Reply to Help! Return to Work - am I looking for a unicorn?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Have you considered starting your own business, OP?[/quote]

Yes, although this option seems even more daunting.

When I was in my 20s, right out of grad school I did some freelance work. One example : a small venture capital company that was not incorporated as a nonprofit, but had a nonprofit like mission was kind of floundering, stalled and not sure what to do next.  I conducted a capital needs assessment and trend analysis of the local small business market, researched what other venture firms and NPO's were doing in the market and wrote/recommended a new business plan for them.  Other than meeting with the board chair at the beginning, and presenting to the board at the end, I did everything independently on my own schedule and it probably took me about 5 hours a week (I had a month to do it.) They paid me a flat $1,500 for the report.

If I could land gigs like this on a consistent basis I'd be in business.

[/quote]

This was 15-20 years ago, right? You probably won’t consistently get gigs like this at first, but do you know anyone (even your contacts in DC) who have work like this available? Get one gig, and use that reference to get a second, and a third, etc. Alternatively, what kind of volunteer work have you been doing? Can you start a business doing that kind of work? Use your current ED as a reference to get a first gig, etc, etc.[/quote]

Yes, a long time ago!  My portfolio is dusty to say the least.  I'm actually starting to give this more thought.  I've been out for so long, my thinking was that getting a job (an employer) would be more in reach than trying to snag multiple clients.  But I'd have more independence even if it is more slow going if I go the freelance route.

I don't want to get too specific about the volunteer work (don't want to out myself, I've already said a lot.) My role has grown over the past year though and it could lead to something if even a reference.

Thank you!  [/quote]

You don’t need the money, but you do need the flexibility. I would go this route. Good luck![/quote]

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