Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hyeon In]

Who would like to work for themselves instead of someone else? (Freelance and contracting work counts)

What kind of work or business do you intend to do?

If you don't ever want to work for yourself, why not?

Me: I always saw myself as owning my own business. I never knew exactly what kind of business, but I thought I'd have SOMETHING. Most of the last ten years though I've been working for Korean universities. Cruisy, fun, but no real money and no real future.

Recently I started doing something for myself though: self-publishing books. I'm making as much as the day job, or a little more. Not sure if I want to do it 'forever' or how long it will last though. It's nice to be making a bit of money that isn't tied to an hourly payment or a monthly salary though.

Any other entrepreneurs, or more interestingly, people who definitely don't want to be entrepreneurs?

[radcon]

What type of books do you write? E-books or hard copies?

[World Traveler]

OP, it's cool you're ambitious. I applaud that. I feel the same way as you. Working for oneself is great. Satisfying too. It is hard but worth it.

*Life rewards the risk taker.*

[Hokie21]

It's something I never really thought about until recently. The past 2 years I had been becoming fairly serious with my homebrewing back in the US, writing more complex recipes, trying new ingredients, upgrading equipment, kegging etc etc and I really enjoyed it.

If I ever wanted to run my own business I think I'd enjoying taking a shot at creating a small craft brewery. It's never going to happen but if I had the means of doing it that would be my choice.

[Cacille]

I'm already a business owner. Been so for the past 7 years, although for the last two, I've been here.

I ran a house painting business, registering it with Missouri as an LLC. It was doing fantastic until the economy finally hit St. Louis and my smaller town's car manufacturer closed for good. I started looking for other opportunities and found teaching and love it. I gave, sorta, my business to my roommate to continue, as she was also unemployed. She's been continuing it since, a little, with only a few clients, but still carrying it nonetheless. Everything of the business is still technically mine, she's conditionally borrowing it, maintaining it, etc until I get back home (whenever that will be!).

I highly recommend you start your own business, but be aware. The first year, you won't make any money. Best to have a second job. I did and that's what paid the bills. Painting allowed me money to get new equipment to build the business and pretty much paid for some travel possibilities and helped me save up a bit of money to get me through the slow season at my other job.

If you need help or have questions about it, PM me. I might be able to give you some advice on legalizing things or managing it. Everyone thinks they will be a great manager until a few years later when they realize they were a horrible manager. I'm not speaking of managing employees, just business managing.

By the way, I also am starting up a second business (It's on hold at the moment due to my own current issues), plus I'm helping a third currently plus a fourth soon. And I have a Bachelor's in Management. If that helps any.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[Leon]

I've never started my own business beyond small scale like tutoring and editing papers, no not in Korea, but I have/am currently working for a startup that is basically someone else's new business.

If you want your own business, and you want it to be a serious one instead of just something on the side, you will spend stupid amounts of time at it, at least during the first 1-2 years, you will probably lose money in initial investments, and have tons of unforeseen issues coming up all the time. Now the company is making lots of money and opening up branch offices in other countries. I'm not sure the owner has even paid of initial investments though, but anyways I wouldn't paint an overly rosy picture of the whole thing.

[Died By Bear]

An old friend from my early teaching days in Korea:


http://sookewhalewatching.com/

[World Traveler]

[ttompatz]

With a LOT of effort and good planning you too can do it...

http://s293.photobucket.com/user/ttompatz/media/frontdoorkg.jpg.html
The new kindergarten building.

http://s293.photobucket.com/user/ttompatz/media/openday1.jpg.html
with just over 500 kids in it.

The old buildings have almost 1800 students now with a new 36 classroom addition scheduled to be completed next winter and open next year with another 1100 students in it.

I started with a declining school with about 500 students (K-9).

.

[wooden nickels]

[Stain]

[wishfullthinkng]

[BigBuds]

[Stan Rogers]

I can't believe nobody said open a bar. Almost every former English teacher I have heard of has done that.