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It's not that I
want to paint or I
want to sing. I
have to.
~ Tony Bennett
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Opportunity Knocks:
Creative Ways to Make a Living Without A Job
One Viable Way to "Unjob," Turn Your Interests into Income, and Still Get
a Steady Flow of Income
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Valerie and her rescue dog,
"Cokie Roberts" |
By Valerie Young
I'm all
about finding ways to help people to "un-job." One obvious barrier to
quitting the 9-to-5 grind to work on your own is the predictability that
comes with a steady job.
Getting
a regular paycheck is fabulous – that is if you love your job. But if your
work is taking a toll on your health, your relationships, and your very
soul, then that's a pretty high price to pay for predictability.
So what
if there was a way to do something you really enjoy, be your own boss, and
still get a predictable flow of income coming in at regular intervals?
Better
yet, what if you actually were taking something you already know and care
about – fly fishing or knitting or antique toys or selling on eBay - and were
somehow able to create a business that brought in a relatively predictable
amount of money every month. I'm not talking about a few dollars here and
there. I mean anywhere from a several hundred to tens of thousands of
dollars a month? Would you want to learn more?
Well, you may recall that around this same time last year I told you about
membership programs – sometimes referred to as continuity or subscriber
programs. Before
I get into
the incredible income potential that can come from running your own
membership/continuity program, let's take the example of the online dating
service Match.com.
You may not think of this as a continuity program
but I assure you their accountants do! Singles wishing to be listed or to
contact singles listed on Match.com pay a monthly subscriber fee. Unless you
cancel, your credit card is automatically billed every month.
Another
example I've used before is Consumer Reports magazine. For $4.95 a month I
get continued access to special reports and information not available on the
free portion of their site. Unless I cancel, the subscription fee will
automatically be billed to my credit card.
What
makes a membership/subscriber/continuity program so popular comes down to
this:
1)
Recurring Monthly Income: In both examples, the businesses
automatically bill the consumer's credit card every month, resulting in a
steady and relatively predictable stream of recurring income.
2)
Access: Members or subscribers sign on because they are getting some
kind of ongoing benefit dependent on accessing the content. With online dating
services, it's the ability to communicate with and potentially meet the love
of your life. With Consumer Reports its' access to a regular stream of
desirable information.
3)
Convenience: The consumer can sign up once without the hassle of
check writing or otherwise having to remember to renew. As the business
owner, you skip the hassle of sending out invoices because the money is
automatically deposited into your bank account. (Sweet!)
4)
Affordability: Far fewer people would shell out hundreds of dollars
all at once. But if payments are small, then recurring billing makes what's
being offered more affordable to the consumer, resulting in increased sales
for the business.
Okay, now
that the model is starting to make sense, you're probably thinking, "I'm not
a big organization, I'm just one person – how can I possibly run my own
membership site?" That's the beauty of the Internet and membership site
enabling technology. Today, there are thousands of very profitable
membership/continuity programs that are one-or-two person operations.
And
before you start moaning about how you don't have anything to offer that
anyone would want to buy – I met a guy who is making five figures a month
running a member site all about crocheting – and he doesn't even crochet!
That's
just the thing – whether you decide to go the membership route or just want
to find a way to change course…
Turning
Your Interests into Income is a Lot Easier Than You Think
The
reality is, you don't even have to have personal knowledge of or experience in
a particular field or subject area to start any kind of business, including
a member program. I'll prove it.
Last
summer I had the pleasure of meeting a guy named Todd Brown. Todd is the
founder of
MassageBusinessUniversity.com, a member site for massage therapists who
want to grow their practice.
Before
starting this particular member site (he runs several), Todd was in the
fitness field. Here is the thing – he is not a massage therapist. Instead,
Todd relies on a team of "faculty" with expertise in growing a massage
practice to create value-added content for his members. Todd's expertise
lies in knowing how to find out what members want and making sure they get
it.
What
Todd and other successful entrepreneurs get is that competence isn't about
knowing how to do everything perfectly. Competence isn't doing everything
yourself. Competence does not mean needing to know 150% before you consider
yourself remotely qualified to wear the label: "expert." Competence means
knowing how to identify the resources it takes to get the job done.
All It
Takes is A Little Creativity
Continuity programs always revolve around the delivery of some kind
information, instruction, or even entertainment. However, the type of
information, and even the delivery itself, can vary widely. For example, I'm
a member of master Internet marketer Yanik Silver's "Underground Secret
Society." For $87.63 a month, I receive a big red envelope stuffed with
marketing tips and templates and a CD with a new before-and-after Web site
critique. If you want to get a better idea of how Yanik structured his
member program, go to
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/secretsociety.
Yanik's
program is unique in that he also puts on a big annual event on Internet
marketing. In addition to saving on the registration fee, Secret Society
members enjoy such perks as reserved seating and an upgraded break area and
the chance to network with other members at exclusive cocktail and dinner
functions.
At the
event I attended, there were at least 200 other Secret Society members. That
means from just these 200 members alone Yanik is raking in over $17,500 A
MONTH! And these members represent just a small fraction of overall members.
My own
member program, the Fast Track Your Dream Program, is set up a little
differently. For one, the whole point is to speed up the process of going
from having a boss to being your own boss. So the first thing members get is
a "Fast Track Kit" full of books and CDs on a range of topics from finding
your calling to how to create a step-by-step exit strategy. Members who are
really in a hurry can go to a password-protected site to download
much of the material immediately.
Fast
Track members also get access to a live "Turning Interests into Income"
Teleclass every month, three online resource guides, and daily
"inspirational nudges." And, to help fight the isolation that Barbara Sher
famously cites as THE dream killer, there's also a members-only discussion
forum.
If you
want to "see" what a member site might look, like you can take a short video
"tour" of the Fast Track Community here:
ChangingCourse.com/fasttracktour-20.html
Learn
From the Experts
You
don't need to know how to set up and run a membership program – or any
business for that matter. All you need to do is figure out who does and then
learn from them.
Last summer I introduced you to Tim Kerber and Ryan Lee.
Tim and
Ryan have established themselves as "the" experts on how to set up
and run a highly profitable membership business. Ryan's claim to fame is
that he went from struggling to provide for his young family as a physical
education teacher in the Bronx to earning over a million dollars a year
running a dozen different membership sites on different aspects of fitness.
And Tim
is the founder and president of a turnkey solution that handles all the
technical aspects of a member program called
MemberGate
Solutions.
Together Tim and Ryan run a very helpful program for membership site owners
called
MembershipSiteOwner.com, of which I am a member.
Last
summer, Ryan and Tim created a Tele-training program which
obviously hit a nerve because the program sold out in less than a week.
Tim wrote to tell me that they're going to open the program again
sometime in the next few weeks. But before they do, they've put together a
short video to give people a better idea of what it's all about.
You'll see in the video some actual revenue figures from
folks who went through the training last summer. The numbers range from
$4,500 to a month to a whopping $193,000 a month!
These
numbers are impressive. But don't forget that starting a member site, or any
reputable on- or off-line business, takes time and effort. And a member
program certainly offers no fast, easy road to riches. But because of the
recurring income that membership programs provide, if you are willing to put
in the time and effort, it is entirely possible that by this time next year
you could be earning enough from your member site to quit your job, or at the
very least go part-time.
Learn
more about how easy it is to start a membership site and to make it
profitable by signing up to watch the first of a series of short videos from
Tim and Ryan now:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
There
are lots of ways to turn what you know into income. If you've already been
thinking about writing a how-to book, designing and leading workshops,
teaching Teleclasses or otherwise profiting from what you already know, you
may want to consider adding a member program to the financial mix. No matter
which path you choose, it all comes down to just taking that first small
step!
P.S. Oh,
and one other benefit to you as an entrepreneur is if you ever decide to
sell your business, having a continuity program makes your business more
desirable because prospective buyers can more easily project future sales.
Add Your Two Cents
Want to comment on this
article?
Click here to hop over to the Changing Course Blog!
About the Author
"Turning Interests Into Income" expert Valerie Young abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at ChangingCourse.com offering resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited in Kiplinger's, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Woman's Day, and elsewhere and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Valerie has spoken on the topic of How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are to such diverse organizations as Daimler Chrysler, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Harvard, and American Women in Radio and Television.
To read more
articles about how to work at what you love without a job go to
ChangingCourse.com/articles
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If
you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much.
~ Tom Krause
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Featured Resource
Previously
Sold Out "Bootcamp" on How to Start and Run Create a
Business With Recurring Monthly Income About to Re-Open
"The best thing about a membership program is that in
exchange for providing helpful information or resources
to people who share your interests, you get a continuous
flow of revenue. If 500 eager members sign up at just
$15 a month, that's $7,500 a month – every month."
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Tim Kerber |
Imagine turning your passion for embroidery, jazz
guitar, massage, wrestling, even sky diving into a stead
income stream that could replace your salary? These are
real examples of actual Internet-based membership
programs that are generating four, five, and even six
figures a month in recurring income.
As long as you make good on your promise to consistently
deliver quality content, as a member program owner
you'll receive a steady flow of revenue in the form of
member fees… fees that are automatically billed to
member's credit cards on a monthly basis. And when you
love a topic, finding great information and resources to
share with your members is a lot easier than you think!
Anyone with a passion for a topic and a desire to inform
and help others can start a membership program -
especially when you have people to show you how. Meet
Tim Kerber, CEO of
MemberGate Solutions, Inc and
MembershipSiteOwner.com
and Ryan Lee, a former physical education teacher who
now earns seven figures from 48 subscription Web sites in
various aspects of the fitness field.
Tim and Ryan are gearing up to once again offer their
Membership Site Bootcamp Tele-Training on how to start
and run a highly profitable member program. Their last
training session sold out in less than a week.
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Ryan Lee |
From what I understand, the program will not officially
open for a couple of weeks. As a first step, Tim and
Ryan have put together a short video on how membership
programs work, including some eye-opening monthly revenue
figures from past participants.
Check out the video now and be sure to sign up for the
follow-up case studies:
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/membershipbootcamp
Whether your passion is salsa, gardening, photography,
or wrestling, there are a myriad of ways to turn what
you already know into your livelihood. If you are drawn
to the idea of a more regular, predictable income stream
that has the potential to be extremely profitable, I encourage you to sign up
for the video case studies.
P.S. I've watched a lot of people make insane amounts of
money using the membership model. The only difference
between them and you and they didn't let a lack of
experience or self-confidence hold them back. Instead
they took action. As Jim Roan said,
"Indecision is the thief
of opportunity. You cannot change your destination
overnight but you can change your direction overnight."
The key is simply to begin.
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Courage doesn't
always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
"I will try again tomorrow." ~ Mary
Anne Radmacher |
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You
are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To
change your circumstances, you need to change your thinking and subsequent
actions.
~
Adlin Sinclair |
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Guest
Article
Starting A Business:
What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do Next
By
Maria Simone
In the course of building your
business, issues may come up where you may not actually be sure of what next
steps to take or even what questions to ask. I help entrepreneurs with business
development and small business funding support and coaching and these are the
very questions I hear from clients during our first meeting. I'd like to shed
some light on these issues and especially to let you know that you're not alone.
When you have clarity in all of these areas, you will naturally become more
attractive to potential investors and those who may want to support you or do
business with you.
1. You
have several options of what direction to take your business but just can't
decide?
If you ever find yourself faced
with a decision you can't quite seem to make or take action on, the best thing
to do is nothing. This is the time to slow down and: a) observe how you are
feeling about the choices you think you need to make - your heart could be
slowing you down for a reason and all the signs should be there if you pay
attention; b) you should absolutely seek out the advice of qualified people who
have had specific experience with your situation. You don't want to make
decisions without qualified information and neither should you ever feel
pressured about making just any decision. Time is irrelevant here - making a
decision that doesn't support you could "cost" you more time in the long run.
2.
Having trouble making sense of or communicating all your ideas?
Start the business planning
process as soon as possible to help keep you on track. Moving forward in your
business with just a bunch of ideas swirling around in your head is not the same
as having them committed to paper. Organizing your thoughts in a structured
fashion gives you instant clarity, your ideas start coming to life, people now
have a better understanding of how to support you, and the resources you'll need
can start showing up. It will also allow you to play out different scenarios.
Your plan will be constantly evolving and growing as you move forward so there
will never really be a finished document nor will it ever be perfect. However,
just starting the process can sometimes help you get unstuck. I recommend using
an existing software program that walks you through some of the steps by asking
a series of questions. I have my favorites but no matter what program you use,
make sure you personalize it to your circumstances and industry.
3. You
may have limited operating capital initially and you feel pressured to invest in
resources and services that should help you grow your business. So what
resources should you invest your money in?
That all depends on exactly
what stage you're at in the "sequencing" of your business. If you buy or commit
to resources before you're ready for them, it may just take you down a dead end
if you're really not prepared to work with them: a) If you are working on your
business plan, you should be gathering information about sales, marketing, PR,
etc. You should not necessarily be investing in these services at this stage; b)
If you are just starting out and about to raise investor money, only invest in
those resources that will absolutely bring you capital; c) don't invest or get
committed to product manufacturing before you've developed your infrastructure
or understand your markets; d) don't engage in activities that will create a
demand for products and services you haven't developed yet unless you are just
about ready to launch.
4. You
have a great idea but not really sure what it looks like as a business.
Very often, people have great
ideas and start focusing on one way they think it should be launched. This could
be in the form of a retail store, an online experience, a book, a game, a
service, etc. If you find that you're focusing on one "expression" that could
take much longer or cost more than it seems worth it, start opening yourself up
to other ways your idea can get out there. Look for the lowest hanging fruit -
what is the fastest, most cost effective way you can get your idea out to the
most people and bring you the most profit in the shortest period of times (if
that's your goal). For instance a retail chain of stores is a huge undertaking.
If your goal is to help one million people access your resources in the shortest
timeframe, then what about taking the service aspect of your business and
launching it as a national service company with primarily an online presence and
do away with all the real estate and operational costs? You could serve a bigger
slice of the population in half the time and a fraction of the cost by using a
franchise model. If you can remain open to exploring new opportunities, they
will show up for you.
5. How
far should you go to prove out your concept?
This could be something brand
new for you and you haven't fully allocated resources to the project but want to
make sure you have a market for your goods and services. Initially do things
that do not require a big investment or ongoing maintenance (storage issues,
insurance, license fees, etc). For instance take surveys, conduct market
research, acquire trend reports, "dry test" and then "beta test" with a
prototype, get validation from experts, and build a mailing list of people who
would be interested in your product down the road. These are just a few. I
recommend doing small manufacturing runs with a product to test in a certain
regional area but don't try to "launch" nationally before you have all the
necessary resources in place.
6. Are
you having resistance to moving forward with your business? Wondering if it will
ever get done or if you're the person to do it? Do feelings of fear, isolation,
and overwhelm seem to permeate your thoughts?
Stop for a bit and be still as
this isn't a cue for you to work harder. It means you need to do some internal
work on you, not your business. There are plenty of great programs and people I
frequently recommend that can support you here. Feelings of not feeling good
enough are old tapes that should be eliminated. Issues around money, success, or
receiving support shouldn't rule your life. If you're doing anything business
related you're not passionate about which will require a huge investment of
time, it's not worth doing. This is all about you not about business. Every
successful entrepreneur takes the time to do breakthrough internal work on
themselves. Best quote I heard recently "Making my first million was easy - but
it took me 37 years to allow myself to do it." So get your heart in alignment
with your head, know you deserve it and that you're not alone... and then get
out of your way.
7. You
have limited financial resources and lots of deadlines you've imposed on
yourself - should you just keep plodding along and do as much as you can on your
own to get it done and make your deadlines?
First, when you're building a
business, I recommend not using TIME as a milestone if possible because it puts
too much undue pressure on yourself and oftentimes you won't be able to commit
to the deadline because of all the other variables involved. "In six months I
will have raised $1 million" or "in 3 months I will be signing a lease so I
better have the resources in place by then". How do you know? You're better off
using financial milestones if you're raising capital - like, for instance, "when
I raise my first million, then I can do xyz" - or something other than time.
Shifting your thinking like this will give you new perspective, alleviate stress
and allow you to focus on getting the necessary resources to hire the people you
need to get the jobs done. You can try to do it all yourself without the
necessary resources just to meet your self-imposed deadline but it begs the
question, "why do that to yourself?"
8. You
feel unable to proceed because you have no money?
It's not the money that you
need - it's determination, passion and having the right people around you. If
you ever get stuck on this one, check in to see which one it is. Having the
right people around you will always attract money, so take the time to build a
support team and let them open doors for you. Your determination will always
lead you to the next step if you're paying attention - it could be money or
another resource that's even better. If you don't have passion for what you're
doing, you may want to check in to see if this is what you really want. Always,
and only, do what you love.
About
the Author
Maria Simone is a speaker,
mentor, author as well as a very unique and conscious business development and
marketing expert who has launched several companies and has raised millions of
dollars in funding. She helps inventors, start-ups, holistic practitioners and
service providers attract experts, customers, resources and capital. Subscribe
to her free how-to business building e-zine at
Passion2Prosperity.com
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For my part, I know
nothing with certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
~ Vincent van Gogh |
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Upcoming Workshops and Teleclasses
Turning Your Interests into
Income:
The Opportunity Hour Teleclass With
"Opportunity Analyst" Valerie Young
There
really is no shortage of creative ways to get paid to do work you truly love.
The problem is most people don't know how to profit from their passions.
Viable and
fascinating business ideas are literally all around you. You just need to
know where to look!
Listen in
as serial "Opportunity Analyst" Valerie Young delves into her vast
Opportunity Files to reveal some fascinating ways that regular people – just
like you – have turned their interests into income!
You don't
even need a lot of money. All it takes is a little creative thinking, which
is a good thing because
Real Success Without a Real Job
author Ernie Zelinski calls creative thinking "the poor man's
wealth." Ernie was spot on when he said, "There is nothing quite as
exhilarating as coming up with a brilliant
idea, putting it to good use, and eventually being rewarded
handsomely for my efforts by the marketplace."
So join a
community of dreamers and dream doers for an exhilarating hour of creative
thinking, opportunity angling, and possibility-provoking fun! The rewards
could be enormous!
P.S. Got
an opportunity file of your own? Share a favorite creative business idea at
the Opportunity Hour and you could win a free "Advice from the Dream Team"
CD
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Morning Session
10:00-11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Free for Fast Track Members*
$19.00 for Non Members**
Click Here to
Register |
Evening session
7:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Free for Fast Track Members*
$19.00 for Non Members**
Click Here to
Register |
*This
series is free to current members of the
Fast Track Your Dream
Community.
**100 percent of Non-Members registration fees go to the non-profit
micro-grant organization
TrickleUp.org
The Ultimate Travel Writer's
Workshop
 Over Three Power-Packed
Days, you'll...
-
Learn the secrets
of writing travel articles you can sell from a group of the best
editors and writers in the business...
-
Discover
little-known techniques travel writers use to land concert
tickets... meals... vacations... and more... without paying a
dime...
-
Walk away with a
short publishable article in hand... and the contact information for
editors we know who are happy to work with you, even if you've never
sold a story before…
-
See for yourself
how you can have the time, adventure, and freedom you're looking for
as a freelance travel writer…
The Ultimate Travel Writer's Workshop
San Francisco, CA
July 24 – 26, 2008
Go here
ChangingCourse.com/recommends/travelconf
and for more details about this event, or contact Terry Frank toll-free
at (866)415-1425 or local at (202)370-6459 from 8:00am-5:00pm Eastern
Standard Time.
Get Paid to Travel
Right now, you could be
enjoying a week at a tiny hotel on a small Caribbean island,
relaxing on a fine stretch of white sand, listening to the palms
rustle overhead... for FREE. In fact, you could be getting paid to
do it.
If you've always dreamed of
far-flung travels... on someone else's dime... then this is your
opportunity to make it happen.
Join Freelance Travel Writer
Steenie Harvey and Jen Stevens, writer and contributing
editor for International Living and author of the
Ultimate Travel Writer's Program,
as they show you how you can get started - and reveal to you
real-world strategies to access this lifestyle - for less than $20.
Friday, June 20
8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
$19.95 Registration
Click Here to Learn More
Click Here to Register
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Man cannot discover
new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.
~ Andre Gide |
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The View From
the
Other Side
"I grew up in a family where, just because you're a girl, doesn't mean
to say you can't do it. I really had to go against the grain a bit to
get things done. But that never bothered me."
~ Helen Thayer, now
70, became the first woman to walk alone to the magnetic North Pole in
1988 and later became the first, along with her husband, to walk across
the length of the 1,500-mile Gobi desert. National Geographic named her
one of the "Great Explorers of the 20th Century." She has used her
expeditions to teach more than a million students through her
not-for-profit organization, Adventure Classroom
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Resources for
a Change
This week I'm featuring several interesting events
happening over the summer. While some may not represent an obvious interest, be
sure to read the whole description as there are some unique opportunities
within...
American Institute of Floral Designers
(AIFD.org) is a nonprofit
organization that promotes floral design as a career. The
2008 AIFD National Symposium, "Collaboration...
Floral Education," is being held in Chicago from July 3-7. They are also
seeking volunteers to help with all aspects of the floral workroom. So if you
have an interest in Stage Design or floral arrangements, be sure to check out
this event! (AIFD.org/2008symposium.htm)
National Storytelling Conference (StoryNet.org)
brings together National Storytelling Network members and individuals who are
interested in the art and application of storytelling. Their mission is
"Bringing together and nurturing individuals and organizations that use the
power of storytelling in all its forms." The conference is being held August
7-10 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
PodCamp Boston (PodCampBoston.org)
promises to help you learn, share, and grow your new media skills.
480 people gathering to share their ideas, lessons learned and
earned, cutting edge developments, and stories. From blogging to
podcasting to Twitter to virtual worlds and more, whether you're a veteran of
new media or just getting started, PodCamp Boston has something to expand your
learning. The conference will e held at the
Joseph Martin Conference Center at
Harvard Medical School in Boston on
July 19-20.
Healer's Program by Tom Monte (TomMonte.com)
is a unique opportunity to help you
transform the obstacles that prevent you from manifesting your true nature and
your special abilities and talents. It is designed to help you heal your body,
mind, and relationships. And, in turn, help you do the same for others.
The program begins this September in
Monroe, New York.
Note: Changing Course does not accept
paid advertisements from any of the resources listed here. This list is
provided to expand your thinking about just how many interesting ways there
are to make a living without a job!
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live
life on purpose