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Live Your Mission by Starting Your Own Business

04.09.2012 by Guest Author //

Identifying your mission in life can be a tough task in and of itself. But finding a way to achieve it can be even more challenging. Ideally, you should be able to combine your mission with your career so that you can draw an income while doing something fulfilling.

However, in today’s job market, changing careers might not be feasible. The only remaining solution is to start your own business. While this notion is often met with trepidation or fear, it’s not as difficult as you might think. In reality, you can start your own business, achieve your life’s mission, and stay financially afloat at the same time. All it takes is some common sense, planning, and a strong work ethic.

Here are some tips to get started:

1. Identify Your Mission by Gauging Your Passions in Life
Take an introspective look at yourself – look for your strengths and abilities and partner them with what you’re passionate about. If you are struggling, ask family and friends for ideas. They may offer insights, tips, and advice that you never considered.

2. Convert Your Mission to Income Generation
Once you’ve identified your mission, the next step is to turn it into a money-making venture. Research what other people are doing with similar ideas – and don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Whatever you do, develop a plan and follow it. Undoubtedly, as you go along, you’ll learn more and determine how to hone your plan to better accomplish your goals.

3. Focus on Customer Service
There are plenty of places you can go to get great food, but how many of them deliver it with exceptional customer service? The best way to set yourself apart from the competition is to focus on customer service. The cost-to-reward ratio often works out heavily in your favor. Whether your venture is product- or service-based, run your business in a fast, courteous, and friendly fashion, and you’ll be sure to build a solid client base that will serve you for years to come.

4. Effectively Market Your Business
You can have the best business idea in the world, but if no one knows you exist, your efforts will be in vain. Therefore, you need to effectively market your business.

Start by creating a website, so your customers have somewhere to go for more information. Then, create a page for your business on popular social media websites, including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Creating an account is typically free, and these sites can be huge in generating new customers.

Be sure to manage all your social media accounts, and be as interactive as possible with your followers. The more promptly you respond to comments and questions, the more likely your business is to grow.

5. Save Money
If you’re a first-time entrepreneur, saving money by cutting small business expenses should be at the top of your list. Buy used items whenever you can, including computer equipment and office furniture. You can barter your talents with other professionals to get services you need for less. Also, avoid expensive marketing campaigns when you are starting out, and meet with professionals in your industry for other ways to save. Check out the website Meetup.com for networking opportunities in your area.

6. Expand Judiciously
Never overextend yourself financially when first setting out, as this may quickly lead to failure. Instead, build modest revenue streams, reinvest them in your business, and expand cautiously as you see fit. You’ll find that this business model will serve you much better than one of expanding too rapidly.

Final Thoughts
Some people feel guilty about receiving money while building or living their dream. But as long as you are ethical in your efforts, there is nothing wrong with profiting from hard work. As 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” This is true in business and in life. As long as you approach the idea of small business ownership with good planning and save everywhere you can, you can fulfill your mission in life, be financially successful, and help others along the way.

What other tips can you suggest for finding your mission in life?

*******

David Bakke runs an online reselling business and blogs about personal finance on Money Crashers. He lives in Atlanta with his young son and enjoys keeping up to date on the best ways to save money and improve his life.

Categories // Earn Money Tags // entrepreneur, mission

Dan Miller on Debt, Life Missions, and the Changing Workplace

05.31.2011 by Matt Jabs //

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Dan Miller of 48Days.net.  Dan was kind enough to devote several hours of his time to the Debt Free Adventure audience addressing the subjects of debt and career… specifically focusing on breaking barriers while pursuing your passion and succeeding in the changing workplace environment.

Who is Dan Miller?

Dan is a pioneer in the Life Coach movement, the founder of the 48Days.Net community, and two time best selling author who has helped millions of people transition from working jobs they hate, to leading successful, mission-focused work lives.  Dan is also a joyful Christian, father, grandfather, and successful Eaglepreneur.  Find more of Dan by reading his bio, reading his 48Days blog, and by reading his bestselling and powerful books: 48 Days To The Work You Love and No More Dreaded Mondays.

As an added bonus Dan is offering an incredible resource to readers for free… his eBook 48 Low Cost Business Ideas.  Make sure you download and read the book – it’s packed with unique and profitable business ideas that have very low (or no) start up costs.

Dan’s challenge to DFA readers

Folks, this challenge – and piece of advice – from Dan is crucial and very powerful.  If you take nothing else away from this interview article… be sure to spend a few hours contemplating the wisdom he gives below.

Dan advises us to:

“Look inward first.  Take 2 hours to look internally and say, what are my unique skills and abilities, what are my personality tendencies, what are those recurring dreams that I keep having? From that you should be able to create a clear focus and then decide, what kind of work embraces all of those things that I now know about myself? That is the starting point, and that has been the freeing process for a whole lot of people that I have had the privileged of intersecting lives with over the last few years.”

If you are ready for a change and want to take positive action toward that change… take Dan’s challenge seriously and go do this now.

The video interview

Please enjoy… it was a great joy to interview Dan and I hope to collaborate with him more in the future.

(If you are unable to see the video in your email click here to view it on the web.)

Please excuse the quality of the sound and video… it was my first attempt at recording a Skype call.  I wish the quality were better but cannot change it now.  I promise the quality will be better in future videos – but also wanted to share this wise quote on the subject of publishing less than perfect content…

“The man who does things makes mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all – doing nothing.” – Benjamin Franklin

No More Mondays book giveaway

I loved this book so much that I’m giving a copy away to one lucky DFA subscriber.  If you’re already subscribed, you’re already entered to win!  If you’re not subscribed you can enter to win below.  By entering you will also begin receiving free DFA email updates directly in your email!

The winner will be announced on Friday, June 3rd 2011.

Categories // Debt, Earn Money Tags // career, Debt, entrepreneur, interview, mission

Gain All You Can, Save All You Can, Give All You Can

05.13.2011 by Matt Jabs //

Yesterday I was inspired by a John Wesley quote from an article by Joe Plemon – of PersonalFinanceByTheBook.com – published on ChristianPF.com:

“Gain all you can, Save all you can, Give all you can” – John Wesley

This quote inspires me by turning a common Christian viewpoint on making money on its head choosing instead to gain as much as we can to have more effect.  After all… how can we give more if we don’t have more?

To highlight the concept I shot the following video, which also touches on embracing your calling in life and pursuing it with passion – I hope you enjoy.

For those reading this message in email, click here to watch the video

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Categories // Earn Money, Giving Tags // earn, Giving, mission, passion, save

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Disclaimer

Content on Debt Free Adventure is for entertainment purposes only. Rates & offers from advertisers shown on this website may change without notice: please visit referenced sites for current information. Per FTC guidelines, this website may be compensated by companies mentioned through advertising, affiliate programs or otherwise. We respect your privacy. Privacy policy.

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