It’s not easy to make the switch to self-employment, but Pamela Slim is a good guide. Her new book, Escape From Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur (Copyright 2009, U.S. $25.95; ISBN 978-1-59184-257-6; , is the homework you’ll need to do before you leave that corporate job.
Slim walks you through nearly everything you’ll need to consider before making a major change, and not only the specifics of starting a business, but also a close-up look at the emotional issues you’ll face.
She begins with the process of deciding to depart The Cubicle (and all that entails), including identifying and managing fears. One exercise for decreasing fear and anxiety requires four columns, entitled belief, underlying assumptions, what I need to find out and where I can find it. Clarifying those scary thoughts and dealing with them realistically shrinks them down to size.
Slim then moves on to the nuts and bolts of business: the process of uncovering appropriate business ideas for you, assembling your team and defining the “spirit of your brand.” The chapter on testing and failing talks about the danger of waiting to be perfectly prepared, or do perfect work. She offers some kick-in-the-pants ideas to jump-start your process.
Another reason this book is worthwhile is that the author addresses the reality of money. The “Making the Money Work” section offers Q&A, helps you put a figure to the value of your employee benefits, offers five ways to clean up your credit score and explores common financial patterns. She even defines common health insurance terminology and explains how to shop for self-employed insurance.
And then it’s time to make the leap. The final section addresses the emotional factors in how to handle friends and family, and knowing when it is time to make a graceful exit and walk out your employer’s door for the last time.
The last pages are where you’ll find a compendium of blogs and books that provide guidance on matters of finance, infrastructure and business plans.
Slim speaks not only from her experience, but also from thousands of conversations from her blog of the same name. She uses direct language in a quick-to-read format. Nearly every page has bullet points or lists, and the 340 page book is a relatively quick read.
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