Do you dream of becoming a Gigpreneur? Running your own business, have a side hustle, being in control of your time, self-motivating, keep going (even when no one is believing in you, all you need is to believe in yourself)?
Are you resilient and tough enough to overcome all kinds of people judging on you? Are you wise in managing your own finance to sustain a decent lifestyle? Are you capable of running many chores with a limited time, minimum or no manpower at all?
Does your passion supersede your monetary importance? How can you be extraordinary and stand out from the pack? How will you make a difference with your uniqueness? The lists can go on…
I had my start-up 24 years ago. It wasn’t easy, given that limited resources, no social media, no mentorship, no financial back-up, a skeptical industry, nothing to lean back, and what if I failed? That was the pre-conditions in the early 2000s. My work was no longer at a fixed place, and I began to define success in a different light.
I had to re-adjust my full-time perspectives, bureaucracy, routines, comfort zones, mundane, and repetitive mentality, into a world of changes. Eventually, as the days went by, change (was) and (is) inevitable. Fast forward to now, I could make changes in minutes as opposed to the old dragged habit of taking days or weeks for my paradigm to shift.
There are many blogs on steps to becoming an entrepreneur. I wish to write from the “pain-points” perspectives of either you produce or perish in the gig industry. This will define your standings in the world out there.
Passion or Skill Set or Talent?
You will need a skill set. It is an expertise in which you acquire through learning. It is different from talent. Talent is a God gifted ability, whereas to learn a skill, you need to put in a huge amount of your time, investment, and efforts to develop it. Next you need a passion. It is where you tell the large part of your story to your audiences. As a gigpreneur, you want to be passionate with your skills to push the boundary. It is not a nice-to-have, but a must-have. Your passion is your inner force to keep you going and drive your day-to-day chores. Your passion is the sword of the spirit to guard against naysayers, and people who never want you succeed, or secretly pray that you fail (an ugly human nature). Your passion will keep you hungry for business, a catalyst to upgrade your skills, and develop yourself to be the best version. Ultimately, if you’re not passionate about what you do, you won’t excel in your performance and prove your worth.
Connections
Networking is a great way to connect with people. I am not referring to the norm of attending a networking event, throwing out your cards to people who aren’t interested in your business. Even if you offer your services for free, many would think twice about you as a newbie who are starting up. You need to find your leads through an “extension” of what you’re currently doing. How you can integrate your new venture into your existing base. If you’re starting something new, all the more you need to establish quality connections, best is to sell it to strangers, (not to relatives, schoolmates, or your colleagues). My advice to full-timers who wish to take a plunge into a new venture, never underestimate the power of networking. If you have a habit of turning people down when they wish to add you in their social media accounts, you will be dipping into a grave obstacle for not having a strong base. Likewise, even if you have millions of followers (some are bought and people know it), you will end up having no leads. Staying active in your connection is equally important. It takes time to nurture a trusted relationship. There is no point to “Like” or “Comment” on someone’s posts after a period of absence; only to find out that you are up for something. That’s so fake.
Be Authentic
People value honesty and authenticity. You gain more trust when you are transparent. Some youngsters may disagree with me as people are quick to judge and they struggle with the capability of expressing their true self. Let’s put it this way, you can lie your way to gain at entry level. But to gain a foothold for further progression and expansion, you are expected to perform, and hold your cards well. There is no point telling lies/excuses, and having to make up another to cover the first. You lose your credibility instantly, self-victimized, and worst; being labelled as “no substance.” Being authentic will do justice in a long run as it speaks volume on your well-being, self-esteem, true nature, happiness, and fulfillment. You will find the courage to pursue your passions, believe in yourself, convince others with your action, feel confident in your work, and make a righteous decision.
Judge not, that you will not be judged!
“For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” Matthew 7:1-2. Many commit such mistake. I find it totally annoying when I am being criticized on a “subject” by another who later “offer” a price to a solution. The criticizer will never get the deal. It is distasteful. Even if you offer it to me for free. You lose it instantly, and how much more your criticism comes with a suggestive price. What an ignorant mistake! No one would pump a single cent to you. Not forgetting, you will be judged and compared with another professional, an expert (who is a stranger), one who can transcend positive solution euphemistically. Who will you work more comfortably with?
I reckon that familiarity breeds contempt. If you’re not a leader yet, unsolicited opinions are unwelcome by those who are established in the industry. Ask yourself, are you the best person to give an opinion? And think before your speak. People would seek a leader for an opinion, but if you’re not one, do hold back your opinions, don’t speak without going through your brain. So take a step back and think through thoroughly what you’re going to say. Consider your choice of words, leave no room for being judgemental, misunderstood or opinionated. Do you have more than you show and speak less than you know? You would rather have more empirical evidence that can back you up than speak point blank on stuff you don’t know. Never compare each other’s business without knowing the foundation, culture, and values. If you talk a lot of rubbish but you don’t know what you are saying, that’s so ironical on your part. Lastly, most critiques cannot stand being judged back.
Have a growth mindset
A growth mindset is a belief that you can develop your skills and passion through your hard work. Be receptive to those who are willing to spend their time on you, share with you the right strategies so you can work a thousand steps lesser, be teachable, and coachable. In my opening, I shared on how to move things forward in this changing and volatile market. I had to pivot, agile, change and switch things around to fit the conditions of the market. There is no one size fits all. As opposed to those who have been functioning a single-role in a big organization, either you feel excited for the change, or exhausted to cope with the changes. Change is inevitable. This is the fact and you have no choice but to deal with it. Those who are able to acknowledge this fact and can cope with change, will survive. Those who are able to seek out change and actively embrace it, will thrive.
Observe protocol and play the rule-following game
Every game has a rule, likewise in business. Don’t play dirty game. Play your role well if you want to collaborate with people in the gig industry. This is to ensure that the event/job is run smoothly. There is a line of reporting, and protocol is observed to make sure we all get the work done orderly. My driving instructor once told me: “If you want to drive your “own” car, do it without me sitting next to you. If you’re still a green horn, you better follow the rules, or else, I will fail you!”
For the past 24 years, I have been working with millions of gigs, collaborating with agents, engaged as a partner/trainer by many clubs, governmental, and organizations. They have rules and I perform my role diligently. I deliver what is expected of me to make sure the gig goes smoothly, and aim for continuity. Don’t play attitudes, no-show, gossips, emotions, ego, phony, poach clients, portray a “million$-prima-donna-hard-to-get finicky , or bite the one who feed you. These are turn-offs for gigs. The market is small, especially in Singapore. Your name will be tarnished, and you will not survive when you play dirty games. Start right!
Hard work paid off
As an entrepreneur in a gig industry, it is mandatory to be self-motivated and possess a lot of positive vibes. You need to build good relationships and rapport with people, be helpful, less choosy with gigs, and be accommodative. Your preparation for tomorrow is the hard work you put in today, it will pay off.
Nothing is free in this world. So don’t expect free stuff, and money will not drop from the sky. DO NOT practice self-entitlement. Everything is meritocratic. So move, work, update, and thrive for what you believe in. Lastly, stop being calculative, count an inch for an ounce, penny wise, and pound foolish, you will go nowhere. Count your blessings, instead!