Self-employed MNers!

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

I'm self-employed myself and I'm looking for a change of career. I want to stay my own boss but I need some inspiration! Can those of you who work for yourselvestell me what you do, how you started off and whether it's something you enjoy? I'm a childminder at the moment and I'm just not enjoying it anymore.

I'm finding it mind-numbingly boring, repetetive and frustrating and it takes time away from my own DS (another issue with finding work) and I sometimes miss adult company, so, in a nutshell I want a job where I'm preferably self-employed, possibly working from home, with the potential to grow and to not have to sacrifice precious time with my son. I don't mind if I have to work evenings.

Can anyone wave a magic wand?

bump

I've been a Weight Watchers leader for 8 years and that ticks all your boxes. You have to have attended WW meetings and the minimum weight loss requirement is only 5lb these days IIRC.

Thanks for that suwoo but I have to admit I'm a Slimming World fan and member lol! My consultant recognised that I would make a good consultant myself and she sent me to a meeting to find out more about it and it has been something I've thought about but I realy don't like the thought of having to be positive and upbeat in the evening classes when I'm just too tired! I'm also very self-conscious and the thought of standing up in front of a room full of people is my idea of hell! I take my hat off to you, I really do!

Any more ideas?

What are you god at/have an interest in?

Slimming World is a franchise too, so IIRC its £2k or £3k to pay.

The standing up bit is easy, the remaining upbeat bit having three kids, 2 of whom don't sleep through is somewhat more problematic

Yes, I just don't think I've the personality to pretend to be 'upbeat' when I want to be miserable! I'm moody and proud of it!

Things I'm good at/interested in:

Organising
Multi-tasking
Computers
Working alone
I'm fit and I like exercise
I like the outdoors
I enjoy being a mum, love to be a SAHM but cannot afford it.
Listening to people and giving advice.
Spiritual beliefs
Diet and fitness

Any more of you please? I need some more advice! What do you all do all day?

How about working as / for a Virtual Assistant? If you're good at organising and computers it might be worth a thought.

Or if diet / fitness / spiritual beliefs / listening to people etc are more the direction you want to go in you could train as a coach and specialise in health, fitness etc. Can cost a bit to train though, but once you're set up you can work entirely from home if you want to - I trained as a life coach, then a career / business coach, a few years back and 90% of my client consultations were by phone.

Another thought - could you train as a personal trainer? You could do lots of diet / fitness / advice / weight loss and health stuff with people and either do sessions at your own home (I used to go to a Pilates class held at the teacher's home) or in other people's homes and you could do evening and daytimes.

Does that help?

(Incidentally I'm now a marketing coach & freelance writer, working with small businesses to help them with their marketing & websites etc so if you're interested in that let me know and get in touch separately!)

You are quite inspirational Snowtiger I would like to have another chat with you again when I have a bit if free time on my hands (DS has just woken from his nap!) if that is ok?

Ooh I'm blushing , thank you!

Yes am happy to chat, Thursdays are best for me when DS1 at nursery, not sure how to do direct contact on MN but if you are, then go ahead! Otherwise we can have our own thread and bore people...!

What about training in reflexology, homeopathy or the like? I considered training as a hypnotherapist once, but I live quite far away from anywhere that offers courses.

I work for myself: I'm a writer. It's great. I work when the kids are asleep.

Not that I've done every job going or anything but I also trained in massage & reflexology a while ago, and did that alongside life coaching while I got my act together with the freelance writing.

It's wonderful work to do, particularly if you like being with people, helping them with health / spiritual stuff etc.

My only word of warning is that because so many people are interested in holistic therapies and have trained in them, the market is pretty much flooded, people tend to compete for work by undercutting each other's prices, and so it can be quite difficult to build up enough of a regular clientele to make any kind of living.

I say this from my own experience and also from working with dozens of holistic therapists, trying to help them improve their marketing. Not to put you off, but put it like this, I've never met a rich holistic therapist so it's the kind of work you do because you love it rather than for the financial gains!