What If?
The Power of Possibilities: What If?
When making any decision, one question inevitably stands out: What if? This question can either serve as a roadblock or a catalyst for progress. It can keep you stuck in fear or propel you toward growth and innovation.
The choice is a personal one. You can continue as you are or you can begin to utilize the question to move you into action.
Embracing Change: Office Wife LLC’s Evolution
As I continue to update and refine my business, What if? remains a constant companion. My website, Office Wife, is always evolving—adapting to new technology, shifting content trends, and embracing modern business strategies. Change is the only constant, and in the digital landscape, staying stagnant is not an option.
The original of this post was written in 2008. I found it interesting how this post continues as a constant in my life, all areas of my life. There are some questions that never go out of style.
But how do we navigate the overwhelming sea of possibilities?
What If?—Find the Answer
My mission is clear: to inform, educate, and inspire. But with every step forward, doubts creep in. I second-guess, rewrite, delete, and rewrite again—chasing perfection. And yet, perfection is a mirage, much like a cat chasing its tail. Occasionally, the cat catches it, only to let go and resume the chase.
So, I ask you—are you interested in running a business from home? The answer is simple: Yes or No. No “Yeah, buts.” No excuses. Just a clear decision.
Answering the Question of What If
From an early age, we are trained to justify our choices. We feel the need to explain our actions, to defend our motives. I, too, have been guilty of over analyzing, talking an idea to death until people stop listening. The truth is, action speaks louder than deliberation.
If you want to overthink, get a journal, write it out, all the details of those ideas. I began with captions of a sort. One word, or a sentence. Jotting it down, then getting into my day. Returning to it after a couple of days, reviewing the idea, researching it, all the details, and setting it aside once again. Questions followed this writing.
The First Step: Defining Your Business Vision
If you are serious about starting a business, the first step is to make a few key decisions:
- Will you work from home, or do you prefer a storefront?
- What type of business excites you?
- If a storefront, what kind of business will you create? Options might include:
- Retail (clothing, home goods, specialty products)
- Pet services
- Consulting or coaching
- Online courses or digital products
- How much capital do you need to start?
- If you prefer the at home style of business, the same questions apply.
- How will you assign space in your home?
- What equipment do you need?
- What is the initial investment?
Take time to brainstorm. Write down every reason why you want to start a business. Review your list and prioritize the top 10 reasons. Then, identify what truly excites you—if you could earn millions doing one thing, what would it be? Narrow that list down to your top five ideas, then choose one to pursue first.
I never suggest taking a hobby and turning it into a business. It looses its luster when it becomes a “job.” However, the exception would be in teaching that hobby to others. I have a few hobbies that I enjoy teaching as an aside to my usual work.
Conducting Your What if Market Research
Now that you have a business idea, it’s time to research:
- Search for similar businesses online using Google, Bing, or Yahoo.
- Identify the top competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
- Determine how you can differentiate yourself. What are they missing that you can offer?
- Keep a file on your top ideas, refining your approach as you gather insights.
Go back to that journal. Or create a file for each idea. However you choose to organize and set up the plan. If you determine this is not a business for you, those files have become an option for sale, someone else may like the plan and you just saved them on hours of research. Capitalize off your work. Never throw out your work, always find a way to monetize it.
Learn from Others’ Mistakes and Successes
Fear and hesitation can lead to missed opportunities. I’ve spent too much time reading, researching, and waiting—don’t make the same mistake. If you let What if? consume you, you’ll find yourself paralyzed by inaction. Instead, take calculated risks and learn as you go.
Keep a journal of your trials and errors, you can add this to the idea previously about selling that file to someone else.
Finding motivation can be challenging, and having support is invaluable. There are countless mentors, coaches, and business communities ready to guide you. Success is rarely a solo journey.
One of the many services I offer is to support and assist someone interested in creating a business in their path. I have worked my way through many clients and am proud of the work they are now carrying on.
Identifying Your True Passion
The key to sustainable success is finding something you love to do, not just something you want to do. For me, that passion is coaching, educating, creating, and writing. These are the driving forces behind my business and personal fulfillment.
I won’t overwhelm you with a long list of recommended readings, but I do encourage continuous learning. Whether it’s books on spirituality, marketing, business development, or motivation, there is always knowledge to be gained.
The quest of improving one’s life is not just a business venture, it is a personal journey as well. Your personal life is a part of your business life. What I mean is that the belief system you have created through the years is an integral part of your life. You cannot set it on a shelf. Know what those are, watch how it affects your decisions, your behavior and your interaction with others. Awareness is the key to success in all areas of life.
Next Steps: Taking Action
As a virtual assistant, coaching is a natural extension of my work. Consulting and educating are at the core of what I offer my clients. If you’re ready to take the next step, consider the following:
- Do you need a virtual assistant to help manage your business?
- Are you looking for a social media manager?
- Do you need a business coach or mentor?
If the answer is yes, I’m here to help.
Start with Clarity Before Investing
Before spending a dime, make sure you have a clear direction. Success begins with a plan. If you’re ready to explore business opportunities, take a look at my Home Business Ideas.
Don’t let What if? hold you back—let it push you forward. The choice is yours.
Resources to Consider
This list contains a few of the resources I have used through the years. In 2008 when I decided to expand Office Wife, LLC to the internet, I did more digging and reading. These are still resources I return to.
Business.com They offer a wealth of ideas, information, and other resources to guide and assist in developing your own business.
Entrepreneur.com They also have a magazine, however I stopped the subscription, as they were more focused on advertising franchises. Which is another great business venture, however, read the fine print on contracts, know all the details.
Home Based Business Magazine is not as old as the other two. It does not mean it is unworthy or I would not list it here. If you have an idea, see if it is listed here, if so what do they have as resources, ideas, or other documents concerning it.
Reminder
I am here to work with you. Contact me and we can discuss how I may be of service to you. Don’t forget my Home Based Business page. I am adding to it as I go along. When new idea strikes me, I do the research, pull it together and then decide if it is for me or not. Either way, I add it to the page.
