Be A Fool

I read an article recently where the author said, "Most of us spend too much time and energy trying to hide our fool-hood." By this, he meant that we spend too much time pretending to be something that we're not.

That's an interesting concept. A lot of us try to be experts in our field ... and are afraid we'll look like a fool if we ask our client to clarify something that is probably basic to them. I've tried to be better about this -- by telling the client, "I know a little bit about a lot of different fields, but I'm going to rely on you to help me understand enough of what you do to create a resume that will get you interviews."

Right up front, I'm giving myself permission to look foolish to this client. And you know what? Not one client has objected. (I thought for sure one of the first ones I said this to would come back with something like, "Well, what am I paying you for then?" Nope, that was just foolish thinking on my part!)

Afraid of writing for a new field? Be willing to be a fool! Take risks, experiment with new skills ... grow! The rewards are expanded creativity, more joy ... and a potential new market.

Why Businesses Fail

In an article on the SCORE website, "12 Sure-Fire Steps to Improve Your Retail Sales," author Bob Nelson outlines five main reasons why most businesses fail. I'd like to address each of these areas and how you can position your resume writing business for success.

1. Lack of Industry Knowledge
It's not enough to just know the nuts and bolts of resume writing. You must also know how to manage clients, how to manage your time, and pricing strategies. Start by writing resumes for friends and family, and then for pay for the individuals they refer to you. Join a professional association and study what others do, and then adapt their methods and make them your own.

2. Lack of Vision
What do you want from your resume writing business? Extra income, a bridge to self-employment, or a full-time income? How are you going to get from here to there? If you want to launch a full-scale business, but don't want to invest in marketing and promoting your services, you will be sadly disappointed. I don't care if you create a full business plan, but at least think through your marketing tactics, income-and-expense projections, and pricing strategy.

3. Poor Market Strategy
Speaking of pricing strategy, what is yours? What kinds of clients will you serve? Will you be a general practitioner, or a specialist? Focus on one geographic area, or serve clients everywhere with your web presence? How will you find clients? How will you cultivate referral sources? Will the clients pay what you need to charge them?

4. Failure to Establish Goals
Where do you see your business in six months? A year? Five years? I had a five-year plan and it worked for 10 years ... but now I'm thinking I need to start all over again, and see what I need to do to prepare for the next year ... and five years from now. Set goals not just for income, but number of clients, referral sources you can cultivate, and plans for continuing education and certification.

5. Inadequate Capitalization
This is probably the thing that does most businesses in. You over-estimate your revenue, and underestimate your expenses. A crisis comes along (car breakdown, health issue) and you can't afford to be self-employed. Create a financial safety net with your savings, or by working a part-time job. Diversify your income by writing, or teaching, or subcontracting.

NRWA Website Hacked

Clients or resume writers trying to find the NRWA website on Friday, Nov. 9 were greeted by a strange message, purportedly from a group with links to Al-Queda. As late as Saturday evening, even Google was displaying the hacked version of the site in its cached files.

According to NRWA President Kathy Sweeney, the message was religious in nature, claiming that "God would hate (the U.S.)" and asked God to "curse (the United States)."

The hacking, which was not limited only to the sites hosted by the same company that hosts the NRWA's site, may have been part of a "Cyber-Jihad" plan. A military website warned of mass denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, originally believed to launch on Nov. 11.

Using Regular Writing Resources In Your Resume Writing

I don't know how well it compares to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles or the Occupational Outlook Handbook, but I came across an interesting resource the other day that might prove useful:

Careers for Your Characters by Raymond Obstfeld and Franz Neumann.

"Create well-developed characters using the descriptions of almost a hundred professions. Each entry consists of a description and details including educational requirements, salary, jargon, hazards, rewards, and more. Packed with sidebars and call-outs."

Published in 2002, the book is 336 pages and can be ordered from Amazon.com for just $13.29 plus shipping.