| Recently, I was asked whether working for | | | | been working for myself, I have found I get paid |
| oneself or part time is a good idea. The individual | | | | substantially more to work part time or on |
| was particularly concerned with benefits. I have | | | | contract. The amount I make more than covers |
| worked as a contractor and/or part time | | | | the cost of insuring myself. |
| employee for over 15 years. When I first started | | | | Working for myself has been richly rewarding. |
| working as a contractor, my daughter was under | | | | Outsourcing is becoming more and more |
| 5 years old and I was a single mom. Having | | | | common-place in the business world. Employers |
| insurance was very important to me. I was able, | | | | and contractors are seeing the benefits in this |
| through my auto insurance representative, able to | | | | type of working relationship. Consider it a win/win. |
| buy a Blue Cross medical plan. I recall only paying | | | | Working for yourself gives you the opportunity to |
| $250 per month for the both of us. I had heard | | | | carve out your own niche, thereby circumventing |
| people make it seem as though purchasing | | | | "our current economic conditions!" One of the |
| insurance would be very expensive. I was very | | | | fastest growing home-based or online businesses |
| relieved to be paying only $250. | | | | is Virtual Assisting or Virtual Office Professionals. |
| This leads to my title "No Guarantees in Our | | | | We work with companies on a contract basis, |
| Current Economic Conditions". In today's business | | | | thereby reducing costs for companies. We only |
| world there are no guarantees with full time | | | | get paid to do work when we're needed. |
| employment. Over the 15+ years that I have | | | | |