The days of aspiring to be a corporate executive seem to be over. Of the 1,075 people responding to Intelligent Office’s Work IQ survey, not a single one expressed any desire of spending his or her career as an office leader. The survey participants were asked about four different work styles: corporate executive, professional, entrepreneur and independent. Nearly 65 percent said they preferred to be an entrepreneur or independent worker instead.
Tom Camplese, chief operating officer of Intelligent Office, said the study points to an evolution driven by the desire for mobility and flexibility. “We believe there is a paradigm shift happening in our culture as it relates to work style,” Camplese said. No longer are people looking for a traditional workday. More than 60 percent of those surveyed want more-flexible work hours than the customary 9 to 5. Additionally, the research found that people overwhelmingly aspire to have more mobility in their daily life rather than be tied to working eight hours in an office. More than 65 percent are looking for a job where they have a laptop computer or tablet that affords them the freedom to work anywhere they choose.
Top 4 Businesses for Beginners
Starting a small business is a huge commitment. It can seem so intimidating that it’s often difficult to decide where to begin or even what kind of business to open. The first step is to explore your passions. If there is anything you throw your heart and soul into, that’s where your business might be, though you might want to think twice about having your favorite activities become a professional endeavor. If you know you want to become an entrepreneur, but you’re not sure what kind, here are a few of the best small businesses for beginners:
Start a clean-up crew. Luckily, cleaning up is a skill that will never require a business degree. You can start your own home-cleaning service, taking on as few or as many clients as you would like. Cleaning services are also relatively low-cost businesses to start, and the time commitment is generally flexible. There may already be a lot of competition for cleaners in your neighborhood. If that’s the case, you could still squeeze yourself into the market by offering specialized services such as construction cleanup.
Open a children’s enrichment center. If you love kids, running a children’s enrichment business may be the best business for you. Parents usually form strong networks, which means your business could grow rapidly by word of mouth. While starting a child care center usually costs a lot (there are a number of hidden costs like insurance fees, licenses, and the price of child-proofing your rented space), a children’s enrichment business can be done for 1/3-1/8 of that cost.
Act as a computer consultant. Tinkering with your home computer can turn into a lucrative career. For experts, there are a number of business paths available, including computer repair, software training and data entry. Since technology is everywhere, you have many potential clients. You can offer your services to home users, other small businesses or even larger organizations. A computer consulting business also means you can control your own hours.
Take care of pets. Tending to pets is arguably the cutest small business you could start. Pet-owners are willing to pay top dollar for their pets. You can provide a variety of pet-related services, such as dog training and walking, grooming or pet sitting. Experience with animals is usually a prerequisite for starting these businesses, especially when it comes to dog training and grooming. If you don’t know how to cut a dog’s nails, you probably don’t want to try.