Today I tried Blogger Beta..and it ate my new login information for my new blog Go Medicinal! Where'd it go??? Beats the heck out of me, because nothing I wrote down when I did it works. Get any help...don't go there, ok?! Ok, rant is over. Let's get to the good stuff!
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First on the board: 2007 and Beyond
Many of you have been on this weird ride with me for a year and this time of the year is when I remind you to...get going!
I know it's hard to get over the mental leap (fear) of starting your business. Some of you know that the 'job you have today' could be the 'job you had' next month. For some of you staring at or waving good-bye to 50, it's even scarier (is there such a thing). Because not only do you have that 20 year old degree that dates you but you also have the 'real' issue of age discrimination - if you think it doesn't exist you're fooling yourself.
Anywho, let me applaud those brave souls who are spending the time after work and on weekends doing something! It isn't easy, you were no less scared than others who have done nothing - but you realized, if it was going to ever happen - you would have to be the one to do it! Congrats!!!
For my 'fence sitters'.....think about this: What is your Plan B? If it's a spouse, retirement check or worse case scenario welfare check - you might want to do a reality check! NOW! not Tomorrow...Right Now! Because pretending it will work out or wishful thinking does-not-feed-the-cat!
Look, it need not be some great big internet-something business. It's winter, do you live where it snows? I do, it isn't much but it gets damned cold out there. I would have paid good money yesterday for someone else to go to the grocery store for a bag of Keebler Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies and a half gallon of milk today! 50 bucks? Not a problem! You may not have someone as nutty as I am to offer you $50 for a short grocery trip - but what about 10 people who'd pay you $5 each to do that one trip?!
It doesn't always 'take money to make money'...sometimes it takes thinking. If you own a vehicle (truck, car, moped, bicycle or skateboard) you have a tool to make some decent money over the next few months. How many people do you see or know who shlep down to the post office to get packages sent to relatives? Yeah, that's why I don't do it! Bet there are those who will pay to have it done. How about elderly and shut-ins who can't spend much, maybe a few dollars, to just have someone to pick up their medications from pharmacies that don't deliver by mail?
My point is this: Get something started. Do you knit? Crochet? Chop wood for your fireplace? Know where the town dump is located? There is a man in my neighborhood that works, I swear it seems to me, 4 months a year. Doing what? He has this beat-to-death pickup truck and knows where the city dump is located. Guess what he does the day after Christmas? Yep, everywhere I go there are these 'screaming-loud' flyers on every door with the hours he'll be making his rounds to get rid of every bit of that 'Christmas Cheer' for you. How much does he charge? $5 a pickup. But when he and I got talking, it isn't the $5 charge where he makes his money - it's the TIPS! People are ready to celebrate the New Year! The sooner they can get the wrappings, gifts they can't return (and hate) out the house, the sooner they can get on to the good times! Heck, he'll even take the tree if you want it gone.
I hope I've given you some ideas to rethink where you are and put your Plan B into action. Start small and where you are right now...dream about the million dollar payday but don't let that 'dreaming' stop you from taking action.
That's it for Part 1 and I'll leave you with this:
We carve out risk-free lives where nothing happens."
-James Hillman
