At what point along the journey do we admit that we want our blog to be more than just a hobby, or an outlet for expressing our personal thoughts and ideas?
If you’re a crafter or an artist, maybe you’ve thought about selling some of your beautiful creations through your blog. Maybe you’ve even dared to dream about doing more of that, and less of your cubicle job. Maybe you’ve even considered the possibility of having more freedom in your life, by being less tied down to your current 9-5 grind.
But you’ve never really liked the idea of going into ‘Business’
You wouldn’t like to call yourself an ‘Entrepreneur’. The image doesn’t fit. And what do you know about marketing, brand identity or making a profit? Why would you even want to have to learn that stuff? It all feels ick.
That’s what I thought, at first, and I’m willing to bet that I’m not the only one.
I quit teaching 5 years ago now, because I couldn’t bear the stress and the agony any longer. I couldn’t bear the nagging, shouting, miserable person I was becoming, who talked about young people as if they were a problem rather than a delight. So I scuttled my boats. I knew it was a good move for my health and my state of mind, though it seemed like a ridiculously foolhardy way to scupper my future and my career.
Wanting more than just toeing the line
My parents still harbour hopes that one day I’ll return to the fold and live a normal, sensible life with a good pension plan and promotions. I, on the other hand, have never looked back.
My journey into finding freedom and fulfilment has not been easy. Easy would have been staying in a career that had it all mapped out for me. Easy would have been knowing what my income will be this year, and the year after, and the year after that. And teaching is fairly secure, as jobs go. Despite the recession, there’s still a shortage of teachers and plenty of work. But I have chosen a path of uncertainty, and limitless variety.
Many people think I’m a bit mad
Perhaps I am.
More than that, I’ve come to realize that I’m a Creative. And Creative-types are natural innovators and entrepreneurs. We’re forming communities here on the internet because this is where we can most freely express our unique ideas and values, and connect with others that think like us too. And if you were raised in a fairly Traditional, or even a Modern environment, it’s a massive relief to discover that you’re not just mad or a freak, or alone.
It doesn’t have to be this great Existential struggle
Look folks, I don’t believe in the value of suffering. We don’t earn brownie points or learn more by struggling to get there. Disharmony and discomfort in life are just the screaming signals from inside that something needs to be done. I’ve been working with my internal conflicts for a while, and, well, it’s a lot quieter in my head now than it used to be. And I know what it is that I need to be doing. I need to be my own boss, and build a business that really works. And maybe helps some people that I really care about along the way too.
I have a thousand more things I want to say about this…
But I’ve got to save something to talk about tomorrow. And I’m trying to trim the ridiculous length of my articles down a bit. So, I’ll just say this (and I’ve said it before): Business doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Turning your blog into something more sophisticated and professional (that means you’re making money) is possible, and fun, and potentially very rewarding. You just need to know how to get started.
You need to start by admitting you’d like you’re blog to be more than just a hobby. And I can help you with that. I’m launching a new business project right now, and you can read more about it at How to build a really good business.
And if you’re still not convinced, then have a think about this:
I am cautiously optimistic that we can make the world a far better, safer and more equitable place—but business and enterprise must sit at the heart of this process.
(Richard Branson)
