Plans for 2012 – A New Challenge?
With it being a new year, I’ve come to the realization that this is my first year without school… and I’m bored! I managed to spend the better part of the last few years working a ridiculous amount of hours, to finally have it just end, which doesn’t really mesh well with my personality.
For this year, I’m trying to find a way to fill this time with things that help me build my career… A couple of the idea’s I’ve been floating around (though haven’t really decided on), include:
Start a Web Consulting Business
I’ve got both a solid background in business and online marketing, and I do this for a day job (fairly successfuly… at least I like to think!). I believe I have a lot to offer small businesses, however, I struggle with finding how to even ‘start’ it. A lot of people have done this, and my ultimate goal is to be working fully for myself in the future. I guess the question on here, is where do I even start?
Where I think I’m good, is that I know my stuff pretty well, and have a proven track record. So its not whether or not if I can do it, per se, but rather, how do I start. I keep seeing all these people starting their own small business, and slowly growing them — so why can’t I?
Some of the area’s I struggle with, is how do I even figure out how much I’m worth per hour. I can do the math on my current salary, and make about $35/hour — is this too low, too high to even charge? I’d almost want to nock out a few ‘freebie’ clients, to prove my client base.
Build a Web Business
This may be the more lofty goal, as it is all about selling an actual, tangible product online. This would be a full fledged functioning business — sites like thinkgeek.com and threadless.com come to mind, where they have a full on ‘vibe’ to them, and provides real value. The reality here, is I’ve never started/ran/operated my own business, and am at a loss for things to sell… It’s probably even outside of my scope of skills… but I like a challenge.
Conversely on this, it could even be an online service — though I don’t know if I’d fit well in a startup environment (let alone my own!)
Create an Online Resource
This would mean setting up some sort of online blog around a particular topic (probably online marketing?). Here, I could share some expertise and build a following over time, and continue to post and write new content. It’s almost similar to this site — I could even continue to grow this site into a solid resource for twenty something’s trying to figure out finances.
When I originally started TSM, that was my goal — but it almost seems far apart from expertise and skillset — but maybe that’s a good thing?
Where this could help though, is if I built a site that into a Consulting business, and use it to build my brand online, and expand it to the offline consulting world.
Flip a Website
This one has always been teetering at the back of my mind. What if I bought an out dated or stale website, and try to ‘flip’ it. Here, I’d put some investment in up front, and then through my business/online marketing skills, grow the traffic, go after some partnerships to help bolster it, and then ultimately sell it (or continue to run it).
This one is probably the most risky option, as it requires $ up front — but maybe this is the perfect tie in with my skills and interest. This could turn into that ‘business’ on the side, that generates passive income, rather than working in a traditional consulting role.
I keep toying with the idea around all this — but I know I need to do something if not for my own sanity. I like being busy, and something like above could provide that real focus on something greater than just work, sleep, eat, repeat.
Has anyone ever done any of these — what were your challenges behind it? I’m really keen on exploring these options, and stepping outside of my comfort zone.
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You obviously are a hard working individual. What about just do something fun or learn a new skill outside of work if you think you’d bored?
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