Do you spend all weekend in the garage working on that next project? Painting portraits? Taking creative photographs? Why not turn your passion into a career? There is nothing more fulfilling than making your living from something you love to do. Don’t allow fear of failure stop you. Take the leap:
Be Confident
Chances are you’ve spent quite some time learning and honing your skills. Trust your knowledge and expertise. Jumping into a Business requires dedication and commitment and that confidence is necessary to move forward.
Build a Portfolio/Sample
No matter what you’re selling you need to find a way to capture your product or service, in order to represent it on the web. If you’re an artist, you could start by having some kind of sample of your past paintings or photographs and signing up for local art shows.
Come up with an engaging title for your business. Business Insider recommends that an effective business name be unique, give a clue to the kind of product/service you’re offering, and be easy to remember.
Start with an Online Presence
As Entrepreneur magazine suggests building an online presence is a way to get your product or service out into the ether. You can post your Portfolio online and begin getting your name out there. Consider building a website to showcase your work. There are plenty of user-friendly, drag and drop website builders like Wix or Squarespace.
Create accounts with all the widely used social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Forbes magazine encourages several options to sync all of these accounts together in order to make it more efficient. This allows you for instant and constant contact with potential customers so that you never miss an opportunity to make a connection or establish a relationship. This will be key when starting up a new business.
Kickstart Your Project Idea with the Community
The internet has changed the way entrepreneurs can get their business started. Businesses have used platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe to jumpstart their business, get the word out, reach out to their potential customers directly, and get their community involved. Other platforms like Patreon has proved to be successful for creative projects to remain funded for a longer period of time.
An Alternative Way to Work
Many people will find that starting your own business is a great way to be your own boss and have more control. It could be the best decision of your life, for you put your fate in your own hands.
Perhaps you’ve been out of the workforce for some time and are struggling to find an opening. This is a great way to take the reigns. For people recovering from addiction or depression launching your own business can be a way to get on a straight path. Building a business from a hobby requires a lot of time and demands focus, dedication, and creative problem-solving. There is no better way to engage the mind than working towards a productive goal. CNBC reported a story of a successful business started by recovering addicts; they found their business venture was not only part of their second chance and a way to stay clean, but their inspiration to feel whole again.
Your Business as Therapy and Income
Your business is not just a way to make money, it is a passion in action. This in itself offers a fortifying experience. If you’re an artist, your business can be therapy. As the American Journal of Public Health found, art in its various forms can decrease negative thoughts, reduce stress, anxiety, and fill occupational voids. The Huffington Post reported that this same study showed art’s healing powers extended into the physical body, helping recover all around health and stability. People love art and will go to great lengths to fill their lives and their homes with it.
If you have a creative idea for a business, don’t hide it in your basement or garage. Ge the idea out there and use your skills to make your passion more than just a hobby, but a way of life. Don’t let fears hold you back. If you believe in it, others will too.
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