Chapter One – Launching You, Inc.
Start your own business by stopping.
Stop stopping yourself.
If you have a great idea, or even if you don’t, you can start your own business.
It won’t be easy. But you can do it.
You say you don’t have the time? Stop.
You don’t have the money? Oh please.
Don’t have any big new ideas? Whatever.
Whatever it is you’ve been telling yourself stops here. Are there some exceptions to what I’m saying, are there some people who can’t start their own business? Absolutely – but you’re probably not one of them.
In this series, I will get you up over the hump.
For those of you that don’t know what you’re going to do, ask yourself the following two questions. (And for those of you out there already with an idea, follow along and see how it holds up to these two questions):
- What do want to do well?
- What needs to be done?
What do you want to do well?
Picking to do something you like is a high priority for many. However, I think that’s often a questionable move. “Liking” something doesn’t mean you want to do it when you DON’T want to do it – which is the definition of work. There are so many books on this topic already, and my take isn’t much different, save for one thing – I think you should pick something you want to do well.
What do you like doing, that you’d enjoy being better at, and learning more on – even working for free just to improve? As I will say many times, I have no science beyond common sense behind this method, but when you find an interest you want to do better at, and add to it a demand, you’ve found an income stream somewhere in there too.
Having a business means standing up against competition and if you are out there enjoying yourself, but really not all that interested in the quality of your output, there’s going to be a problem. Improving, even at the novice level, means you have knowledge others may want.
What needs to be done?
Find or think of 2-3 skill areas or endeavors in which you’d like to improve. Look around you and find things that people need done. Use your first question as a lens. Are you a great organizer? What isn’t being organized well enough in your area of interest? When people have needs they are likely to pay someone to meet them.
Next put the two together and see if there’s any obvious overlap. None? Then take it back a step and think of other skills you may like to learn. It doesn’t have to be a “Google” type idea, it can be small and maybe only for a small market to begin. Some may say those are the best ideas.
Make these two lists and continue to work on them for next time: when we begin to choose a path.
Jason Veduccio, author of The New American Dreamer: How to Land That Ideal Job in a Nightmare Economy is a hard-working entrepreneur following his dreams, and he wants you to dream, too. Drawing on his experiences working with companies on marketing, technology, hiring, and workplace issues, his regular column will demystify the job search process and identify strategies for moving up the corporate ladder. Founder of In1Concepts, Jason also knows the ins and outs of launching a new business. He welcomes your questions and can be reached at jason@in1concepts.com.
Top photo: Bigstock
