Getting Help as a Small Business Owner

*Disclaimer, I wrote this two weeks ago, just before the vphd discussion on entrepreneurship started (and quickly fizzled out). I didn't find many of the posts particularly helpful in terms of nuts-and-bolts, but you might also check out that discussion board for more resources.

Several months ago, I posted on entrepreneuralism. Since being at my new Job, I've been learning about state resources available to folks who want to start their own business. I'm not sure if all these resources exist in every state, but versions of them certainly do.

On a related note, I recently found out that if you own a "business" (i.e. have a business name and email) you can get discounts from Enterprise on car rentals. I must continue to investigate where else I can flash my "business owner" creds and get perks and discounts. Whahaha.

Anyway, from the state, there is the small business administration and departments of development (or some similar branch) that administers small business development centers. A equivalent quasi-state entity is a local business incubator. The state-level programs often have targeted funding programs, often for green/clean energy and new kinds of technology.

From nonstate sources, there are organizations that provide venture capital. Some are targeted for particular kinds of owners or types of business or location. It seems like every larger city has a coalition of grant makers. The catch with venture capital and angel investors is that they often want to fund new-technology types of things, i.e. you need a background in science, technology, engineering or math. But don't despair all you humanistically-inclined folks, the science geeks need directors of communication and managers and researchers who find them the money and write them their grants. Critical thinking social scientists and humanists + STEM nerds=potentially awesome combo.

All these small business resources are applicable (usually) to nonprofit organizations. I haven't learned as much about nonprofit formation and funding, but as I do, I'll be sure to share that information as well.

Happily Employed and Hunting

I keep having these blog post ideas and then three days (okay, weeks) later when I finally get some time and energy I forgot what I wanted to write... fabulous.

Lately I've been thinking about where I want to work next. Don't get me wrong, I love love love my new job. I really do. I get bummed the days I don't work, and that's not just because that means it's a dissertation writing day. But nothing is ever secure and it's always good to have something in our back pockets. Just in case.

I swear Bolle gave the advice that as soon as you finish your first day of work, start looking for a new job. I can't find the exact citation (perhaps it was in a different edition from the one I own) but he does say in the book I have:

"Successful job-hunters and career-changers always have alternatives." He goes on to list different kinds of alternatives, including: "Alternatives of what they could do with their life." "Alternative job prospects." "Alternative 'target' organizations that they go after." (See p. 112 of the 2010 edition for a comprehensive list and discussion of "alternatives.")

In this spirit, I have been on the hunt for jobs in my new City. Not in any serious kind of way, but I've been keeping my eyes open as I maintain my RSS feeds on federal jobs and Idealist jobs in City, walk around town, and learn about other groups my Job collaborates with. It's incredible the different potential employers I keep seeing as I walk to the bus or ride the bus.

Literally, I've added 5 organizations in the last month just by walking by a sign on my way to elsewhere. Granted I live in a City where what I want to do (research, policy, writing, applied work, etc.) is valued by nonprofit and government players. But it's also a matter of actually seeing a sign for a place that isn't easily google-able. For example, I keep running into places that I never even would have imagined existed (ex. an economic analysis and public policy research firm) and so would have never even googled in the first place. These places also have weirdly named websites or are miscategorized in google searches. There is something to be said about locating to your locale of choice and beginning your job search once in town.

I'm also learning about other organizations through my current employer. Like any activity (graduate school, music scene, barhopping) there are circles and everybody knows each other in these circles. They also know folks in other related circles. These other organizations and individuals come up in the flow of work conversation. It's not like I'm scribbling down names, but I am keeping tabs on who my Job interacts with and who I think is cool.

This "job search" is just me keeping a "hunting" eye on my world. I'm not actively seeking job, but am just trying to stay informed and up to date on what the general trends are and what is available in town.

As before, I've been tracking these places in a spreadsheet--name, website, mission statement. This time I'm also including physical addresses and notes like "never ever work here" and "hmmm, maybe". I'm including places on the list that I'll never work for as a way to get a lay of the land, but also so I don't have to repeat my (5 minute) research next year when I have forgotten what these groups are about.

On a related note, I see that the PMF application period opens in 6 weeks (October 1-15, 2010). My university is holding an informational session in a few weeks about the whole process and I'm debating if I should apply for it or not. On the one hand (assuming I pass the tests, etc.) being a PMF finalist could be an excellent bargaining chip on the job front--for either current or future employers. And, of course, I could also actually take a federal job... On the other hand, that seems like a lot of work just for a possible job and/or bargaining chip. And Honey has already said "you just got here, you want to leave again?" Oh, and I want to also finish my dissertation in the next 8 weeks. So uh, I'm going to be a little busy during the PMF application cycle. Still deciding on this.

So the hunt continues, even as I remain happily employed.

Welcome to the "Real World": Student Loan Repayment

Ooops, I hadn't realized that quite so much time had passed since my last post...

I'm in the midst of working up a new post but keep getting sidetracked by dissertation chapters and work and other life stuff.

Including figuring out the registration game for my last semester ever (fingers crossed!) and how to defer my student loans a little longer.

You know that rumor that was going around recently that said if we worked for the government or a nonprofit organization [i.e. 501(c)(3)] we could get our student loans forgiven after 10 years? Totally true and I finally found the paperwork that explains it. Biggest problem I see at the moment is that we have to be working 30 hours a week at one (or a combo) of nonprofits/public service. I'm currently working 20 hours a week at my 501(c)(3) employer. Hopefully I can fix that soon.

Here's another resource regarding student loan repayment: the Income Based Repayment info website. I believe they're run by a bunch of former grad students. I'm on their listserv which sends out the occasional notice or FYI. I definitely recommend getting on their list (seriously, they send emails less than once a month) and their website has a lot of great info.

Hope to have more info regarding loan repayment programs as the time come closer for me. Sigh. Will be sharing that, I'm sure.

Another post to come (hopefully!) this weekend.

Three Weeks In: Still Happy with Alt-Academic Path

Week three of the new job.

Some highlights/observations:

--They seem to like what I'm doing so far. I'm relieved I appear to know what I'm doing. I'm still doing a lot of "fake till you make it" internal chanting.

--Staff meetings are like academic club meetings. In fact staff meetings really really really remind me of the steward council meetings I used to attend (and run) for my former teachers' union. It's half BSing, half business, and there's a lot of "we'll talk after this meeting" and "uh, let's just keep that as a pending item on the agenda." I'm glad I have experience participating in and running these kinds of meetings. Stuff actually does get accomplished, but it's not as obvious as it might be in a classroom.

--I had lunch with the two other worker bees and that was the best hour fifteen minutes yet. We got to hang out and I learned a ton. Found out what the organization's weaknesses were, how best to deal with personality quirks. Got the scoop on everyone. Found out that everyone actually likes each other in the office (a nice contrast to my former job where alliances were taking seriously and meant the difference between having to do crappy tasks and not so crappy tasks). Was completely relieved when I asked them if they liked their jobs and they wholeheartedly said YES. Since our lunch we've been super joke-y and friendly. Having cool coworkers is a total win.

--I'm a mechanical moron. Totally flooded the coffeemaker and kitchen counter because I didn't know how to work the fancy schmancy coffeemaker. Haven't answered the phone once because I don't know how to work the hold and transfer buttons (I've resolved to start answering the phone this week).

--There's no slacking on this job. I might have had a crazy, sleep deprived weekend, but they don't care. I'm expected to be on my game when I'm there. No indulging my fuzzyheadedness. I need to speak coherently and concisely on my projects and responsibilities.

Am still totally loving my job and all the cool stuff I'm learning about that is either directly or indirectly tied to the organization. The dissertation remains abandoned 5.5 days/week, but I'm hoping I can pull together a better schedule soon. I'm also taking on editing projects now. I figure keeping up those freelance jobs will pay off in the future (and present, I still haven't been paid). Not only do I ensure future jobs by taking these on now, but they keep me engaged with scholarly discussions and make me use my editing brain. Score.

As another non sequitor, I was recently emailing with a friend who told me that she had started volunteering for a museum doing the kind of work she does for a living. She said it was a way for her to determine if she actually likes her line of work and just dislikes her workplace or if she really dislikes her current career. I thought that was brilliant and low-stakes way to find out what she "wants to do for the next 15 years".

I am determined to continue On the Hunt, but at the moment things are pretty slow on the "hunting" front. I'm still thinking about going for the PMF (as a leveraging tool in future salary negotiations). And the Parachute book says as soon as you get your job, start thinking about finding your next job. I have a couple of long term plans in mind, so I'll start blogging about those once the time gets closer. But for the moment, I'm still resting after a whirlwind summer! So sorry for my intermittent posts!