The world today is filled with get-rich-quick schemes. There are endless “free” online classes with business men and women who monetized something that began as a passion. It is so enticing to imagine a one hundred percent self-led life for yourself. A life where you’re the boss and your pockets stay filled with cash. However, what if it’s true? A movement is on the rise where this kind of life can become a reality, if you have the right vision and use the right tools. However, if you never considered the possibility, now is your chance.
Find What Matters
The first step to making a career out of what you love is to decide what passion you can monetize. For instance, Premier Glow started with two college students who loved to plan parties. Now they sell party favors and have an enormous warehouse and a massive market of consumers, all because that mattered to them. You can create your own career in this manner by choosing your one thing. Consider what the market is missing and how you can fill that void. This process may take time. It requires some self-evaluation and a practical eye to discern what you could develop into a job and what might fall flat in the market. There is always a risk to starting your own business, but the right passion makes it easier on you. It gives you the extra edge to get through the difficulties of building your business from scratch. After all, the goal is to pursue something you love every day. If it weren’t, why would you go through the hassle of starting a business?
Find Your Brand
Once you find your passion, you need to get specific. Figure out what kind of product or service your passion renders. From there, you can find your brand. In essence, your brand represents what product or service you bring to the table. It makes your business recognizable to consumers. It makes you stand out in the market amongst other companies similar to yours. If this seems difficult, you can start small. What makes your business unique? Hone in on a trait or characteristic specific to your skill set or personality. Once you identify what makes your company special and what you sell, you can start to grow your business.
Find Your Market
It’s Business 101 that, in order to profit, you need people willing to purchase what you sell. Even if you think you have the best idea in the world, it means nothing if no consumer thinks agrees with you. When piecing together the ideas of what you want to do and how to market it, consider to whom you can market. Keep a clear image of your consumer in mind so your marketing strategies gear toward them. You can base this on age range, social class, or even type of career. No matter the identity, do your research about this group of people. Find out what makes them want to spend, or what makes them believe they need what you have to offer. What options do they think they have in the market, and what new resource can your provide them? Remain clear about your consumers, and you will have the beginnings of a marketing strategy.
Develop Your Skills
Your business is only as good as how you manage it. If you have no experience running a business, you should learn. Take classes, seek guidance, strategize. If you don’t, you risk falling into the trap of working for free instead of making your startup profitable. Act like you’re in this for the long haul. Do what it takes to make your vision come to life, and the success of your business may surprise you.