being written several years ago.

Highly recommended reading for anyone thinking about starting a business - but especially for lifestyle entrepreneurs. The book refers to these type of entrepreneurs as being "propreneurs." The authors were ahead of their time as more and more entrepreneurs are starting businesses and choosing self-employment for lifestyle (as opposed to strickly monetary) reasons.

It's also a very good reference book which can be used as a self-mentoring or self-motivating device especially when business is down and one feels like giving up his or her dreams of personal and/or financial independence.

I would like to take this opportunity to recommend the book not only for people who want to become self-employed, but also for job hunters and people who just plain feel that they are at the end of their rope.

I'd like to express great gratitude to Sarah and Paul Edwards for a book that was like a shining beacon during a very dark period of my life. I still have my copy and re-read it every few years.

I encountered this book soon after it was published in 1996. I was seriously ill, had been downsized from my job -- along with almost all of my co-workers -- and was starting a home-based business to support me. I was also looking for part-time work in my field, as I was bankrupt, and in debt.

This book was instrumental in helping me set up a tiny home-based business that helped me survive, financially and psychologically, for several years until I was able to find a full-time job in my field again.

The book is basically a psychological guide to working on your own -- while it has practical details on starting your own business, the largest portion of the book deals with positive ways to keep yourself focused, motivated, energized, and efficient on a day-to-day basis when you are working for yourself.

Much of its advice can be useful to job hunters -- job hunting is actually like a job in which you are the employer, marketing yourself -- and for people who are depressed and/or in terrible life situations, the book is full of advice on maintaining an optimistic and realistic outlook in your planning and activities amd how to find creative solutions to situations that look hopeless.

Among the most helpful sections of the book are how to keep motivated and keep moving when bad incidents or catastrophes occur. Sarah and Paul Edwards examine regular difficulties -- you created a product, but your client didn't pay for it -- to Xtreme problems:

"Tricia Holderman actually tried unsuccessfully to pull out the cord on her life-support system when doctors told her they didn't know what more they could do for her." The Edwardses discuss how Ms. Holderman got through this situation, and eventually rebuilt her business.

I am about to change careers, into two new careers -- one working for other people, and another one for after my "retirement", in which I will be working full-time for myself -- and this book is back on my desk!

There are plenty of books out there about the practical aspects of setting up your own business -- including some by the Edwardses -- but this book will give you the psychological coaching and support you need, whether you are starting your own business, job hunting, or just trying to get through a very long, dark tunnel period of your life.

If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

My answer to "ratu" is simple: Yes, you can read a "how-to" book and build your own house and be proud of what you achieve--until the roof leaks..., etc., etc., etc! That's why we need a comprehensive book for knowing-and-learning the "arts and crafts" of "building" through a good team of "architect-builder-craftsman" with years of experience in design-build!
Hence for many years of ready-reference and delight, for reminding-and-relearning, on my book-shelf is a copy of the SECRETS of SELF-EMPLOYMENT by Paul and Sara Edwards--a "design-build" approach by a team that teaches the wisdom of learning how-to-live "life" along the "business" of living!

I am intending to start my own little business but have no idea how to, and bought this book. to my dissappointment, this book is so general and not touching the point. it tells me how great it is to start your own business...etc which i knew already, and left me unchanged about how to start my business and wondering where the hell the secrets are?!!
If I want to know how to build a house, I don't need to know how great it is having my own house.. instead, I need to know that first i need to find the perfect land and other important steps. The book can save much paper in cutting off all the repetition of unnecessary sentences.