As the executive director of the Home-based Business Association of Rhode Island, Renee Fullerton fields all kinds of questions from entrepreneurs: What kind of licenses do I need? What insurance coverage should I have? Should I hire an accountant?
But one question that comes up time after time gives Fullerton trouble: “What kind of business should I start?”
”That’s a very personal question,” Fullerton said. “You have to do that self searching to figure out what gives you joy, what will make you excited to get out of bed each morning,” Fullerton said.
Fullerton says that self-examination process must be the first step for anyone mulling the creation of a new business. There are important steps that follow: talking to experienced people to get a better feel for what that business is like, and finally poring over resources that will help get the enterprise off the ground. But for many people, that first phase is the most important, and often takes the longest.
”Changing a career is a major change in a person’s life,” Fullerton said. “If you don’t identify the right business, it’s hard to be successful.”
One key to the self-examination process, Fullerton says, is pinpointing your “unique talent.” She recommends writing a note to at least six people you know well, asking them to identify what they see as your unique talent.
”Usually by doing that, people are able to identify a few common threads and realize they do certain things well that they didn’t realize before,” Fullerton said.
Though choosing the right line of business is ultimately a personal choice, Fullerton recommends several resources that can help:
Books:
“Finding Your Perfect Work,” by Paul and Sarah Edwards, offers worksheets, motivation quotes and anecdotes about people who have successfully started businesses.
“I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was,” by Barbara Sher, suggests ways that people can find their hidden talents.
“The Passion Plan,” by Dr. Richard Chang, offers a seven-step guide to help people discover their passions and use them in their careers.
“How To Get Ideas,” by Jack Foster, offers eight ways to condition the mind to produce new ideas and implement them.
“The Power of Focus,” by Jack Canfield, reveals “focusing techniques” used by some of the world’s most successful people.
Web sites:
www.ycwfa.com, which is an acronym for “you can work from anywhere,” offers tips, tools, articles and ideas for home-based workers.
www.goingsoho.com, promotes working from home and offers assistance to new or veteran entrepreneurs and recently displaced workers who are looking to start their own business.
www.ideacafe.com, offers advice on finding ideas for a new business and implementing a business plan.
