home loan finance blog
Do you want to start a lifestyle business, but you’re not sure where to begin?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the choices out there, and you just want to get going?
Those are very normal feelings.
In fact, I run into them over and over as I keep learning more.
I just upgraded my podcasting equipment, and in the world of audio, I’m a complete beginner.
I didn’t even know that with certain microphones, you have to talk really close to the microphone.
Everyone has to go through these stages of learning when they’re diving into something new.
In this article I’ll keep things very simple, because when you want to get going, your first priority should be to take action.
Sounds simple, right?
So, Where Do You Start?
You start by finding a problem.
Find a problem that people are willing to pay for to have solved.
You discover what people are willing to pay for by looking at what’s already selling.
Yes, you may have believed that competition was bad, but it’s not. Competition means there’s demand for what you have to offer.
There’s usually a reason why some markets don’t have competition, so beware.
Now, you also want to keep in mind what you enjoy doing. That means you have to find the intersection between what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at, and what people are willing to pay for.
What Do Problems Look Like?
Let’s take a few examples of possible problems:
- Helping new moms lose their post pregnancy weight
- Teaching people how to grow tomatoes at home
- Proof-reading documents, articles and books
- Helping writers that have trouble selling their fiction books
- Helping writers overcome their writing blocks and get their writing done on time
I could go on and on.
You may also have noticed that the tomatoes example isn’t really a problem, but there is a problem hidden underneath it.
People have trouble growing tomatoes. They have problems. And you’re the solution to those problems.
But here’s where we face a problem.
Coming up with a problem isn’t all that easy, and that’s fine. The solution is to take action anyway, because you’ll figure things out as you move forward.
So, what do you do after you’ve got a problem?
Let’s have a look at that.
How to Start Your Lifestyle Business
Once you have a problem in mind, it’s time to get a website up and start attracting traffic.
That’s the way I coach my clients who want to build an online business. However, you can also go out and find clients right away.
Think locally.
Could you hold a live workshop somewhere near you?
Could you attend networking events?
How could you get your first paying client or customer?
You will have to hustle. Remember, you’re just getting started. And you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and scared already.
It’s normal.
And it’s also the reason why most people give up. You have to focus on taking one step at a time.
Once you’ve gotten your website up, or gotten your first client, or both, you’ve begun the journey.
Then comes a whole slew of other things you have to think about, such as:
- Building an email list of people that want to hear from you
- Producing content that will attract clients and customers to you while you sleep
- Figuring out what products and services you can create that resonate with people
- What pitfalls to avoid so you don’t have to waste years figuring this out like I did
There’s a lot to learn, which is why I’m putting together the Lifestyle Liberation Academy at the end of January, 2013.
It’s going to take you from A to Z when it comes to building a lifestyle business.
But to get started, you don’t need much. And here’s the thing most people never tell you.
You Have to Do What Feels Right
You don’t have to quit your job, or risk your income if you have a family that depends on you.
You can start a lifestyle business on the side and see how things go.
You also have to be aware of what resonates with you. I can give you all the tips in the world, but only some of them will be right for you.
I can only share my story. You have to take what feels right and run with it. In the end, you have to figure this out for yourself.
You can’t learn to ride a bike by taking a course. Sooner or later, you have to get on the bike and try. You will fall down, and you may even get a few scratches, but eventually you’ll “get it.”
Now, does this mean you should stop trying to learn anything about starting a profitable lifestyle business?
Not at all. But you have to stop learning too much.
Learn what you need to take action, and then implement.
This is exactly what I focus on in all of my courses. I give you enough information to take action, then I help you with whatever obstacles come up.
The Biggest Mistake You Can Make
The biggest obstacle I see people run into is not the lack of information or know-how, but themselves.
They make excuses for why they can’t start.
Maybe it’s the fact that they work a full-time job and they have no energy at the end of the day.
Maybe it’s that they aren’t 100% clear on what their passion is, or what problem they’re solving.
It could be anything.
But I’m here to tell you that none of it matters.
There are people who have been in “worse” situations than you, and they’re making this happen.
It comes down to how badly you want it. If building a lifestyle business just sounds like a nice thing to do, you probably aren’t ready to take action.
But if you’re sick of staying at your job, and you want to share your gifts with the world, then you have a good chance of succeeding.
The Bottom Line
The truth is that this takes work.
And it’s tough to go at this alone.
That’s why in January I will be launching a step-by-step course on building a profitable lifestyle business.
It’s something I would’ve wanted when I was starting out, because it would’ve shaved years off my learning curve, and saved me thousands.
There’ll be more information on all of this in the coming weeks.
For now, know that there is no perfect answer to starting your lifestyle business. You have to get out there and experiment.
Do your best to find a problem to solve, but don’t get hung up on it.
You have to be willing to start before you’re ready. It won’t feel comfortable, but once you get started, you’ll realize that trying to figure it all out was insane.
So just start with what you have.
And start now.
The rest will come to you when the time is right.