Follow your passion – Do what you love and think outside the box

The internet has changed the ability for people to start a business with very little upfront cash investment. It wasn’t that long ago when starting a business would cost you tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds of thousands, and be an unpredictable jump into debt that you may or may not turn into a profit. Using the power of the internet opens opportunities beyond comprehension if it were 1995, but there is no question how technology today can help you accomplish goals you may never have thought would be possible back then.

There seems to be a fear that investing 5,000, 2,000 or even 500 dollars in a business is dangerous. While the fear of investing that much money is understood if you’re new to being “in business”, it’s only a fraction of what you’d typically invest in a business. Technology now allows you to tap into a world of connected individuals across the globe with practically no expense, in relative terms.

As you struggle to get a job, or for that matter, a better job, why not make a difference for yourself? Today’s technology with the growing number of solutions in nearly every corner of the web, it’s nearly impossible to not find a solution for your technology needs. And with that, comes an abundance of opportunity.

My challenge to you is to open your mind and think outside the box. Everyone has ideas yet those ideas are valueless, until put into action. As Nolan Bushnell is quoted, “Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference.” And it’s really the foundation to many areas of our lives.

Over the past several days I’ve chatted with a few friends who’ve mentioned their struggles of being unemployed, not happy with their “job”, or that they have talents bigger than their current career.  And what’s stopping them from stepping it up a notch? Simple answer: Action. Do you have a great idea? Awesome, now take that idea and make something out of it. Are you skilled in creating graphics? Great, find a need for your skill and add a little spin. Or, have you considered a specialized consulting using your skill(s)?

A great example is from Lila Frances (owner, Anna) who turned her childhood enjoyment of twisting and bending items into recognizable shapes to create a custom product around hangers. Who would have thought such a small niche would be worth while? Well, she has so many orders it takes up to 10 weeks to get your own.

Cut out an hour of TV watching per day, using that time to establish a business. You don’t need to become a success overnight nor have all the answers, but start somewhere. You can’t drive across that finish line without first getting out of park.