The VA Says

2009 Self Employment Telesummit

One of my beefs about the business "advice" generally offered is that it is written by and created for "Big Business." We, self-employed people, generally float beneath the radar.

This has two major implications.

First, self-employed people are marginalized in the eyes of those who set policy. Perhaps the term "marginalized" exaggerates the situation. We simply don't exist. Which means that public policy does not take our needs into account and we are the recipient of unintended consequences.

Secondly, it means that most advice out there simply does not apply to us. And that leaves us on our own to figure out everything from how to handle clients to how to perform the service we set ourselves to provide. And that can leave us feeling isolated and frustrated.

It also means that services such as insurance are more expensive than they should be and it is difficult to find professionals such as lawyers and accountants who are clued into our circumstances.

So I am finally glad to see some self-employed folks banding together to help each other. In September, the 2009 Self-Employment Telesummit will take place in Seattle. There are some interesting presenters and topics. This conference is particularly helpful if you are new to self-employment or transitioning from the Corporate world. You can learn more here:  http://www.selfemploymenttelesummit.com/

Mercury turns Direct and so does Your Business

Mercury turned direct this past weekend, and Mars just entered Taurus. So how can you best use these energies in your business?

The time is ripe to plan and allocate resources to long-term activities or those that require a sustained momentum. 

After we've de-cluttered our minds during Mercury's three-and-a-half week process, our thinking is clearer. It's likely that new information will be revealed about negotiations or important communications which can have the effect of making some options more or less attractive than they were before.

Nonetheless, with Mercury still in Taurus, and Mars beginning its journey there, you are more likely to want to deliberate before taking large moves. Yet, with the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction still very close hope and optimism is still in the air. 

If you need additional resources to pull it off, consider making your case early in the week. Venus supports the conjunction on Tuesday, suggesting that if you want it badly enough, you will be able to find the resources. And Moon is in Libra then, creating a climate conducive to one-to-one cooperation.