What Business Should I Start?. Rhonda Abrams
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Legal liability. Since by the very nature of the work, you are taking care of people or things that need assistance, situations will arise when something goes wrong. Be clear about your legal liability before you take on any clients. Do what you can to reduce such liability, including purchasing appropriate insurance or write up contracts that make clear the limits of your liability.
E-Type: Communicator/Trainer
Overview
Over the last few decades, the number of methods people use to communicate has vastly expanded. The need for people who can clearly communicate has likewise exploded. That’s where Communicator/Trainer E-Types come in.
Today, besides communicating in print (newspapers, magazines, books, brochures), traditional media (radio, television, film, audio), telephones, and the mail, there’s also the Internet, wireless devices, information services, and on and on. All those, of course, are in addition to the most time-honored way to communicate—in person. Our communication reach has also greatly increased. It’s now easy and cheap to connect to people around the globe.
On top of that, our constantly changing world means we continually need to increase and update our knowledge and skills. That requires ongoing training and education. Added to that is our society’s interest in recreation and physical fitness, and the desire to take classes and get instruction in those areas.
The Communicator/Trainer is exceptionally good with words—whether written or verbal—and excels at communicating complex ideas to others. Competition in these fields is fierce, but so is demand.
All this is great news for Communicator/Trainer E-Types. The need for people who can communicate clearly and concisely has never been greater. Whether for business or personal interactions, for sales or education, information or entertainment, people who can transmit ideas, information, and language are in demand.
So take heart. If you were the kind of kid who loved reading, writing, foreign languages, you’ll now find you have many options for launching a business. If you’re interested in fitness and sports—and are able to teach others—you’ll find many opportunities available. Even the person who just likes to talk will find many business choices—assuming, of course, they actually have something to say.
Options for this E-Type
Writers: When you hear the word “writer,” you may envision someone typing away in an attic, writing a novel. There are a few (or maybe lots) of those. But that’s not the way most writers earn a living.
In fact, most writers who actually make money write fairly mundane things—technical manuals, articles for trade journals, copy for advertisements, company newsletters. While these may not seem as creative—and certainly not as glamorous—as writing stories, feature articles, or plays, the work is a lot steadier.
That’s not to say that you can’t earn a living as a freelance writer. The key is to find a niche that interest you—let’s say writing about gardening or music or new technology—and become a specialist. That will make you more competitive “pitching” stories to publications and websites that focus on that niche.
Editors: If you’re a writer, it may be frustrating to know that the person who edits your article may get paid more than you did for writing it. But the reality is that editing frequently pays better than writing.
Virtually every medium that uses content—books, magazines, websites, newspapers, radio, television—relies on editors. While many editors are full-time employees, many companies use contract editors. Indeed, many rely on the same editors for many years.
In addition to the various kinds of content you can edit, there are different types of editors. General editors (perhaps called development or style editors, production managers, or other terms) may develop the concept of a story, coordinate with writers and production staff, edit for content and style, even substantially rewrite content. Copy editors generally check for grammar, spelling, clarity—perhaps also doing some rewriting. Proofreaders check for typos before copy goes to press.
Trainers/Instructors/Teachers: Corporations and government institutions need their employees to be as productive as possible. To that end, they frequently sponsor training programs and seminars—often hiring outside, independent contractors to run them. These programs range from teaching very specific skills (such as how to use equipment, software, or manage a production process) to more generalized training, such as sales, communication, or customer service. Some training responds to government requirements (such as sexual harassment or safety issues).
As a corporate trainer, you might develop your own curriculum and teaching materials, or you might be contracted to come in and teach a pre-existing program developed by the company.
There’s also a world of possibilities for non-corporate training. In particular, athletic or fitness training is also a growing area for entrepreneurs. You might be capable of specializing in a specific sport (golf, tennis, karate), or perhaps providing more generalized fitness guidance (personal trainer, aerobics instructor). You can work with adults or children. But there are many training opportunities in other fields as well (nutrition, beauty, cooking, technology—to name a few).
Opportunities to teach children have also greatly expanded. In addition to fitness and sports, there’s academic tutoring, test preparation (such as S.A.T.), art and music, science.
Tour guides: If you love to travel or just show people around your home town, being a tour guide may be up your alley. With the continuing strength of the tourist industry, this field should offer many opportunities for entrepreneurs for some time to come.
You can run/offer your own tours or be hired as a contractor to other tourist agencies. It may help if you speak more than one language, especially if you’ll be traveling internationally or working with international tourists visiting your community. If you set up your own shop, look for a specialty—wine tours, ecotourism, bicycle adventures.
Translators: With increasing globalization—and the easy worldwide reach of the Internet—there’s need for those with multiple language skills. Whether you’re translating written documents, website content, or translating in person, there are many opportunities for self-employment. Another form of translation is signing for the deaf.
Presenters/Speakers: It’s not easy to become a public speaker. You have to have a body of knowledge and experience and expertise that makes you credible to an audience—and potential clients. On top of that, you must be able to communicate effectively to groups. However, public speaking is an option for those who have such a background and talent—and don’t mind a lot of travel.
You may be this E-Type if . . .
1.You are good with words, whether written or spoken. This is an absolute key to being a Communicator/Trainer E-Type. You probably enjoy reading and are likely to be interested in language-related subject matter (e.g., word origins, crossword puzzles, grammar, etc.).
2.You are good at communicating concepts to others. You are able to make complex concepts easier to understand and your ability to communicate is a major part of your success, whether in business or personal settings. You bring clarity to murky subjects.
3.You may be outgoing, willing or eager to