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Reply With QuoteI'll start with what I'd thought of doing but got the plug pulled on - maybe it would be good for someone else!
Start and run a local Farmer's Market.
Or occasional crafts markets.
Business Brainstorm
Ok, we are all in different areas, different backgrounds and viewpoints and probably all dealing in some way with the results of the current world wide economic difficulties. I'll bet there are quite a few of us need some income generating ideas.
My own situation is difficult but not unusual, I'm starting out over 50, from scratch. Actually less than scratch since I have a significant debt load due to an ongoing court case with my children's father. I've been out of the 'real' job market for some years so many of my skills are seriously outdated and some of the work I've done in the past was unique enough that it's not something I'll ever find or do again. Realistically a 9-5, cubical job or anything basic wage won't do it. I'll bet there are others on here in the same boat - no insurance, no retirement, ancient car.... a woman coming out of a divorce in the US tends to see a significant decrease in her standard of living - typically close to 50%. I'm there and then some.
I thought I had a great idea, but have been warned off it as what and where would being stepping on some toes and get me cut out of any possibility of doing anything even related to it in the future.
So how about brainstorming with me? You never know what might work for me or someone else - personally I won't sell make up, jewelry, energy drinks - the buy a case, get everyone you know to buy a bottle kind of stuff.
Any and all ideas welcome, you never know what might work or trigger an idea for someone!
I'll start with what I'd thought of doing but got the plug pulled on - maybe it would be good for someone else!
Start and run a local Farmer's Market.
Or occasional crafts markets.
I hate to be negative here, but with one exception everyone I know who has tried to run their own business has done far worse than they would have with a 9-5 job. The one exception was someone with good business and computer skills. He started a company to do a really boring, but necessary task for computers (networking of an obscure type of medium sized business computer) - and he made a mint. All of the other "great" business ideas have been a disaster.
I say never stop coming up with ideas and never stop being driven to make something happen. Why resign yourself to a 9-5 life. Sure do it to pay the bills but that doesnt mean you can't set your goals for higher. I know your speaking from your experience Rcoreyus and being a realist, I think Life is too short and the ceiling is too high to not dare to dream. Almost every wonderful item or service we enjoy started in someones head, and maybe they thought it was silly or wouldnt work at the time too.
I have a job, it covers the minimum basics and is such that I can do something else even full time along with it.
This is an area far more women than men face. We are more likely to have been out of the workforce for extended times to care for children or for adult family members, we are more likely to have put our educations on hold to allow a spouse to complete theirs. In general when we work we are more likely to have held lower paying jobs w/o benefits in trade off for more flexiblity to meet family needs. We are far less likely to have any independant retirement funds (I cashed mine out while my recent ex was unemployed for an extended period of time) cashing things out is another thing we are more likely to have done. Even when we work at "good" jobs, on average we make 72 cents to a man's dollar.
Finding an unmet need and filling it is a reasonable answer to this. Women owned and run businesses are growing and employ a lot if people. This is a time of change and that can be a very good time to do something different. I know a number of women who successfully run their own businesses.
Business Owners: - Risk takers
9-5 - Non Risk takers
For every successful millionairre - he/ she has failed 3 times and never quit.
It is "very" hard , stressful to own your own business, you put your whole life on the line, every bit of energy, and every cent, and then some....
It takes dedication but it also take " I can " attitude and it certainly takes knowledge of how to "run a business"..
When I first owned my first business, it was in the promotions field, I did not study "how to " I just did, my error, that's me haha.. GST came out and that idea fell to the way side...
Visualise miniture enevelope size white boards, with pen, velco attachement for the car sunvisor, somewhere to write, when you get a phone call, wipe off, start again, or fridge magnets on the back, A5 or A4 size envelope sizes, to write messages on, wipe on wipe off... Printed on them, the "Company" promoting their product... Man, maybe I should start that up again? Didn't go bust, but GST stopped Companies from spending on promotions...
I also did crafts on them huge A3 Boards, with pots and cactus, or dried pansies, it was fun.
Second business, was advertising:- A business magazine, network seminars, exhibitions (trade shows) and network newletter, again didn't do a business course and whilst this was "fun" I was working 90 hrs a week, selling, then producing, then organising, then teaching goal setting, the publishing phew... break down, nearly, couldn't find good sales people, so let it go.. bugger.
Third - out alone in Real Estate, this time, Diploma in Business went with me, and as such, I have just changed directions of the Company, from that knowledge and knowledge of owning a business and it will certainly benefit and work in my favour, considering the tough times we have had the past 12 months and I am excited.
So, this is my third....
Ideas I had was hopping Kangaroo toy, haha, you pat it and it hops away... lol...
Now, China could produce them, hazards for kids, well that would need to be looked at and paton the idea, naturally....
Don't know why I didn't end up doing that one?
Unfortunately, you have to be very committed and love and believe your idea what ever it is, or else you do give up and if you give up, it falls. But, you never fail, if you keep trying and it doesn't succeed, get back up and try again.
Hope that helps
CW
Do we not realise that in order to find a soul
It doesn't happen over night
if truth were to be told.
Like everything in life that's hard to achieve
you must believe!
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