What's Stopping You From Being Your Own Boss?

A few years before becoming permanently disabled, I realized I would have a struggle trying to continue working as a bartender. My FT with OT became FT and then PT and eventually I was working just 1 day a week and so on. I was out of work for several months after foot and ankle surgeries and although I was busy raising my children, I just couldn’t sit back and not do anything. Even if it meant simply earning some random gift cards here and there and maybe a few extra dollars from an affiliate sale. I was fortunate enough to have a few extra hours each day to start researching and finding new ways to earn an income from home.

After many failed attempts and some that I had to give up due to my medical issues, I finally found something that was right for me and my family and something I could do on a regular basis. I may not earn what I did when I was working 1 or 2 jobs at a time but, I am my own boss and I have the freedom to do this from home!

I have several online friends and readers who are in the same boat or are starting to realize that they have to find a different type of job, even if not due to their own medical conditions. So, I have had many conversations with others about this and the great thing is that there are so many opportunities, you are bound to find one that suits your needs. (And your schedule!)

It seems a lot of people tend to assume that being your own boss or being self-employed means selling products. It doesn’t have to be! Maybe you make something that you would like to sell or maybe you are one of those people who are making a fortune selling products for another company. But, you don’t have to invest in a kit or a company just to sell something or to earn a living. You can simply sell yourself and your own skills! I was never a good salesman (or saleswoman) so, I just never succeeded with the direct sales companies. I signed up for a few (mainly for the discount for my personal purchases!) but, I would have never been able to “get rich” from any of them. There are people out there who have the personality for this and there are those who don’t.

Where Do You Begin?

This is the fun part! Or it could be a little overwhelming. Either way, there are so many business ideas out there, you may end up finding a few that interest you. If you’re not really into starting a blog or becoming a freelance writer, getting involved in affiliate sales, there are thousands of other ideas out there.

Create a list of things that interest you, what are you good at? What makes you stand out in a crowd? Maybe your friends call you for advice for party planning, wedding planning, or they might ask you to share your expertise with makeup and or fashion. Start here to read about some consulting business ideas that could be the beginning of your own dream career!

Some of these startups will require an investment but, don’t fret! There are many that you can start without a lot of money! If anything, you could pick up a few different ideas, make them your own and then use the money you earn from those to start investing in something else down the road. You may end up finding out that you like a variety of things and you’ll be able to reach more clients and earn even more.

Starting from Scratch

Yes, this is, in fact, a possibility. You can start with your friend's  list on Facebook. You should also create a social network (if you don’t already have one.) and start promoting your services. Social media is the perfect way to get the word out and most of the time, this can be used as free advertising!

There are so many books and websites out there where you can start. Searching on Google or even YouTube or finding books written by successful people who are doing what you would like to be doing in a few years (or less!) is an excellent way to start gaining confidence and gathering tips from experts.

If you are looking into starting a consulting business, try reading and connecting with others in your niche. You’ll find a variety of people and startups and a lot of the time, they’re delighted to give meaningful advice.

Interesting Kickstarter Startups: Where Are They Now?

Every time I receive an email from Kickstarter about a new project that is looking for funding, I like to check out what offers are available and how many others have been backing to show their support. I have seen so many entrepreneurs and some of the most unique ideas on Kickstarter. (Yes, and some that really make you think, "Why in the world??") Then there are the times you find something that really stands out. You just know this thing is going to be on all of the shelves and everybody will be fighting for it on Black Friday. (Or Cyber Monday.) So, the best thing to do is invest and back the project and hope you see the creator succeed and meet their goal. (Kickstarter is pretty much all or nothing so, it gets a little nervewracking watching some projects go down to the wire!)

I've backed so many different types of projects on this site. It's a little addicting! Sometimes I forgot I even backed a project and then I find whatever my reward was in my mailbox a year or 2 later. Here are some of the rewards I wish I had known about before their campaigns ended: 

Exploding Kittens 

Ok, of course, I don't really want to see kittens explode and I'm sure nobody else really does either. Well, I guess 219,382 people would like to see it because Exploding Kittens is the most backed project of all time! (It is just a deck of cards so it isn't really exploding kittens. I swear!) 

Elan Lee, Matthew Inman, and Shane Small came up with the idea for this game and the original goal was $10,000. I bet they didn't expect to see the $8.7 million they ended up receiving in this clever 30-day project. This project ended in 2015 but you can visit their website and purchase the game itself, expansion packs, various swag, and new games. I think it's safe to say that this simple card game exploded into a fairly big kitten empire! 

Ouya 

Ouya is another project that really took off. Bringing in over $8 million on Kickstarter back in 2012, they are still around today. The only problem is that they aren't selling on their website. They last updated their Twitter account in April of 2017 and suggested that fans purchase parts needed from third-party sellers. 

Ouya is a video game console that doubles as a dev kit which means the user can create their own video games right from their Ouya console! (Kind of like a startup within a startup.) The creators or Ouya also brought Jambox to the mix. 

This seems like it should have done really well. It made the list of some of the best Kickstarter projects of all time but if you check the Ouya social media pages, there are a lot of disgruntled customers. Hopefully, somebody else picks up on this idea because $8 million isn't really chump change. 

I have to wonder if the Ouya game console/dev kit would have seen a lot more success had the creators studied at Kalu Yala...

Coolest Cooler

The Coolest Cooler also made it on the of the best Kickstarter projects and Time magazine named it"Innovation of the Year". Their Kickstarter campaign raked in over $13 million and you can still buy The Coolest Cooler online. 

So now you're asking, "What exactly is The Coolest Cooler?" Well, it's a cooler that comes with everything you need for tailgating, picnics, or hosting in your backyard. They come equipped with a blender, removable waterproof Bluetooth speakers, a cooler divider, cutting board, USB charger, LED lid light, bottle opener, integrated storage for plates and utensils. Maybe you're wondering, "Are people really buying these things?" The answer is, yes. Yes indeed they are still in business, still selling, and still active online. Matter of fact, they're having a sale right now!

If you want to check out some more fascinating startups and you finished the Kickstarter lists, don't forget to look into Shark Tank too! If you're thinking of the best thing that millions of people can't live without, you may want to look into Kalu Yala and apply for a scholarship that could help you get closer to your big dreams!