Dream Weaver
My dream job is helping other people find their dream jobs. So . . . how do I do it?
Q: I
left a $100,000-a-year sales job to start a company with a partner.
The partnership didn't work out, and I've spent all my
savings and need an immediate income. I've wanted to be a
public speaker since I was 14. Now at 40, I want to help people
find their perfect work, but I need to know how to transition into
that myself. Do you have any suggestions?
Name withheld
A: We
always hate to hear about failed partnerships, but unfortunately,
they're more common than divorces. The damage they can do to
people's self-esteem and the obstacles they place between
budding entrepreneurs and their dreams inspired us to write
Teaming Up: The Small Business Guide to
Collaborating With Others to Boost Your Earnings and Expand Your
Horizons (JP Tarcher).
Consider coaching as you grow your speaking business. Coaching
is a growing field and has a number of specialties, such as career,
life-purpose and business coaching. These organizations offer
training in coaching, though it's not a legal prerequisite:
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(800) 897-8707, www.coachtraining.com;
(800) 48-COACH, www.coachu.com;
(619) 287-1186, www.coachforlife.com;
(858) 573-0888, workuluv@aol.com;
(415) 274-7551, www.thecoaches.com.
In the meantime, get out there and give all the speeches you
can, even if they pay no or low fees. A good speech can spawn
others. Consider participating in speaker showcases. And read
Speak and Grow Rich (Prentice Hall Press)
by Dottie and Lilly Walters, or visit their site at www.walters-intl.com.
Paul and Sarah Edwards' most recent book is Changing Directions Without Losing Your Way.
You can send them your start-up questions at www.workingfromhome.com or
through us at Entrepreneur.