self-employed – THE CEO DRIVEHER

gaining time currency, A GIG WORKERS DAY OF SUCCESS

I am really big on those in the gig space that have an extremely flexible schedule to not abuse their flexibility. The human body craves structure and disciple. If you fail to train it, it will rule over you. Whelp, I fell off to some degree with my scheduling. Day after day though I have plenty of time to spare to the things I it still felt wasted. I soon recognized the common denominator was the times I was getting my day started.

How you start your day is one thing, but when you start your day is another! I know this to be true without a shadow of a doubt. I don’t care what anyone says, but starting your day early (considerably 5am – 8am) is simply magical. I easily am able to triple my workload and have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, smashing goals from left to right! Also tend to make the most money on those days in the weirdest way, it is as if you’re being rewarded for simply planning and doing with an organized construct.

Getting up early feels like a cheat code of sorts, as if you’ve got a head start on the world or something. The beauty of starting your day early is you can set the rules as you like and work it how you like. I personally like to start by lounging a little and moving slow, you don’t want to over stimulate your mind and body too quick when readjusting to the early morning schedule. I love to make a list of “things to do”, I suggest your list have anywhere from 15 – 25 things outlined that must be done that day. Place the most simplest tasks on that list and don’t worry about how perfect or in order the tasks must be (you can do these tasks randomly, but smash a bunch while early). I am all over the place with my list and put the most random things on it. Some of the tasks are menial while wedging in some larger ones. Here ‘s an example of that list:

Wash 1 load of clothes.
Hang up and fold all laundry.
Write 2-3 chapters in new upcoming ebook.
Send out coupons to email list.
Upload on vlog to Youtube.
Commit to at least 20 gig jobs today on the various platforms.
Hang up new pics in home office.
Walk at least 1 mile today.
Order ink off Amazon.
Don’t forget to journal.
Meditate for 30 mins (split the meditations into 2 session of 15 min.).
Be sure to send email to x, y, and z!
Draft new contract for clients.
Get oil change.
Call Uber in regards to a payment dispute.
Weave in 1 to 2 new types of gig apps.

I think you get the point. You can weave whatever into your daily list equation. the reason I say to create a high volume on your list is because even if you only get 1/2 of those things done, mentally when you check those items off, you will feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. You will also be able to see how to set obtainable goals daily, you will see if you’re an overachiever or just not doing enough. This will help you to calibrate yourself and self-manage on a daily basis!

Now, I use to do this same thing when I would wake up later and already feel defeated because so much of my day had been consumed with sleep. Getting up at 10am to 11am does not compare to the effective time currency you gain from waking up just a few hours earlier.

If you notice I primarily listed regular daily responsibilities, this was done because when home and regular life stuff is taken care of we can be more effective on the the gig platforms, working with less stress and anxiety. How often have you been bogged down in your head while working gigs thinking about things you must do at home. Or worst thinking of what to do and not forget to do while on the platforms? To keep this from happening when you make your list over your favorite cup of coffee of tea be sure to take a screenshot of the task and put it in your phone and reflect over it throughout your day.

So let us all win back our time not just on the platforms and left to feeling rushed to make a dollar, but by being responsible and training the body to work off the natural God given timeframe we ought to stay working within. Waking up earlier with our type of flexible schedules reduces our stress tremendously, we only get one mind one body, take care of it holistically my fellow gig workers.

trade jobs over degrees a massive shift

It is simple to find a trade; look for any skill, and type of work that requires a degree of human concentration and from what can be gathered always primarily need the hand of a human being. I have known for decades that trades are highly underrated and even sometimes look down upon. We live in a highly marketed educational system that is a complete fraud. A college education puts you in debt and quite often you’re forced to not even utilize the degree you obtain.

Then there is the individual that lack the ability to see the value in both trade and higher learning. My position is this, go to college and get the cheapest degree possible and specialize in something that compliments your trade and talents you pursue. Higher learning is great no doubt, but it is great when you learn how to leverage it within entrepreneurship and having trade(s). I also believe a degree should not be pursued until after years of servicing and working in various fields. This would limit debt of most individuals and allow them to truly seek a field that aligns with their purpose, plus most employers will now pay for your education and college degrees.

One time me and a friend went to apply for the same job with a major insurance company. She begged me to apply so I did it for laughs. It was a seasonal job and we both knew we were qualified and looked at it as a way to work together and have fun. At this point I’d been living as a gig worker and entrepreneur for about a year full-time. My friend has a Biochemical degree or something like that. She’s a very smart girl and actually had experience in the job we were both applying for. I on the other hand had zero experience in the medical data field, had only some college, and lack any background info on the company outside of what I studied/researched to prep for the interview.

Long story short… I got the job, my friend did not. Initially they hired us both. In addition I was hired making $2 more than what she was being hired at, making well over $20 an hour. Why? For one I had a great professional background that I knew how to leverage as well as my trades that awarded me the ability to sell myself on interpersonal relationship skills and quick learning. I also knew how to negotiate my wages.

Having served as an interviewer on maybe thousands of interview boards, I personally knew that a degree only will take you so far. Employers are looking for experience and trainability. They want individuals that are well rounded, educated yes, but education is now at the fingertips of everyone and anyone with a smartphone or computer! We can literally watch a Youtube video and do projects and learn skills that may have cost someone a great deal of dollars and time, in a matter of a day!

I encourage online learning and free education by all means. Take up trades that you can put into action within months and build upon the skills you learn within those trades. Look for trade schools and schools offering learning in robotics and coding, this is our future and a very profitable one if you pair education and trade together creating a synchronicity in it.

GIG RIGGED THE NEW PROFITABLE NORM IF DONE RIGHT

I will keep saying this and shouting it to the top of my lungs, but we’re living in the best of times as independent contractors, self-employed, giggers, side-hustlers, small business owners, etc. It is as if this time was created specifically for us all and though this time of opportunity is abundant it does come at a cost and readjustments.

For well over a year or two I have been speaking of the importance of gig workers establishing LLC’s. of their own and building a “gig business” of their own. I foreseen the need of the gig economy growing immensely. Some times thinking my calculations may be wrong I always ended up back to the the reality that the gig economy is here to stay and will be the new norm! Now, with Covid-19 my predictions reigns even more true!

So what is the cost of all this? The cost is moreso of an internal one causing for a mental shift and acceptance of this type of work life. As a gig strategist and gig coach the biggest thing that get in the way of most giggers is their need for immediate gratifications and lack of creativity on the platforms. They don’t see all the various aspects of the gig economy that can make them even more profitable, the great thing about this is many of them are exiting the gig economy in droves! This great exodus will become another profitable factor for those of us that do see the massive opportunities within this sector of work. We will begin to see a massive infusion of the professional turned gigger!

In many of my other writings I spoke of mainstream traditional employers embracing the template of the gig economy here’s how/why:

Contracting / Outsourcing employees (in high demand).
Less financial risk with contracted employees.
On-boarding process is quicker.
Doesn’t have to provide traditional incentives for employment.
Serves as a trial run for potential hiring on employees full-time.

Why many contractors are taking advantage of the gig economy:

Flexibility! This is a major one,
Less commitment.
Earn more upfront and use the money to pay into outlets of their choice i.e. retirement, assets, healthcare, etc.
Many can work from home or remotely in the field.
Less demand from authorities and oversight.
Work freely.

The gig economy is not to be limited to delivery services of food and goods, nor limited to rideshare. The gig economy is made up of software engineers, truckers, administratives, virtual assistants, bookkeepers, etc. Covid season has proven this. With the majority of employees working remotely from home this proves to be true. So with this being the case why wouldn’t a business or corporation take this opportunity to minimize costs such as overhead, pay employees more, but as independent contractors? Is this possible? I think it is and know it is! Though with traditional employees still wanting employers to offer great health care options, 401k, and retirement types, that incentive is dying out massively; and employees are preferring their money upfront with the choice of purchasing their own options.

There will be a learning curve and many adjustments as this progress, but I believe if one educates themselves on these options and embrace the gig economy right, they can become highly profitable and more in control of their lives and earnings. The gig economy has a sexiness about it that can catapult you into abundance or serve as a great destruction. What is key is discipline, money management, and creating safe holdings of finances for unexpected issues.

IS YOUR GIG JOB(s) A LLC?

In this day of the ultimate gig economist, contracted worker, independent contractors, digital nomads, etc., if you fall in any of these categories it is a must you establish your business construct as a LLC. Now, let me preface this with that I am not a financial advisor nor am a business lawyer, these are simply my opinions drafted from my own personal experiences, research, and conclusions. You are free to do what best fits your need, I just want you all to weigh your options so that you:

Protect your employment
Grant yourself some job security.
Be cost effective. maximize your earrings, and cost savings.
Take full advantage of the rewards and opportunities that serve businesses more than individuals.
Limit co-mingling and maintain good bookkeeping.

What is a LLC.? LLC stands for Limited Liability Company which is a corporate structure in the United States whereby the owners are not personally liable for the compan’s debts or liabilities. They have the characteristics of a corporation with those of a partnership or sole proprietorship. Every state differs a bit but the benefits outweigh any other option if you’re an individual (sole proprietor) owner of a company.

Why to create a LLC. compulating all your gig jobs allowing your LLC. to serve as an umbrella/cover (insurance policy) over your businesses. Establishing a LLC. is releatively easy and cost less than $500 which includes everything, but I will explain how to later in this blog. You want to create a LLC. for legal protection, but mainly to use as leverage for your own personal and business finances. Once LLC. is established you can easily acquire the following:

Fuel Cards: these are really good for bookkeeping purposes and you save more money on fuel cost. Most of us are using our own vehicles to complete these gigs.
Electronics: when you use your business credit for tools i.e. phones, computers, laptops, instruments, apps, etc. you can really build business credit and save build using entities such as Dell, Apple, Microsoft etc. They are really good about extended credit which is helpful when you’re first building credit. As a digital nomad and freelance writer this is big for me because I use 2 cell phones, 1 ipad, a laptop, and numerous software. In the event I need a replacement or better equipment I’d prefer to use my LLC. business line of credit instead of straining my own.
Affiliate Partnerships: this allows other businesses to see that you have established a legitimate business and there’s some accountability on your part. Hence they’ll want to do more business with you or even invest in your company.
Better Tax Incentives: hands down if you run your books right and you leverage it right you’ll be able to really save! Rideshare drivers are now seeing tax laws change on mileage and tax write-offs that now is chipping away at their returns.
Financial Protection: this is a highly informative area and varies from state to state so I suggest you research this area for yourself, but to summarize it’s better someone come after your company than you as an individual!
Multiple Streams of Income: self-explanatory, you can structure your business in such diverse ways that allows you to create content, passive income, and merchandise.

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In short I will outline what you need to become established as an LLC., now this is a generic listing being certain requirements differ in various states some more lenient while others can be heavy-handed in acquiring; overall it’s still relatively easy. Ok to get started I suggest the following in this order:

Business Name (make sure you verify it hasn’t been trademarked at
http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=searchss&state=4801:opytx7.1.1 from the https://www.uspto.gov/trademark website for trademarks and patents.
Logo: create an unique logo easily for cheap on http://www.fiverr.com
Purchase a Virtual Office: includes actual address and business line this will vary in need contingent on your business structure.
Website & Domain Name: you can purchase this for cheap, no need to be fancy, you can always upgrade, keep it simple to like a landing page or 2-3 pages listing products/service, about page, and pricing. Again keep it simple.
Bio: this needs to be professionally done, you’ll be surprise how many seeks out your credentials. This needs to be short, sweet, but highly informative. FYI I do these professionally part of my http://www.knbresume.com business. If you need one I’d love to write one up for you.
Certificate of Organization: you usually obtain this through the Secretary of State (you must have this for a DUNS# and Business Checking account)
EIN#, Duns & Bradstreet Number: this is your tax i.d. AND IT IS FREE (beware of sites that charge, only go to the IRS website
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin after received apply for your DUNS# at
https://www.dnb.com/ this will allow you not to have to use yourself as a personal guarantee to obtain business credit. Both are free!
Legal Docs: this simple depending on your business, start off with Release of Liability forms, and Non-Disclosures. These help protect you and your intellectual properties.