I’m young, full of energy and don’t mind going to work the next morning hungover. Hey, that’s the benefits of being young, right? But what I wasn’t expecting was to have one of the most important discussions of my life to one of my best friends the other night.
It started with a pitcher
Lately, I’ve been inspired to get out more after I’ve completed my 10 articles each day for the 1,000 article challenge. I feel as if I deserve it and it helps break up my day so it doesn’t feel like I’ve been working the entirety of it (although I am now putting in 14 hour days).
Okay, I admit, I’m not off gallivanting at some new, trendy hot spot or catching the latest flick. No, I’m out there bar hopping. Gasp!
But you know, I believe we highly underestimate the power of having deep discussions with our friends. We’re so busy trying to seek advice from others that we forget that all we ever need has been around our lives for many, many years.
So there we were, a pitcher deep and my friend popped the question: “How are we going to start a business?”.
It made me almost drop my beer
I sat there for a bit contemplating what I was going to tell my friend. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure because there are far too many great ideas floating around in this disjointed mind of mine.
But then my friend hit me where it hurts: “We have to just decide on one thing and go with it”.
And it’s true. How many of us talk a lot of game but never put up or shut up? I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been sitting on my ideas for far too long; I’m sure you have too.
But what does getting sh!tfaced in a bar at 1:30am have to do with starting your own business? Isn’t it obvious? You need to network.
It hit me like a ton of bricks; it was so glaringly in my face the entire time. Why wasn’t I leveraging my own abilities, combining them with my close friends and really doing damage in the business world?
A moment of drunken clarity
As I sat there talking to my friend, ideas began to flow. One after another. I mean, these were great ideas but the problem was was apparent: how could we leverage our existing skills to start a business?
Through my beergoogles, I came to five points which will help you instantly recognize your goals, business plans and what needs to be done to get this show on the road:
- BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU KNOW. The problem we always have when talking about ideas and trying to start a business is that we’re always trying to learn more and more. My friend and I came to this: Within the first burst of interest, you’ll learn 30% of the entirety of information – you’ll learn the rest of it only after you implement it. So the point is this: Look at what you already know know and be contempt that it will be enough to get started.
- THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. Old saying, right? Well it couldn’t have been more true. Want an example which can directly reflect the same parallels in your life? I know web design so my first thought was to create websites for other people. Then it hit me, why don’t I use my knowledge of website creation and bridge it by finding products to sell? Perfect! The point: Take what you already know and look at it in the bigger picture.
- YOUR FRIENDS ARE YOUR NETWORK. Regardless of how many follower you make on Twitter, friends on Facebook or RSS subscribers, the people that are willing to put blood, sweat and tears toward a business are your friends. They say not to work with your friends in case there’s a dispute but it’s unbelievable how much your friends know which could compliment your own skills. The point: Ask your friends what skills they have and how you can combine your powers to start a business.
- GET STARTED NOW. It took a few pitchers but it became glaringly obvious: all this idea generation, learning and talk was BS. If we don’t implement our ideas they will all go to waste. The point: take the first step toward achieving your goal of starting a business. The point: It doesn’t have to be big but that you started it.
- CHOOSE ONE THING AND STICK TO IT. Nothing hampers your business ideas than jumping on the next fad or getting caught up in a million and a half ideas. Decide on one idea and run with it. If it fails, so what, at least you tried. The point: Out of all your ideas, write down a few that you believe you’re closest to accomplishing; then choose one and do it.
So what did I decide?
After talking a little further, I figured this:
- I have the technical skills to create websites, work with small businesses and bring them online.
- My friend is great with people and can talk to anyone. He would be the salesperson.
And that’s it! Simple. Effective. Genius.
Why didn’t I see this before? Yeah, it could have been the beer but I realized that I was missing one vital aspect of business: someone who can compliment my own skills.
We both know information extensively within each of our interests and have decided to bridge them together to start a business: We’re going to be working with small businesses to bring them online.
But it doesn’t stop there, we will:
- Create the business website
- Provide search engine optimization
- Generate traffic and leads
- Consult the business on online business practices
With less than half of all businesses without a website, our market is huge! Just looking around our area, there are literally tens of thousands of business without websites that are just itching to “get online”.
Do we have what it takes to start this business? Hell yes.
Do you have a wingman?
With my goals in mind (I hope you didn’t mind the selfishness of the post), I want to talk you: do you have a wingman?
Do you have a friend which knows an aspect of business or could bring something to the table which compliments your own skills? If so, what do you plan to do about it? Comment below and let’s hear what you have to say (don’t worry, we won’t hold ya to it….or will we).
Image by flickr4jazz
Great post Murray. I was a bit confused with the first on the list shouldn’t that be content rather than contempt? Downsides of too many beers!
Great inspiration, lets get to it!!!!
Haha, thanks for catching that one Matthew – did a quick fix, boy, what a difference
I do the same thing all the time. Spell checks ok, then you find out you’ve got completely the wrong word…doh!
Yeah, it passed the spell check just fine but d’oh, doesn’t help when you have the completely opposite word haha.
Awesome idea! A friend and I are planning to work on a somewhat similar venture, though not specific to small businesses. It’ll be interesting to see if it works out. Hope you and your buddy achieve big time success
Thanks Jillian, it really reminds me of when we were children – you remember those days: your friends would set out to do something or start a new hobby, then everyone jumped in. It made it so much better because you could bounce around ideas, get help and have a little bit of friendly competition. I guess this is an extension of that but many years later.
Be sure to keep us updated on your own ideas Jillian!
That is epic, “How are we going to start a business?”. You will certainly succeed no matter what you do, especially if you and your friend have determination like that.
Keep up the great work you are doing and you will always succeed.
It really is one of those questions that you’re almost waiting to hear, ya know Peter? It’s on everyone’s mind but until someone says it you keep your great ideas to yourself.
Thanks for the support
nice idea Murlu. It’s true we usually just waste our time thinking about what we could do yet we never do it. I really like your idea and I hope that it will turn out to be a success.
You can take this story and concepts and really apply it anywhere Julius. Wanted to get that extra blog post out this week? Get down to it, put in the work and it’ll get done. Want to visit another country? Cut back on wasteful spending and throw it into a savings account until you have enough
Take your ideas and run with ‘em <- basically the entire post summed up in a few words heh.
I agree … I am thinking about traveling around the world while earning money online. I’m working pretty hard right now trying to really make money so we will see whether it works out. There is just no point for me in traveling without money you know
The best part Julius is that if you can earn it through passive income you can continue to travel without having to stop and work. Let’s face it, who wants to work on stuff when you’re surrounded by mountains and a nice drink haha.
Do the work now and you’ll benefit later
I have had some of the best discussions when I have been absolutely legless.
I was actually plastered when I was first talked into blogging.
There ya go Dean! In some ways, discussions over beer is almost better than talking during dinner because food will always distract you. Additionally, you get a little bit lose so you can really kick around ideas without having to worry about what people say. Good choice on your end Dean, see, we can be productive while drinking
hey murlu..Seems to me that you are very determined to acheive your goals.
The moment of drunken clarity…Thats AWESOME.
Very inspirational post and important points through your beergoogles.
Thanks.
Haha loved it. Thanks for sharing what you saw in your drunkness
Hi Murlu, I like your idea (not going to steal it though).
A lot of businesses want to be online but they think it’s too hard or expensive. If you could set up a WP turnkey blog for them for a reasonable package deal, they would be hooked! Then you have plans to sell them more services, which is a good idea to upsell.
Hey Jennifer,
By all means, if this sounds like a good idea to you and you wanted to start your own business along the same lines I more than encourage you to go for it. I think of many business ideas like blogging – there’s so many potential customers and visitors out there that there’s almost always room for people to do something similar.
I do have a few great ideas for up-sells through leveraging a lot of the skills that I already know. Thanks for bringing up the turnkey idea – I could show them the impact with blogging (using Murlu as an example) which could really get them excited to the idea
Have to say the title really grabbed my attention. I have found similar experiences myself. Whilst it’s not great for our health (meh!), a session at the bar does loosen you up a little to thinking differently. You clearly were not THAT legless though – you remembered enough to write this post
That said, good ideas, and I hope it works for you.
I haven’t a wing man – I’ve a blog network group set up on Skype to help me through. It’s going well so far – it’s just a little awkward with time zones etc.
Support and networking is what really puts you on the ball – but don’t forget about pushing your comfort zone
It’s always a good thing when you can sit down with your mates and talk loosely without feeling any reprimand, ya know? Your friends will be the most harsh at your decisions because they mean the best for you so the criticism can help give you that spark of thought that expands your thinking beyond your own set ideas.
That’s where networking can really come into play – you propose an idea, you let people rip into it and (if everyone does it in a helpful manner) you come out with a idea that’s solid as a rock. Then, you tell everyone you just talked to that “that’s it, I’m doing it” and now you’re challenging yourself and have to fulfill it to your peers; the pressure is on now!