I Lost My Job! Should I Start a Business

    我丟了自己的工作，我該創業嗎？

    I get a lot of email that starts, "I just lost my job!" Somewhere in eachemail, the writer goes on to ask, "How do I start a business?"

    我收到很多郵件，開頭都是說"我丟了工作",然後在郵件中，他們就會開始問"我是否應該自己創業？"

    Morepeople are getting downsized, terminated or just plain fired all thetime. And because of the state of the economy, finding another job canbe difficult. Creating a job of your own by starting a business looksattractive when you can't find a job - or just can't stand the job youhave.

    henduorendoubeicaidiaole，zhongzhilehetongguanxihuozhejiushijiandandibeikaichule。bingqie，youyudangjinjingjixingshibujingqi，zhaodaoyifenxingongzuohennan。zainizhaobudaogongzuohuobunengrenshouzijigongzuodeshihou，chuangyetingqilaihenyouxiyinli。

    But"How do I start a business?" is not the first question you should beasking if you're in this situation; the first question you should beasking is "Should I start a business?" Before you start thinking aboutthe different types of businesses you might start, you have to do somethinking about you.

    但是如果你正處在這樣的情況下，那麼"我該如何開始創業呢
？"不是你最初開始該問的問題。你最該問的第一個問題是"我是否應該創業？"在你開始思考自己該發展什麼類型的事業之前，你要先想想自己的情況。

    Startinga business is not for everyone. Being self-employed is very differentthan being an employee. And some people find it impossible to adjust tothe differences. Let's see if you have the necessary entrepreneurial mindset to become self-employed. These are the six traits that I think encapsulate the ways you have to think and behave if youwant to make a successful transition from being employed in some oneelse's business to starting a business of your own.

    bingbushimeigerendoushihechuangyede。chuangyebidagongnandeduo。youyibufenrenfaxianhennanshiyingzhexiechaju。rangwomenlaikankannishifouyouzhunbeidanganbibeideqiyexintai。ruguonixiangconggeibierendagongdaoziwochuangyechenggongzhuanxingdehua，namewotuijianyixialiugenibixujubeidesikaofangshihexingdongfangshidetezheng。

    1.You have to be flexible to be self-employed.

    自我創業你必須要有靈活性

    If you start a business, you no longer have "one" job with clearly definedduties and responsibilities. You'll suddenly have multiple jobs, whichwill be often interrupted by unforeseen crises （particularly in thestartup phase）. Many employees are used to having days filled withpredictable activities; many self-employed people don't.

    如果你開始創業，你的工作就不是職責定義明確的一份工作和責任了。你會在突然間有了多份工作，也會被不可預見的危機中斷創業（尤其是在起始階段）.很多打工者習慣了每天按照既定的進程工作
，而創業者則不行。

    Andonce you start a business, there's nowhere to pass the buck. As an employee, you may be used to passing problems up along the food chain or not be very involved in decision making. As a self-employed business owner, you're the one who will have to deal with whatever the crisis isand solve the problem. You're the one who will have to make the decisions.

    而er且qie，一yi旦dan你ni開kai始shi創chuang業ye後hou，就jiu沒mei有you地di方fang讓rang你ni推tui卸xie責ze任ren。作zuo為wei一yi名ming打da工gong者zhe，你ni或huo許xu習xi慣guan在zai食shi物wu鏈lian內nei推tui卸xie責ze任ren，或huo不bu涉she及ji做zuo出chu決jue策ce的de工gong作zuo。但dan是shi，作zuo為wei一yi名ming創chuang業ye的de企qi業ye主zhu，你ni是shi必bi須xu要yao處chu理li危wei機ji，解jie決jue困kun難nan的de人ren。你ni也ye是shi做zuo出chu決jue策ce的de人ren。

    2.You have to be a self-motivated initiator.

    你必須是一名善於自我激勵的人。

    When you're an employee, other people tell you what to do, either directlyor indirectly. You get used to having your actions directed by others.But you have to direct your own actions as a small business owner. Youcan't just sit there and hope that maybe some clients stroll in or thatsomeone will drop by out of the blue with inventory for your retailstore. No one's going to drop work on your desk or point out what needs to be done. For many people who try to become self-employed and start businesses after having a long-term full-time job, this is the hardest adjustment to make.

    當(dang)你(ni)是(shi)員(yuan)工(gong)的(de)時(shi)候(hou)，別(bie)人(ren)會(hui)直(zhi)接(jie)或(huo)間(jian)接(jie)地(di)告(gao)訴(su)你(ni)該(gai)做(zuo)什(shen)麼(me)。你(ni)習(xi)慣(guan)了(le)在(zai)別(bie)人(ren)的(de)指(zhi)導(dao)下(xia)行(xing)動(dong)。但(dan)是(shi)作(zuo)為(wei)小(xiao)企(qi)業(ye)家(jia)你(ni)必(bi)須(xu)指(zhi)導(dao)自(zi)己(ji)的(de)行(xing)動(dong)。你(ni)不(bu)能(neng)隻(zhi)坐(zuo)在(zai)那(na)裏(li)
，幻(huan)想(xiang)著(zhe)有(you)客(ke)戶(hu)會(hui)自(zi)動(dong)上(shang)門(men)，有(you)人(ren)會(hui)下(xia)訂(ding)單(dan)將(jiang)你(ni)零(ling)售(shou)商(shang)店(dian)的(de)庫(ku)存(cun)都(dou)買(mai)走(zou)。沒(mei)人(ren)會(hui)將(jiang)工(gong)作(zuo)放(fang)在(zai)你(ni)麵(mian)前(qian)

，為(wei)你(ni)指(zhi)出(chu)哪(na)些(xie)事(shi)情(qing)是(shi)必(bi)須(xu)做(zuo)的(de)。對(dui)於(yu)大(da)部(bu)分(fen)習(xi)慣(guan)了(le)長(chang)時(shi)間(jian)的(de)全(quan)職(zhi)工(gong)作(zuo)，突(tu)然(ran)想(xiang)自(zi)主(zhu)創(chuang)業(ye)的(de)人(ren)來(lai)說(shuo)，這(zhe)是(shi)最(zui)難(nan)跨(kua)越(yue)的(de)一(yi)個(ge)難(nan)關(guan)。

    3.You have to be able to recognize opportunities and go after them.

    你要有發現機會
，抓住機會的能力。

    Mostemployees do what they're assigned to do. There's someone else who's"assigned" to look out for opportunities, either a boss in a smallbusiness, or perhaps a sales department or a managerial team in a largecorporation. If you start a business, you need to be the one constantlywatching for opportunities - and be able to recognize them when you seethem. It might be a small opportunity, such as the chance to pick up anew client, or a large one, such as getting your product on the shelvesin a large retail chain, but as a small business owner, you have tokeep scanning the horizon yourself and positioning yourself to benefitfrom the opportunities that you find. As an employee, you may be usedto operating in a "head-down" position; if you're going to start abusiness and become successfully self-employed, you need to startoperating in the "head-up" position.

    Being self-employed is very different than being an employee and can be a difficult transition.

    大da多duo數shu員yuan工gong都dou是shi做zuo著zhe分fen配pei給gei自zi己ji的de任ren務wu。也ye有you人ren在zai分fen配pei的de任ren務wu中zhong尋xun找zhao機ji會hui
，也ye許xu是shi一yi家jia小xiao企qi業ye的de老lao板ban，也ye許xu是shi一yi家jia大da公gong司si的de銷xiao售shou部bu門men或huo管guan理li團tuan隊dui成cheng員yuan。如ru果guo你ni開kai始shi了le創chuang業ye
，你ni就jiu要yao成cheng為wei經jing常chang尋xun求qiu機ji遇yu的de人ren
，並bing且qie在zai你ni碰peng到dao機ji遇yu的de時shi候hou有you能neng力li分fen辨bian。也ye許xu是shi像xiang接jie待dai客ke戶hu這zhe樣yang的de小xiao機ji會hui，也ye許xu是shi在zai一yi家jia大da型xing連lian鎖suo超chao市shi銷xiao售shou你ni的de產chan品pin這zhe樣yang的de大da機ji遇yu
，但dan是shi，作zuo為wei一yi個ge小xiao企qi業ye家jia來lai說shuo，你ni必bi須xu隨sui時shi注zhu意yi自zi己ji的de周zhou圍wei，並bing讓rang自zi己ji從cong發fa現xian的de機ji遇yu中zhong獲huo利li。作zuo為wei一yi名ming員yuan工gong，你ni可ke能neng習xi慣guan於yu被bei領ling導dao的de位wei置zhi。如ru果guo你ni打da算suan開kai始shi創chuang業ye並bing取qu得de成cheng功gong的de話hua
，你ni就jiu要yao開kai始shi習xi慣guan處chu在zai領ling導dao別bie人ren的de地di位wei。當dang老lao板ban和he做zuo員yuan工gong有you很hen大da的de不bu同tong，這zhe個ge過guo渡du會hui很hen困kun難nan。

    4.When you're self-employed, you have to be able to plan ahead.

    創業以後，你要能夠提前定好計劃

    Yourlast job may have involved no planning at all, as that was someoneelse's job. Or perhaps your job involved planning on a localized level,such as planning a particular project. If you want to start a business,you need to develop expertise in both short-term and long-range planning; it's about to become a big part of your life.

    或huo許xu你ni的de上shang一yi份fen工gong作zuo不bu需xu要yao任ren何he計ji劃hua，因yin為wei製zhi定ding計ji劃hua是shi其qi他ta人ren的de事shi情qing。又you或huo許xu你ni的de工gong作zuo隻zhi包bao括kuo了le限xian定ding水shui平ping的de計ji劃hua，比bi如ru為wei一yi個ge特te定ding項xiang目mu製zhi定ding計ji劃hua。如ru果guo你ni想xiang自zi主zhu創chuang業ye
，你ni就jiu要yao專zhuan門men開kai發fa自zi己ji製zhi作zuo長chang期qi計ji劃hua和he短duan期qi計ji劃hua的de能neng力li。這zhe將jiang會hui占zhan據ju你ni生sheng活huo中zhong的de很hen大da一yi部bu分fen。

    When you start a business, one of your first tasks will be to work through abusiness plan. As your business becomes operational, you'll find thatthis plan （however detailed） needs to be revised and that other plansneed to be created, as you work towards the long-range goals thatyou've set for your business. From following someone else's plan as anemployee, you have to learn how to create the plans yourself - andadapt the plans to changing circumstances.

    zaikaishichuangyehou，nidediyigerenwujiushizhizuoyifenshangyejihua。zainideshiyekaishiyunzuohou，nihuifaxianzhefenjihuaxuyaoxiugai，weileshinideshiyechaozhenizhidingdechangyuanmubiaofazhan，nihaixuyaozhidingqitadejihua。dangyuangongdeshihouzhaozhebierendejihuaxingshi，niyaocongzhongxuehuiruhezijizhidingjihua
，bingxuehuiyongzhexiejihualaigaibianhuanjing。

    5.You need to be prepared to put in a constant and consistent effort.

    你要準備好持續
，連貫的努力

    We'veall seen employees who are just going through the motions, or who werejust "putting in the time" until retirement. You don't need to be aco-worker to know who these people are. As a customer or client you cantell, too. Bluntly, starting a business takes energy, and you need tobe able to give it 100 percent. You can't afford to just coast along,or go through the motions, if you're running a business. Your customerand/or clients need to know that you are devoting 100 percent of yourtalent or skill or attention to them - and will go elsewhere if theydon't feel this is the case.

    womendoukandaohenduoyuangongzhishizouzouguochang
，huozhezhinulidaotuixiuqianweizhi。jishinibushitamendetongshiershikehu
，niyezhidaoyouzheyangderencunzai。tanbaishuo，chuangyexuyaonengliang
，nixuyaofuchu100%的努力。如果你在經營事業的話，你不能隻是走走過場而已。你的客戶
，顧客需要知道你盡了自己100%的才能和技巧去吸引他們，如果這些不起作用的話，你也願意做其他的嚐試。

    Worse, you need todeliver this constant and consistent effort without the employee safetynet. Many employees are used to being able to "call in sick" and havesomeone else cover their job, for instance. As a self-employed businessowner, you'll have to go in and give it your best effort no matter howyou feel or close up shop if you don't have employees who can fill in.You can also say goodbye to the holidays that many employees enjoy,both the annual x number of weeks and the statutory holidays, at least until your business is established to the point that you can manage your own time.

    gengzaodeshi，niyaozaimeiyouyuangonganquanwangdeqingkuangxiafuchuzheyangdechixu，lianguandenuli。henduoyuangongdouxiguanzhuangbing，huorangbierenbangmangyangaitamendegongzuo。danshizuoweiyimingchuangyedeqiyejia，niyaojianchixiaqu，buguanniganjiaoruhedouyaojinzijizuidadenuli，yebunengyinweizhaobudaotinideyuangongjiuguanmenxiuxi。niyeyaoduihenduoguyuanxihuandejiaqigaobiele，buguanshimeinianjizhoudejiaqihuoguojiadefadingjiari，zhishaozainideshengyiwendinghou，zaininengzizhuguanlizijideshijianzhiqiannidouyaohezhexiejiaqigaobie。

    6.You have to be able to deal with uncertainty.

    你要有處理變動的能力

    As a self-employed entrepreneur, there's no guarantee that the products orservices you offer will be in demand six months from now. There's noguarantee that your customers will pay their bills on time or even paythem at all. There's no guarantee that your current big client, whoseems to be perfectly happy with your work, won't drop you next week.There's actually no guarantee that you will make any income this monthor the month after. For many ex-employees who are used to having a paycheque arrive regularly every two weeks, the uncertainty of beingself-employed is very difficult to deal with.

    zuoweiyimingchuangyedeqiyejia

，bunengbaozhengnitigongdechanpinhuofuwuzaijiexialaideliugeyuelijiuhuiyoushichangxuqiu。yemeiyoushuinengbaozhengnidegukehuianshifukuanhuofuquankuan。yemeiyoushuikeyibaozhengxianzaiduinidegongzuofeichangmanyidedakehubuhuizaixiagexingqijiubuhenizuoshengyile。shijishangmeiyourenherennengbaozhengninengzaibenyuehuoxiageyuezhuandaoqian。duihenzengshiguyuandeqiyejialaishuo
，zhiqianmeigelianggexingqidouhuidingqiyouzhipiaojinzhang，erxianzaichuangyedebuwendingjiuhuibiandehennanchulile。

    Are you still asking, "How do I start a business?" Good!Because the point of this article is not to scare you off, but to makeyou aware of how you have to readjust your thinking to make the transition from employee to self-employed business owner. Hopefully asyou read through this list of traits you need to become successfullyself-employed, you were saying to yourself, "I can do this". Because every one of the traits I've listed here is an attitude or behaviorthat can be learned, and when it comes to being self-employed,awareness is more than half the battle.

    現在
，你是否仍然在問"我該怎麼開始創業呢？"那好，因為本文的本意並非想嚇跑你，而是提醒你應該要調整好從雇員到創業這樣的轉變。希望你在讀完之後，能夠對自己說"我可以做到這些".因為這篇文章中列出的每一條特征都是可以學習的態度或行為，並且

，說到創業的時候，全麵的認知是戰鬥的一大部分。