10 replies to this topic

[DaveP]

Why not think about being Self Employed?

That's what I did - created my own job. After coming out of rehab aged 24, I went back to my old job (selling Real Estate) but that was never going to work out, and I very soon get fired (by my father! lol). In his defense, we had a big argument and he sacked me - best thing he ever did!

I had no savings, lived in a rented house, had 2 dogs to feed and a car. Also, as I live in Portugal, I don't get any benefits or support for any expenses, and pay for all my own needs.

I worked out how much money I needed each month to "break even" and started looking at ways to create income. It's not been easy - in fact, it's been very hard - but I've managed to survived and now, after 15 years, have my own business.

I believe every one has the potential to create their own work and generate their own income - it's just a matter of trying out different ideas/dreams, and working them hard.

[bigsmiles]

Now there is good advice and Dave you sound an inspiration

[dom]

yes dave,you sound a very canny guy,and i applaud you for making it happen against the odds you faced,i believe persistence is the key to a lot of successes in this life and also problem-solving,well done

[bigsmiles]

just felt like that.....back to the topic

[DaveP]

I've thought a lot about this subject, as over the years I've often had to think about new ways to generate income to survive - I've been meaning to reply to other posts on this subject.

My "parachute", in the event of not being able to survive here (even though I've lived her since I was 10 months old but am still a Brit), is that I can always return to the UK and enjoy all the official benefits, motability, housing etc - but this is the very last resort, when I really can't make it any more. I know many of you Brits will "kick off", but I believe the system is way too easy and virtually encourages people not to work - I've often read how many people "can't afford to work" or they'll loose their benefits. If you're faced with a survival situation where you need to put food on the table, then you will find work - there's no other choice!

However, the focus of this thread is creating work and generating income, so if you want to respond to "life being too easy on benefits" then please start a new thread.

I'd very much like to "Brain Storm" with you guys thinking about work so we can bounce around ideas about what you can do to start thinking about generating income. I firmly believe that "Self Employment" is a good way forward as this allows us the necessary flexibility to adapt to our varied situations, that can alter day by day.

So... if you're looking for work (or should I say, looking for "income") and want to bounce around ideas, then let's do it here.

What do you think you can do? What type of work do you think you'll enjoy? What are your passions? What skills do you have? What could you do all day, every day, that could generate income?

Give me some info so we can explore ideas.

[russ1]

Para I know finances himself by playing the stockmarket from home and reckons he can earn a decent wage. Having said that I bet the taxman and benefits office know nothing about it.

[Joed]

I've been tossing around the idea of starting my own grant writing business. Grant writing has become a very much sought after skill, and many agencies are creating new departments just for grant writing.

I have worked in the social services field, and have my Bachelor's in Social Work. I also minored in Creative Writing in college....and if grant writing is anything, it's creative writing.

Just haven't made that leap yet...and I'm not really sure how to get started. There's a lot of training courses available online, but I'm not savvy enough to trust it.

[DaveP]

How about something like "Proof Reading"? This is something you can do from home, in your own time and at your own pace. Clients simply email you the text that needs checking, you do your work and email it back to them, and they pay you online or by credit card.

You'd need to build a simple web site explaining what services you offer and then get busy promoting yourself by contacting potential clients (people that design/build web sites, leaflets, promotional material, tourist guides, brochures, etc).

If you then decide to get into Grant Writing, then you only need to add that new service to your web site, and start promoting that. If you have another language skill, you could also offer translation services, or link up with people that can offer this service so you can work together - ie they translate into English and your Proof Read to make sure it's written creatively.

A good way to get free advertising is to get local/regional newspapers and magazines to write articles about you and your new service.

[gazrobsuk]

Well I work for a large computer company in Technical Support so I'm lucky I can do that from home. However in the last year or two there has been a big push to get the front/lower end folks outsourced to India etc.

I don't see any reason why though if someone became skilled in IT/PC's/Other stuff they couldn't work from home as a lot of employers over here at least are encouraging it more as it saves them money too ( office sq footage) so IT or technical support has gotta be possible if some employers would go for it as long as you have a phone & broadband/DSL etc.

Of course I'm very fortunate that I did something similar before & though I can't do everything that I did my company installed an office & equipment at home for me & I work 99% of the time there & only go into the office every few weeks (mostly to drink coffee:-))

[gsp23]

If you want to work in an office then do it. Look in the local paper and find an opening for the type of work you went to school for and also what you are qualified for. An employer cant turn you down based on a disability. They will (and are required by law) to give you the time you need for personal care, appointments, etc. I never even considered anything other than doing it that way, I am just as qualified as everyone else. Except many other people may be AB but make up excuses on why they are late and why they were not in the office on a certain day and it comes down to laziness. I work harder than anyone else and do the best job that I can. I need to get out for rehab and drs appointments, they work with me and I can still live a life as close to normal as possible, I just have reasons for modified hours or missing hours/days unlike many AB people