Name: Karen Aidem
Title: Marketing and Business Development Consultant
Location: New York, N.Y.
Time as an Independent Contractor: 8 Months

Monster.com: What kind of independent contractor are you?

Karen Aidem: The kind of work I do is kind of divided -- half with non-profits and half with corporations. On the non-profit side I help organizations identify ways in which they can earn revenue from business operations to support their social missions. For example, I'm helping a supportive housing organization develop a data entry and document-imaging business to generate profits. On the corporate side, I do business plans, marketing plans, feasibility studies for new businesses, as well as help them execute marketing programs. I'm doing some work right now for one of the largest financial services companies in the world.

Mc: What pushed you to go solo?

KA: I had helped do a start-up of a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., and when I decided that I really wanted to be in New York I decided that I would do some consulting programs and keep my eye out for full-time employment. I realized that I liked the projects I was working on and the flexibility that I had. Although I was being presented with opportunities on the corporate side, none of them seemed to offer as much.

Mc: At what point did you realize that you could actually make a living on your own?

KA: When I first started doing this I had a project that I knew was going to last a certain period of time. I knew that for four months or so I was going to be just fine. That gave me the security to say I could find a job if I wanted to, or that other business would come in. I felt more security -- that I could make a living this way and not worry about waking up and not having work. I realized that I was getting a lot out of it personally and professionally. I have the security that I didn't think I would have working on my own.

Mc: What's the biggest mistake you've made to date?

KA: Fortunately -- or unfortunately -- businesses have come to me to date. I have not yet had to market my services, although my background is marketing. Right now that's fine, and I anticipate that for the near future that will be fine. If I were doing a textbook case, I would probably advise myself to do more of what I preach and market myself more to potential clients. But I don't want to create a demand if I can't handle it.

Mc: What was your most memorable project?

KA: The non-profit work is just really interesting because you're really starting from scratch and building something from the ground up. We're starting businesses from ground zero basically, and doing all the things that a traditional business would in terms of market planning, feasibility studies, business plans. I'm working on a project for Working Today, a non-profit organization for independent workers. They're attempting to expand the availability of health insurance products for the working uninsured (freelancers, self-employed, etc). I have been helping them with business development -- identifying the products they would like to see offered and suppliers that they could partner with in offering products. I'm conducting market research to better understand demand for those products, identifying the operational parameters of the business and developing a strategic plan that will guide their focus (financial and human resources) over the next few years to accomplish their objectives.

Mc: What has going solo meant for you personally?

KA: I have a lot more control over what I do. When I was in the corporate world I really felt like I was at somebody else's beck and call. Now I have a little more control over my time and I feel like [this arrangement] provides me with a lot of flexibility. I can definitely work at the pace I need to without driving myself and other people crazy.

Mc: Any advice for your fellow soloists?