When you make the decision to start your own business I hope one of the many questions you ask yourself is this: Is this career choice [being a virtual professional] for the money or does this work bring fulfillment into my life? Hmmm. That’s one to think on.
Apple giant, Steve Jobs had many memorable quotes and one that’s relevant here is, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” You may wonder how you can know with a certainty where your love lies and how that can become an income. I say start by asking questions and writing down the answers.
Asking questions (knowing the answers will come) is one of the most important, liberating, and creative things you will do for your business. If you write down every answer, from the logical to the ridiculous, I promise you will find the answer. More often than not the answers you write down will lead to results and unlock a doorway to new creative answers you wouldn’t have typically come up with.
Brainstorming answers to some of your more challenging questions will bring results. When a group of land developers working in Colorado had a dilemma of how to keep the snow from building up on the power lines because the weight of the build up would snap a line causing a power outage they posed the question, What can be done to remove the snow build up? This group was open to any and all ideas and that’s a good thing. Someone suggested hanging pots of honey from the lines so the bears would climb the utility poles thus shaking the poles and lines knocking the snow off. Someone asked how the pots would be refilled with honey. With a hearty chuckle someone said the helicopter would do it. After the laughter stopped the group realized that a helicopter fly over would also produce the same vibrations as a bear shaking the pole. Problem solved. Contact the local aviation service to hire a helicopter as needed.
Don’t let being a solo business owner with no employees limit you to asking and answering questions. It’s not a requirement to have group input. An important step in this process is to write it down. Writing commits something to paper – making it tangible – and frees up your mind to continue without fear of losing an idea. All the answers will begin materializing when you write these down. Revisit your list several times as you consider all the possibilities for answering the question. You may even surprise yourself with some of these answers becoming seeds for new products, services, or joint ventures.
What kinds of questions do you need to visit today?
I enjoyed reading this article. I liked “…and frees up your mind to continue without fear of losing an idea.” That happens to me. I have so many thoughts and ideas swimming around in my mind that I have a notebook on my desk put aside, just for writing down things that I need to remember! I have two young boys with special needs and I have a small business; I work online from home. I’ll look back at my notebook and say “thank goodness I wrote that down”. 🙂
Maryann: Thanks for stopping by. Where were you when my child was young and I needed to have a notebook? LOL, I didn’t learn this lesson early enough in my business but it’s made such a difference once I adapted. I often get ideas for a blog post or article at the craziest times so I try to keep a pocket tablet handy. I’m learning to jot-a-note and go.