We get ideas. Sometimes they’re just crazy and will never go anywhere. Other times they could be worth the effort. All we need is someone to take us seriously. Or maybe all we need is to take ourselves seriously. You could hire yourself, full time or part time, depending on the kind of time you have, and how much you want the idea to happen. Here’s a check list of how.
Prepare Your Resume
Your life experience
Your training
Your accomplishments
Your references, contacts, resources
Most of all, your talents and deepest interests
Prepare a Proposal
What you’d like to do
The contribution you’d like to make
Why it’s needed
Why you’re the best person qualified to do it
And how your approach would be different than anyone else’s
As EmployerÂ
Test all these assumptions; challenge each point of the proposal
Question commitment, time availability, endurance
Set parameters, schedules, benchmarks
Establish measures for success
Be willing to take a risk
As Employee
Write your job description
Set your hours
Appoint your committees for quality assurance, encouragement, etc.
Begin putting in your hours
Keep putting in your hours
Sometimes the hardest part in getting started is just getting started. That, and knowing how to start. Next time you get an idea worth pursuing, put in an hour with this list, or maybe a day.
And maybe that day is today.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
8:49 am
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it mightily…” Right out of your Ecclesiastes study not too long ago, Hyatt. There is a fear of being rejected that all too often holds good folks back. Your structured approach will be welcomed by many today. Off to work now.
8:56 am
Good Grief!!! This was amazing Hyatt!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!! From so many of us who are working on our own! I will print this up and put it where I can see it! You are always surprise!!!!!!! Thank you!! Lisa
9:29 am
Hyatt,
Interesting idea! Have you used this for yourself (Hyatt Moore, Inc?) Love it! Hmmm…what kind of business potential is there for reading the paper and drinking coffee??
11:50 am
I love it! Great timing as I feed my resume around and fill out applications looking for the next page while simultaneously growing my own stack of “could do’s.”
12:55 pm
Hey, this is great, Hyatt! I’ve been trying to encourage my 21 yr. old. He’s having a hard time finding his way. He’s a fantastic musician and a gifted artist with a ton of passion but no confidence. This may help him. Thank you!
12:10 pm
I think I have hired myself…now, about that raise…
Ps I’ve sent this on to two friends. We’ve talked of a blog collaborative. It’s time. Thx , Hyatt
6:25 pm
Thanks, Hyatt. This is a great plan and I am using it!
12:30 pm
Successful artists, whether in visual or written mediums, often talk about how they treat their daily life as a job with a daily schedule as if they were going into an office. It’s true – inspiration and big ideas go nowhere without putting in the time over the long haul. Thanks for reminding us, and phrasing it in a slightly new way which helps me think carefully.
Depending on how structured your traditional employment role may be, it could even be a useful exercise inside of that environment.