The Week Ender: Finding that Home Business Idea!

I received a great weekend question the other day, “How can I find a great home business idea for me?“. What I would do in these situations is get a pad of paper and a pencil - yes paper not my computer, that comes later - and sit by myself in a corner somewhere.

I start writing down what it is I’m interested in or passionate about, so for myself I write down things like diving, photography, traveling, boating, physics, computers, internet and stuff like that, not to forget small business. In my next step I try and find reasons, why I like this particular subject or activity, again write them down.

Next, I try to find out what my personal traits are, with the help of my family and friends, am I:

• a good teacher,
• a traveling person, like driving all day
• do I thrive on new ideas,
• and so on?

Now I combine the two, diving and teaching, I’m a bad teacher, so diving instructor is out - you get the idea. I may come up with some close ideas - but doing gardening everyday, no matter what someone payed me would be a definite NO-NO!

Somewhere down the line I get to small business and I can say:

• I have had 30 years of small business experience;
• I have had formal business education;
• I’m passionate about small business;
• I know I make and will make mistakes everyday, failure for me is just another way of learning;
• I love listening to customers and their ideas about my business; I’m always surprised and learn something new;
• mad about the inability of politicians to understand very small business;
• sad about the accountants lack of a forward looking outlook in their profession;
• know we are in trouble with our environment, and I would like to make a difference;
• always loved high-tech, computers, software, my years as CEO of a leading ISP;
• building a company from zero to tens of millions in turnover in just four years.

This is my personal list for my small business interest and after all that, what you get is WinWeb - my way of dealing with my passion and frustration about small business and start-up business, like SOHO-, SME, SMB-, Micro-, Lifestyle-, Home-, DIY-, Hobby-, Boomer- or Personal business, like professional, contractors, freelancer, self-employed, sole-trader and virtual assistants - and it’s a great business!

The point I’m making here is, the answer to this question - Finding the right home or small business idea for you? - is within yourself. So spend some time with yourself over this weekend, find out what you like and what you are like, get some feedback from friends on how they see you, write it down. Then go though the permutations and I’m sure you will find a few ideas that will make your heart jump, when thinking about the possibilities - e-voila, your business ideas!

You need to have passion, interest, a love for change, and control your fear of failure. You noticed, I didn’t mention an MBA, lots of money or bookkeeping, marketing, IT, and law experience, these are “nice to have” items, but not essential, unless you are working in those fields of cause.

Like someone once said, when you are older,

“You don’t regret the things you did, you regret the things you didn’t do.”

At the beginning and the end of our life we are all the same, what makes the difference is the bit in the middle, making it exciting and interesting is something you have to do - nobody is going to do it for you. On second thoughts, my wife would possibly disagree, she keeps telling my that at least life with me isn’t boring. I think I will have to think about that this weekend.

Have a great weekend and an even better “middle bit”, Stefan.

7 Responses to “The Week Ender: Finding that Home Business Idea!”

1. THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Q&A: What are some social and economic issues small business face?
   http://www.sme-blog.com/winweb/saas/qa-what-are-some-social-and-economic-issues-small-business-face
   
   Said on November 16th, 2007 at 7:15 pm

   […] I know there are others questions I have not yet answered, and I have already written my “The Week Ender” post for the week, what the hell, but I’m in the mood to have a go at “The […]

2. Marc Klein
   http://webdesign.thai-web.net/
   
   Said on November 17th, 2007 at 9:38 pm

   Great article. Like reading this blog. I agree with you on the pen and paper 100%, I also do that its simply better for “brain-storming” than using a computer and note pad, but also find myself doing that from time to time especially when an idea shoots into my head and I simply dont have enough time to look for pen and paper

3. Stefan Töpfer
   http://www.winweb.com
   
   Said on November 17th, 2007 at 11:32 pm

   Hi Marc,

   Thanks for your comment and sharing with us who you like to work.

   I think it’s important that everyone finds their comfort zone, and take the time out to think and sort things out.

   Stefan

4. A Single Mom’s Finances, Paying Debt Early and House Hunting @ The Roundup
   http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/index.php/2007/11/25/a-single-moms-finances-paying-debt-early-and-house-hunting-the-roundup/
   
   Said on November 25th, 2007 at 5:53 pm

   […] do poor people always win the lottery? @ My Investing Blog The Generational Contract @ Brip Blap The Week Ender: Finding that Home Business Idea! @ The Small Business […]

5. Sally - Property Help Diary
   http://repossession-diaries.blogspot.com/
   
   Said on April 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm

   I was once given the chance to start a business doing something I enjoyed as hobby.

   But guess what, doing it for a living was not enjoyable - it was hard work, long hours, and not very rewarding - it took about a year for me to “let go” of my dream (come nightmare) and once I did I free to enjoy it as a hobby and leave all the hard work to some other mug!!

6. Stefan Töpfer
   http://www.winweb.com
   
   Said on April 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm

   Sally I’m sorry to hear that, hope you are not giving up on running your own business.

   –Stefan

7. Sally - Property Help Diary
   http://repossession-diaries.blogspot.com
   
   Said on April 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm

   Hi Stefan, No I didn’t give, I have 2 businesses on the go now! It just reminds me not to mix business with pleasure! As all the will in the world was not going to make the 1st business work, the best thing I did was throw the towel in - now I get chance to run 2 business, and enjoy my oringal hobby. Still - wouldnt say no to some more spare time, but wouldnt we all?

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