It is often difficult to determine an appropriate time to embark on another career opportunity. Radical changes in an industry lead to employees with solid skills and nowhere to utilize them. Circumstances including downsizing, dwindling industries, and consolidation are forcing career choices to be reconsidered. The desire to be independent, showcase your skills, and demonstrate the talent and capability to be your own boss is imperative, while timing remains essential to ensure success.
There are several options available when deciding to go out on your own. Starting a business can be intimidating considering the odds against success. Becoming part of a franchise concept offers the infrastructure and support that a self startup does not, but finding the right match may seem daunting. Fortunately, a vast array of information is available on the Internet through credible franchise websites to help you seek out a business that complements your skill set.
"I have a background in advertising and saw a need for local businesses to promote themselves directly to the community. That's why I chose to open a Money Mailer franchise," said Janet Galati, owner of the Money Mailer serving Chain-O-Lakes, Illinois. "I wanted to own a business where I can apply my skills and generate revenue doing what I love to do."
Franchises offer built-in support and training, including curricula, streamlined materials, and business tools to help ensure success. Independence is maintained and entrepreneurial spirit is encouraged through financial independence and the freedom to control your future. There is no age requirement to become a franchise owner; whether you're a recent college grad or a seasoned veteran, applying the proper skills to an existing brand can make success easily attainable.
Galati discovered that owning her own business gave her the opportunity to finally showcase her vast knowledge through a direct-mail franchise, and she has never looked back.
"Imagine working 20 years of your life striving for excellence and not receiving any recognition. So you go out on your own to achieve your dream as an owner of a Money Mailer franchise. Then you find yourself on a stage in front of hundreds of people at a Money Mailer annual convention after your second year in business. You look out at a crowd of people applauding your achievement for having sold the most ads to date in the history of the company. You hold back the tears as everyone rises to their feet. Money Mailer helped me achieve my personal and financial dreams, even beyond my expectations," Galati said.
While some businesses start slow and stay slow, some never get off the ground. Starting your own company from scratch requires a significant investment of money, people, and time. And research shows that most independent startups don't make it to the third year of operation. Franchises allow business owners to avoid these pitfalls because they know what works and what doesn't, leaving the marketing and sales professional to do what he or she does best: securing new clients and providing them with solutions that make them repeat clients.
There are plenty of opportunities for second careers in the sales and marketing field that a savvy person can pursue. A growing trend in business ownership is to align with a proven franchise concept and begin churning out results immediately with the necessary infrastructure in place.
"I really like being in control of my destiny. With Money Mailer I work with business owners who respect what I do and vice versa," Galati said. "I was looking for an outlet where I get to work with area businesses and propose solutions that are going to help them become more successful, making me more successful along the way."
