Self-Employment?

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I have been thinking lately that the best option for me, and perhaps many of you, would be self-employment. I have difficulty respecting authority, so it would be better if nobody -human at least- were to be my boss except me. Sure, some people consider customers their boss, but that would be under a different definition than somebody contractually your superior with or without qualification and without your choice and not requiring your approval.

So, my question is: what kind of skills are marketable that a solitary person could do?

Please, no links to scam sites.

Electronics, Chemistry, Physics, an interest in books and etymology could help you qualify eventually for work as a technical writer. If that sounds interesting to you, check out the Society for Technical Communication to learn more about the software you need to learn to write with (usualy something like a desktop publisher called FrameMaker). You could write for Electronics, Chemistry, and Physics directly possibly, but more likely for software companies that create software involving these sciences/technologies.

I have often been interested, but afraid to go out on my own. It is a good idea to try to start now, before you get into the rhythm of a regular job.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes.

Thanks, I'm not too good when it comes to composition though. Any textbooks you could recommend that you thought were good?

There are tons. But now you're talking one of my interests, but I'll try to prioritize. I may not remember the authors, but you can find them with this info online (Also, STC will help you with the latest theory on tech writing--society for technical communication):

Composition: My favorite is Barbara Minto's <ital>The Minto Pyramid Theory</iltal> on organization--however, most tech writers are really bad at this and write just for one little screen of help. They don't consider the whole organization, but you if you want to have integrity as a writer, you should check this out.

Sentences: <ital>Line by Line</iltal> (If you can't find this, ask me again Monday when I'm at work, and I'll look it up)

Grammar: Harbrace College Grammar (Harbrace is the important part)

Style (like as in appearance, caps, commas...) Chicago Manual of Style

Tech writing theory: <ital>How to Write Useable User Documentation</ital> He recommends a two-page spread. That would be weird these days, BUT, what's important is that he emphasizes writing from the user point of view as a user, not from the point of view of the machine, software, or whatever artifact you're writing. In other words, if you were describing to a martian how to use a house, one chapter might be on how to make a meal, not where all the sinks are and how you use sinks.

Technical Communication: There are some basic books called this--text books.

Remind me again, when yo get to it, but there are some others by a woman named Horton on writing specifically for technical communication.

Get the manuals and look at the online help of several software products that you like, including games, examine the whole help system and see which ones you like, don't like and why.

Good luck.

What are your interests? What would you like to spend your life doing? Is there something missing from the marketplace that you think you could do/make? Perhaps you could create a business from one of your Aspie obsessions/special interests. Another option is to become a freelancer of some sort.

As I've been researching starting my own business (selling needlework patterns of my own design and finished items -- one of my Aspie obsessions is needlework), I've found that there are a lot of resources in the library and online for finding your niche and starting your own business. I'd check out http://www.sba.gov or just google "small business" or "home-based business".

Good luck!

To start a sewing or pattern related business, Fashion-Incubator is considered to be the best site on the web.

The site is run and written by an Aspie...

I used to be self-underemployed as a pet-sitter. That was okay. You probably won't make much money because everybody wants you to come see their pets at the same time of day, so you can't have more than two or three households booked at a time. I'd see the clients for about ten minutes, on two occassions, once at the start of their vacation and once at the end. Once I had one I hardly saw at all after the first two or three times, I just went to her house and played with her dogs one day a week and she left a check. I am theoretically NT but I am social-phobic and people find me chilly and irritating, but I am a dog magnet. I think I managed to get clients because I always met them and their dog together. It is easy for me to be 'warm' to a dog and people transfer how you treat their dog onto themselves in some mysterious way.

I work as an Accounting Consultant and have two part-time clients right now. Since personnel is so expensive these days, many employers don't want to hire full-time employees. Accounting and Bookkeeping services are always in high demand.

I've learned that "being your own boss" isn't really as freeing as it seems -- your clients are in essence your boss, since they are paying you. There is more freedom being a consultant; you can drop a client or refuse work, but if you need the $, you will probably put up with your clients' demands.

since i already have certifications in networking and other computer repair i was thinking to use my remote assistance feature to work from home doing repairs for people

i was thinking to charge $20 per incident

does anyone think this is too much and any advice on how to get this going using my limited disability income

I would like to see a selfemployment business sticky started here as I have an interest in starting something myself. My father (and dh at one time) have been selfemployed since I was five so I have seen the good and the bad. I think a major obstacle is good insurance and benefits, but dh has those through the company he works for. Not the best but at least something.

Lawn & Garden Business, Real estate Broker, Stock Broker, Property management are some ideas

Handyman (house stuff breaks, some people want it fixed instead of replaced)
Mechanic
Hot Dog Vendor
Ice Cream Vendor?
Housepainter
Hooking up electronics (HDTV installer?)
MS Windows/Vista Crash Recovery Service?
Dog poop scooper. (some people are too lazy to scoop their own lawn)
Dogwalker
Dog boarding (for when people travel without their dog)
Telephone extension jack installations and repair.
Landlord.
Livery service (Car and Driver for hire, like taxi or limo)?
Bicycle Courier/Messenger (for when the post office isn't fast enough I guess)
Lawnmower/Landscaper
Housecleaner
Junk removal
Recycling
eBay store
import/export business
Neoprene salesman? (recent hype on the forums about it)
Web Site Designer
Realtor
Payphones and Vending Machines owner
Musician/pianist/singing guitar player/band member
Bartender?
Artist/painter/sculptor
Notary Public
Massage Therapist?
Copy Machine and Printer technician?
Signage shop?
Carwasher
CCTV (security camera) technician?
satellite TV dish installation?
DJ? (get paid to play music for parties)
Wedding photographer?
Personal trainer/yoga instructor/karate sensei
Piano lessons teacher
Piano tuner
Coin-op videogame and pinball technician. (IMO easier than PC repair)
...
Someone should vett and save the best ideas.

Real estate appraiser,
Construction inspector, your own co,
Plumber,
Drafter,
your own Doggy day care,
Truck driver,
Landscaper,
your own arcade,
taxi driver,
painting contractor,
fisherman, your own boat
carpenter,

buy s**t on craigslist and ebay that is underpriced, selll it for more. odd jobs and construction and landscaping type stuff pay well and are easy enough to do. fence building is one. it pays really well, you can average 40-50$ an hour, and do it all yourself with just a car and beat up trailer, or a truck, and as long as the people who hire you are cool with you working at a one man pace, its all good. i do all sorts of random things for money. ive had lots of jobs, i like working for myself.