I’m not the poster child of an entrepreneur.
- I dropped out of community college
- I go from random job to random job
- I’ve never made more than $24,000 at a job
I’m a pretty bad candidate for running a business. That’s where the internet comes in.
There’s information all over the place. Have a question? Google it or tweet it and you’ll get an answer.
Here are 3 things that I attribute to my ability to work for myself and make more money than I’ve ever made at a “job”.
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Passion
I love what I do. I don’t want breaks or need a vacation. I can’t imagine working for anyone else again. When you work for yourself you have to be passionate or it’s going to be a lot harder to succeed. I don’t like every aspect of what I do, but I like 98% of it and I can always outsource that 2% I don’t like. Find out what you know pretty well and start a blog telling people about it. Trust me, you know something I don’t. Find it and tell people about it so you can make some money.
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Thirst For Knowledge
Because I found what I like to learn about, I want to learn even more. This makes it even easier to become a “Guru” on a subject. I have this insatiable appetite to learn more and more. As I learn more, I become more valuable. That also helps me to diversify my money making ventures. Knowledge = Money
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Little Fear
I say little instead of none because there will always be some fear. I still fear calling people I don’t know. But fear is a lack of confidence and knowledge, so as I make more and more calls I can more confidence and knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the less fear you’ll have. Even when I jumped into working for myself when I got laid off I was afraid. But as time went on I became less and less afraid of thinking I would fail.
Not For Everyone
While I believe that everyone can start and succeed at running a business, I don’t believe it is for everyone. There’s a whole different mindset that you need to have to get to the point of succeeding. Some people just aren’t ready to be without a boss or the “stability” of working for a company. There’s nothing wrong with working for someone else if that’s the life you want. I want a life where I can pretty easily travel when I want, move to any state I want without having to hope I can get a day off or hope I can find a new job in another state. I like the freedom of what I do and I’m really proud that I created this life.
What Now?
These attributes have taken me a long way. I’m to this point in just over a year. In the beginning it was slow but once I reached about 1 year it just took off. It’s not one single thing that causes that. it’s all of the work you put in during the first year that pushes you in that direction. So what am I going to do now?
I’m going to continue to build on what I’ve created. I’m building more sites and expanding my streams of income so that if one dries up I’ll still have plenty more. I’m looking back over what I did this last year and continue with what’s working and get rid of what isn’t.
I don’t know where all of this is going to take me in the future but I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.
I hope this information will show you that if I can do it, you can do it. Notice how these 3 attributes flow together? Just get the passion and you’ll be on your way to starting your own business. Start searching today!
Readers, have you ever found yourself in an unlikely scenario that surprised yourself? What are your thoughts on entrepreneurship?
Hi Kevin,
The most important point I find in your post is that KNOWLEDGE = CONFIDENCE. When you know everything there is to know, you have no fear and can communicate with the greatest ease. We can thank ourselves for learning and also the internet.
The second interesting point you make is that because your day job income is low, it made you more likely to want to and become a successful entrepreneur. That is a gift. If you were making 10X that, it might be harder to want to be an entrepreneur!
Good luck with your endeavors!
Sam
Great post Kevin. Thanks for being so honest. No you aren’ the typical poster child for being an entrepreneur but that is ok. I agree with Sam- knowledge does equal confidence. Once we know enough about something we can approach challenges with a greater vigor and resiliance because we know we will be ok.
You also have shown how if you put your mind and heart into something fully it can work out. So many people don’t express enough passion in this day and age and I think it attributes to their lack of success. When you follow your passion you are always successful.
You are probably right about the income. But at the same time if I earned more, I would have more resources available to me to become an entrepreneur.
But there would be a lack of an “event” to get me moving in that direction…unless of course I got laid off and couldn’t find a job that paid a high salary :(
That’s a good point about having more resources if you earn more. With a full time job myself, I worry less than perhaps a full time online entrepreneur wrt costs, but I do try and pretend I have nothing and never mix expenses.
As a teacher, I earn less than my former career, but I love what I do and other things are opening up to me. Everyone reacts differently to their circumstances and self motivation probably will take you further than anything else. Thanks for sharing your story.
That is a great point there. If you love what you do then that’s a great thing. If you don’t, then you should try something new.
Kevin, your absolutely right about needing to have a thirst for knowledge. When you go it on your own you don’t have people around you to give you all the answers….but once you realize you can read up on the answer to just about anything yourself it’s easy to become self-sufficient.
Not having to rely on others is definitely a great position to be in.
Great points Kevin! I don’t think anyone is the perfect entrepreneur. I think most of it is piecing it together as you go along, and always searching for knowledge.
I like the idea of paying off the main bills through the main job while building up a passion on the side. Less risk though more time required!
I think although entrepreneurs share some common qualities they are all very unique which makes them able to succeed. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.
Hi Kevin, I am rooting for you and wish you well. Your post was inspiring and informative, keep on pushing and your success is sure to multiply!!!
Thank you, I sure hope so.
Your post was great and I really enjoyed it. It reminds me of what I did back in college. My friend and I started a moving company and it was a lucrative way to pay for college and end college debt free. Working for yourself has huge bonuses. Again great post!
I enjoyed your story Kevin and thanks for sharing it with us. As a college student I found myself with an ability to become an entrepreneur when I realized that Studenomics actually had the potential to make money. As I make more money and more opportunities come my way, the idea of becoming an entrepreneur becomes very exciting to me.
Once people realize it’s a possibility it does become exciting like that. That’s how I felt as it became closer and closer to reality. It’s still exciting everyday.
Thanks for sharing your story Kevin. We all share varying levels of commitment when it comes to creating (products and services) and getting something from it (either for ourselves or others). You’re right about these 3 things though, especially when it comes to acting on your passion.
Hey Kevin! I think you fit the mold for an entrepreneur more than you know! Often times they aren’t the best at school, don’t enjoy working in a typical corporate atmosphere, and would like the freedom to do what they want when they want. Sounds like a pretty good fit (based on what I just read about you anyway).
Good luck with your future entreprenuership endeavors!
Yea, you bring up a good point. It just feels like a lot of people in my position choose the path of least resistance which brings them to jobs they don’t really enjoy. They just do it because they feel like there’s a sense of stability that’s just an illusion as this economy has shown.
Kevin! You touched on all the points and concerns that people have when they are starting out on your own. This is really inspiring!
some of the most successful entrepreneurs share your background. you have a reason to, a motivating factor which many do not. all the best to you
As an entreprenuer I think it is essential to love what you do and have passion for it. Because with no one to push you, failure is much more likely.
Great job taking the initiative to start your own business and do what you love! I get rattled calling people I don’t know sometimes too, but you’re right – it just takes practice to get used to it!
exactly, practice makes perfect
Kudos on this article! I am an ardent advocate for online business. As I see my fellow students and peers struggle to find jobs, even after graduating from good universities or with advanced degrees- I keep saying “why don’t you explore your options?” many of them scoff at that, or think that I am some weird enigma who can navigate the online business world. The truth of the matter is, I’m not weird, nor am I the one who came up with this idea (obviously!) I only got on board because I saw other people doing it.
I started blogging in January of this year- and it’s transformed my whole life. I blogged because I wanted to know more, and knowledge has seeped into all areas of my life. I’m less anxious, I eat better, I adopted a pug (which took guts to do in the face of naysayers) and began to really get my life in order in a way that felt right for ME. I have been impacted by better business and loving what I do, but also, the people it has brought into my life has inspired these positive changes and propelled my work and life forward. Honestly, I’m surprised at how much I’ve changed. I’m surprised at how now I’m a person that just says “why not?” though I never was that way before.
I feel like I finally have the gunpowder to ignite my iconoclastic tendencies- I’ve found evidence that supports my love of entrepreneurship and innovation because I see it happening all over on sites like this! Great post!
Very well said! “Why Not” indeed! Why can’t it be one of us? Of course it can!
The thing is, we have such a fantastic safety net with our Parents providing us shelter and the government helping us out. It detracts from our “Why Not” attitude and creates a more “Why should I?” mentality!
Best, Sam
Excellent, because most people don’t look for this information and seek out others like us, they don’t believe it’s possible because they don’t see it. We’ve made our own luck and sought out others. I am very grateful for others that have helped me along the way.
Having “little fear” is HUGE. So many people avoid starting businesses due to fear of failure, not realizing that even if they fail, the simple PROCESS of working through a business will teach them so much, put them in touch with a wider network, and open doors they never expected.
I love Shannyn’s phrase: “I finally have the gunpowder to ignite my iconoclastic tendencies.” That’s a great description of what business is.
When I was in college, I thought “business” was cut-and-dry, wear-a-suit, iron-your-shirt boring. Since graduating, I’ve come to understand that business — especially small business — is perhaps the most creative thing in the world.
I work on the fear part everyday. In front of people I am cool as a cucumber but behind closed doors I have to beat up fear to step forward. Oh… I have to go. Fear wants me to try to whip his butt again.