Give Yourself a Grant

            Researchers, songwriters, poets, artists, photographers are able to apply for various grants available for creative entrepreneurs. These grants, of $1,000, $5,000, even $10,000,  are usually available through non-profit foundations.  The freelancer utilizes the grant funds to further his/her career.

If you have faith in your expertise and your business sense, you’ve probably considered applying for a grant to get you started, or to expand your career.

                                                DO IT YOURSELF

“Why spend all that time meekly filling out papers, when the law of probability says you no doubt won’t win the grant?  There are too many applicants,” said my friend, when I asked him how he got established in his photo research business.

            I’ll refer to him as Keith.

            “I knew I had the energy and enthusiasm and expertise to make a go of it,” said Keith.. That’s the real test. So, I gave myself my own grant.”

            “How so?"

            Keith smiled, “I said to my wife, ‘Look honey, -it says on this envelope that they’ll advance me $5,000. And it’ll take 5 minutes to fill out.’ It was one of those offers you get from a financial institution every five minutes if you have good credit.

            “My wife grimaced,” Keith said.

“This was one of those situations where it really was ‘too good to be true.’ I put the elements together: I had good credit; my credit reports said I was in the 650’s, which is high. I’m business-minded. I know how to budget. I have the courage of my convictions. I’m talented.

            “My wife, said, 'O.K. – Go for it.' My accountant said the same.

            "It took more than five minutes, maybe ten, to contact the company representative. In one week I had a credit line of $5,000 and a credit card with low interest that I could use to make all my purchases for my burgeoning photography research business."

                                    NOT FOR THE LAZY

            “This was the boost I needed to get over the financial hump. When I look back now, applying for a grant, any grant, is simply living on the wrong side of the monetary revolution going on today. My good credit rating was lying dormant. I had a proven track record as enterprising and active. I was involved in something I loved doing. I quit saying, ‘Someday I’m going to get a grant.’ Instead I gave myself a grant!

            “When you give yourself a grant like this, you commit yourself to getting the job done. You’ve got to pay back that loan. When you get a grant, that’s not always the case. You can be lazy and continue to procrastinate or indulge in your idle ways. 

“Why other emerging business entrepreneurs who have a good credit rating,talent and expertise, don’t look into going this route, 'giving themselves a grant,' I don’t understand.”

Keith: Now they may be more likely to check it out, thanks to your sharing this with us.   -RE

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 (Note: the following estimates include costs such as postage, envelopes, telephone, mail list rental, temp workers, fulfillment expense, etc.)

What could you do with . . .

$500  

-Acquire a domain name. Build (with a computer-savvy high-schooler’s help) a web site.

                -Join an Internet organization that will offer you chances to make business contacts. (See URL’s below).

                -Sign up for a listing in a business directory that will include your profile and specialties.

$1,000

-   1,500 Postcard campaign to potential clients. Postcards are effective because there is no envelope to open.

-   500 magnetic calendars. A handy (small) calendar, including your 800#, remains within a client’s reach of a telephone 365 days a year.

-   take out an ad(s) in a major industry magazine(s) that your target clients subscribe to.

$5,000

-          500 CD’s to a select group of targeted clients. Packaging, burning, labeling, fullfillment all done by a professional outfit.

-          1,000 posters to be distributed to photobuyers and publishing houses.

-  Hire a consultant who will demonstrate where you’re going wrong, where you could be going right.  Once you are turned in the right direction, hire a rep who can make your accountant happy.

$10,000

- Expand on everything listed above, keeping quality of your presentations and materials the #1 focus.

$15,000

Build a website. “You never get a second chance at a first impression.” Make the design and clarity of the services you provide, A+.

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Helpful websites:  www.alamycom; www.portfolios.cpm; www.agpix.com; www.photosourcebank.com; www.godaddy.com; www.xlibris.com; www.iuniverse.com ; www.pdonline.com; www.mwmdexter.com; www.mailersco.com; www.iStockpro.com; www.stockindexonline.com; www.photoexposure.com; www.workbookstock.com; www.stockpkhotorequests.com; www.grantprofessor.com

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Note: The above are a sampling of ideas.  If you have others that have been successful, please ket us know and we’ll share them with our readers.  -RE

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