Another 10way's to series:
The following keys are not a straight how to guide, these are basic keys and skills that I think anyone should have before getting actual results. It is a lifetime experience and it depends on many variables including education, experience, knowledge and even your social and professional network. Please feel free to share yours too. All these keys may depend on each other.
Key 1: Connections and Networking:
It is all about connections, the more people you know, the more probability you have to find the right person to help you find what are looking for. Without connections, you can't be successful especially if your job depends heavily on sales. Even if you have a product, a service or a skill you need by the end to sell it to someone. To develop my social/professional network I am being actively involved in forums, social gatherings, workshops, conferences and even on the web. One important hint is to get involved in social and professional networking websites like linkedin.com, viadeo.com, facebook.com, and twitter. They always list meetings and upcoming events you are interested in "Groups". Find the right group for you and go there.
Once you meet people keep their business cards, add them to your contacts in your favorite social and professional networking, they may help you some day or vice versa.
Key 2: Communications
Working on my communication skills helped me a lot in finding some opportunities and jobs. Taking a class or two helped me improve my language skills. Communication will help you in Key 3.
Key 3: Lower your expenses
Keep a daily log of your grocery, bills, and note what you pay. Enter them in a spreadsheet program and make chart. The chart might help you notice the peak of your expenses; it could be electricity bill, phone bill or even what you buy for every day like phone cards. Save these by upgrading your phone subscription with special offers, or use solar energy for example. The idea is you need to notice where you money is going.
Key 4: Part time Jobs
If you are a regular employee and your company does not restrict you from have another job, seek a part time job after your regular working hours. Some of my friends work as lecturers or trainers after regular working hours. Key 5 provides more information about these types of work.
Key 5: Teaching and Training
If you have a skill or a certain level of education, share it with the other. You can become a trainer or a teacher. Teaching worked for me for higher level education; always mention teaching as needed in your resume. Some companies do not appreciate people who teach as part time job.
Key 6: Education and Certifications
Consider a higher level education degree like a Master's degree or a PhD as well as some important professional certifications relevant to your domain (IT, Human Resource, Business Administration...). One of the important certifications I recommend is PMP from PMI. PMP stands for Project Management Professional and PMI is an internationally recognized Project Management Institute. These certifications can also open the doors to you for other opportunities like Key 3 above. Start by researching highly paid certifications relevant to your domain; it is definitely a plus in your resume and can help you negotiate a higher salary. My experience showed that it would be at least important in the pre-selection of your resume and may guarantee you a phone screen for the interviews.
Other Certifications are referenced at the end of this article.
Key 7: Consider Freelance opportunities
Working for a big company has its advantages and its disadvantages. You might be stable for some period of time; you might have several allowances including housing, medical insurance..etc but you are participating in the income that the company is getting. If you work as freelance you will get it all $$$ but you have to pay for everything yourself. Some of my friends in telecom industry are getting paid around 400$/Day some 800$ for 3 years now, do the math J . The disadvantage is you might not find work opportunities for some long periods, and it will be difficult to going paid as regular employee in some countries.
Key 8: Invest in a niche
Find a niche and invest, sales is the best way to increase your income. Some people invest in stock market other might see ahead an opportunity in selling some products to people (Importing, Exporting). You might setup an e-commerce website to deliver some products or service to people at home for a small fee. Doing the dirty/difficult job might be a niche sometimes, because a lot of people cannot do it themselves.
Key 9: Be Innovative and creative
If you remark some company or someone making money from a niche, try not to copy paste the same service or product. Be creative, find the source of income and come up with a way to involve it. An example is the telecom/mobile industry. A lot of people are buying the latest phones like Smartphone's (IPhone, Blackberry, Android based phones).
Some companies are selling those phones; other ones are selling applications and games. You can make good money if you find the right niche.
Key 10: Making money from the internet
The internet provides a wide range of opportunities like advertisement and affiliate programs. Setup a website (e-commerce, advertisement website, blogging) and join one of these programs, you have nothing to lose. Google adsense, Amazon affiliate programs are some of the well known programs. Feel free to share more if you have.
