What If?
The Power of Possibilities: What If?
When making any decision, one question inevitably stands out: What if? This question does not apply to any single concept or category. I have contemplated it in all areas of my life. Allowed myself a few fantasies in answer to this question.
How would you apply it to business? I asked this question prior to ending my employment and creating Office Wife. What if I had my own business? What would that look and feel like?
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. I continue to find ways of adapting to new technology, shifting content trends, and embracing new versions of business strategies. Change is the only constant, and in the world of business, staying stagnant is not an option.
The original of this post was written in 2008. I found it interesting how far I have evolved since then. Some skills remain the same, never outdated, always evergreen.
What If? Time to 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. I remain curious, always seeking to stay informed regarding the ever changing landscape of business.
Office Wife was never intended as a one size fits all service business. My goal was to serve anyone who asked for assistance and if I could not refer to someone I believed could. I network with others to expand my own services.
As new opportunities arise I review, research and weigh out if it is an option for me or not. The question: What if? is the primary indicator.
What if I do not learn this skill? What if I do not partner with this agency?
Considering the options is a key to good business practice. Will it benefit or hinder?
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 words.
I have a work journal, an idea board, where I write out the potentials, looking at the various aspects to a business venture, skill development, other services I may wish to provide my clients. I have never been a firm believer in niche practice. I have my primary, however, diversification is the key to expansion.
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. Is there a particular skill set that keeps you engaged and that you would enjoy earning a living from? Is there more than one? Or can that one be diversified in a few key ways? Break out your idea book. Start writing.
I never suggest taking a hobby and turning it into a business. It looses itself in the work 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 that time to review your research, apply the questions and create a plan of action.
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, it does enter into your business 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.
