Theme: Leaving Corporateland and becoming an independent contractor
Length: 30 minute speech to 4-hour session
Designed for: Professional organizations, seminars and retreats, chambers, outplaced workers, college students.
Summary:
Some studies predict that nearly 50% of all workers will be contracted labor. No longer part of the secure corporate world, they'll either telecommute or work on a per project basis with a number of companies.
To some, it's a scary thought. To others, it's the promised land. But either way, there are new skills to learn, new requirements, a few roadblocks, lots of surprises and a many lessons. There's a lot more to it than hanging out a shingle, getting a custom ring phone line and waiting for business to roll in.
Through this presentation, attendees learn what it's like to be an independent contractor and what it takes to be successful in a "for hire" world. The presenters are former career employees with major corporations who chose to leave that secure life and blaze new trails as pioneers in this new age. Their fast-paced, humorous and extremely poignant presentation is a voyage through the joys, frustrations and rewards of becoming one of the new breed - the entrepreneur. Join them on this road to discovery.
What we cover:
The Catch 22 of going it alone. Learn what it's like to go out on your own. Find out the basic requirements for business licenses, bank accounts, filings and marketing. Learn how to be bigger than you are. Find out where the roadblocks lie before you run into them.
Technology: Friend or foe. Technology makes working at home or starting up a lot easier. We'll disuss what you need, what you don't need and how to stretch basic services to the limit to get more out of the available phone and messaging services, computer systems and gadgets.
Marketing magic. Having a professional image is imperative to your ability to get your foot in the door. Learn the basics of successful marketing, how to answer the phone, the art of sales pitches, networking, and non-traditional marketing approaches such as Internet newsgroups and the Web.
Getting a focus. Being everything to everyone is the express lane to disaster. Learn how to narrow your market niche and target those people who are in desperate need of your services and/or products. Understand the power of becoming an expert instead of a generalist.
Subcontracting. In today's marketplace, you can find nearly every service imaginable to support your business - bookkeeping, collections, payroll, temporaries, virtual offices, message services. Find out which ones are indespensible and which ones you can live without. And learn about some not so obvious sources of help.
Paying the piper. Setting fees and collecting them is the toughest part of the business. Discover techniques for setting fees, providing value added services, negotiating contracts and collecting accounts receivable. Find out how to establish cash flow and reports using readily available software for your business. We also provide advice about benefits: how to get medical and dental benefits after you leave your "real job."
About the speakers:
Robb and Sharon Zerr are owners of CommuniCreations, a creative services agency providing communication solutions to clients that are innovative, effective and affordable.
Robb is a former internal communication director for Pacific First Bank, Egghead Software and Providence General Medical Center. He has been in the communications field since 1979 and is a noted expert in employee communications and an award-winning practitioner. He left corporate life in 1994 to start his own company with his partner and wife, Sharon.
Sharon is the Generation X'er, taking a slightly different career path. After working in support roles with several organizations, she struck out on her own as an independent film and video producer, working on major projects for Microsoft, Carson Pirie Scott, MTV and Comedy Central. She currently heads the New Media Division of CommuniCreations.
Working together as a team for the last three years, they have taken CommuniCreations from a small creative services agency to what it is today: a small creative services agency that is very successful. Their clients include Avant! Corporation, Food Markets Northwest, Global Training Alliance, Thriftway, Stormans, Inc., and Weyerhaeuser.
Availability:
The Zerrs are available for speaking engagements throughout the Puget Sound region, the U.S. and abroad. For more information on availability and fees, please call (360)769-0623 or e-mail them at ccreate@pacific.telebyte.com
