The other evening, Paula Lucas shared a dream on Facebook. Paula is longing to travel the country pulling one of those adorable teardrop trailers.<\/p>\n
Since I got to know Paula at the recent Obstacle Buster Mastermind program, I knew that she has been building a lively business selling at outdoor markets.\u00a0I heard opportunity knocking.<\/p>\n
I jumped into the conversation and suggested she could travel and build her business at the same time. She had, of course, considered that possibility.<\/p>\n
“Do you realize,” I asked, “that if you and your teardrop trailer are not just traveling, but also setting up shop at flea markets, it would make your travels a tax deductible business expense?”<\/p>\n
I was pretty sure Paula would find that appealing. As do I. Tax deductible travel is one of my favorite self-employment perks.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all been somewhat conditioned to think that benefits are something that come as the result of having a job. Consequently, logic suggests that not having a job means not having benefits.<\/p>\n
Nonsense. Self-employed people have all sorts of benefits\u2014both the conventional sort plus many others that no employer ever offered.<\/p>\n
In fact, an important part of planning a successful business is deciding just what benefits matter to you<\/em> and making sure that you include them. As your business grows and prospers, you\u2019ll want to review your personal set of benefits and make appropriate changes and additions.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also emotionally healthy to remind yourself often of the benefits that are accruing because you\u2019ve chosen to put yourself in charge.<\/p>\n Here are some favorites of other self-bossers:<\/p>\n \u00b0 Napping. <\/strong>According to a reports on the national news, a few companies are instituting nap time and providing places for employees to snooze during the day. They defend this radical notion by citing increased productivity.<\/p>\n The Joyfully Jobless have known about this perk for years.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Automobile savings.<\/strong> Unless you drive extensively for your business, you\u2019ll probably enjoy much lower car expenses\u2014including lower insurance premiums\u2014than if you were spending hours in traffic everyday.<\/p>\n And, of course, cutting out a long commute also has stress reduction benefits.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Improved health<\/strong>. While a growing number of studies now verify the health hazards of a stressful job, less publicity has been given to studies showing the link between satisfying self-employment and healthy longevity.<\/p>\n One long-term university study found that the single consistent longevity factor in those they studied was a lifetime of rewarding work.<\/p>\n And as anyone knows who has to rely on restaurant and fast food for nourishment, it\u2019s much easier to eat wisely when you\u2019re the cook.<\/p>\n \u00b0 You don\u2019t have to ask for permission\u2014ever.<\/strong> You can schedule your work around your own particular rhythms and burn the midnight oil if that\u2019s your style.<\/p>\n Or spend six months working intently followed by six months devoted to leisure.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Tax deductions<\/strong>. There are numerous deductions available only to the self-employed\u2014including ordinary expenses you\u2019d be making anyway, but not subtracting from your tax bill if you held a job.<\/p>\n \u201cThe self-owned and operated business is the freest life in the world,\u201d says Paul Hawken. It\u2019s also loaded with wonderful benefits unknown to those who inhabit the world of 9-5.<\/p>\n What are your favorite perks?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The other evening, Paula Lucas shared a dream on Facebook. Paula is longing to travel the country pulling one of those adorable teardrop trailers. Since I got to know Paula at the recent Obstacle Buster Mastermind program, I knew that she has been building a lively business selling at outdoor markets.\u00a0I heard opportunity knocking. I…<\/p>\n