Who wants to be an entrepreneur? Start here... (and those who are, help here please!?)

[WilfSell]

OK, I was inspired by the 'earn 1k a month working from home' thread, which turned into an inspiring if terrifying 'don't sell yourself short' thread. And wondered if, those of us who might like to work for ourselves but don't currently, could get started here? I aim to keep my job, and perhaps try to move to part-time at some point. I have some business ideas, some good, some over-ambitious, mostly attempts to roll-out my current skills into a private consultancy, not necessarily linked to my existing job (university research/teaching).

I know it is an incredibly tricky time to think about this, and I'm sure it is not easy or comfortable to make a living... But some people manage it, so why shouldn't more of us?

Edison:

Overcoming Failure: Thomas Edison Quotes
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.

And more Edison:

Funny: Thomas Edison Quotes
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

Overcoming Failure: Thomas Edison Quotes
Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Perseverance, Persistence: Thomas Edison Quotes
Nearly every man who develops an idea works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged.

Funny: Thomas Edison Quotes
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Overcoming Failure: Thomas Edison Quotes
Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.

Honestly nanky, I do think it is a winner. I'm gonna post my thoughts on it on FB actually so all the lurkers don't nick it!

I have been watching this topic with interest. I am in the early stages of setting up my own small business and it is proving a steep learning curve! I feel as though I have so much still to learn but am enjoying the challenge. I have all the content for my website - now I just need someone to create it for me! I also need someone to design me a logo. What I?d love and feel I?d really benefit from is a mentor who has been there and set up their own small business, who could talk me through the process (either face to face or online!), discuss my ideas, point me in the right direction and answer my questions. Does anyone know if there is a way to go about this?! Good luck to everyone who is in a similar boat to me too!

There was a little thread about finding a mentor this earlier this year called:

I really need a mentor where on earth can I find one

Wilf for setting up this thread. It has got my engine started, and my head is buzzing with ideas.
That fear thing is just going to have to live in a corner somewhere instead of getting in my way.

Nanky hilarious re fanjos being such an unexpected niche(!) for you. But opportunity has fallen into your lap; not what you expected but dont let it get away.

I spent ages yesterday, sorting through old paperwork and re-establishing a system for records/paperwork/finance.
I think I fell into a trap of thinking that if I wasnt out generating income, it wasnt work...so that when work comes through the door I was scrambling to get things in place to meet it.
Sounds pathetically obvious when I write it here.

Donkey you put the boot up me a#s* to get electronic forms done. It's still a work in progress but a good start is half the job. Thanks.
The advice about data storage is very pertinent....obv having a medical related job, confidentiality is primary. I have an external hard drive, and only blank forms 'live' on my networked PC. Ditto locked storage for paper files.

Such a useful thread; hope it stays live. I need the support (and to live vicarious successes!).

Falling on my lap, ha ah ha.

I've just sent an email to my friend at the schoolgate who did my website. He writes apps...
squee.

I have lost my bank card and work related receipts. I know they are together, and I know they are here somewhere...

...at which point is it reasonable to demand a PA? Should I actually be making money? Because, at this rate, that day will never come...

There's a business idea for someone mega organised. Be our PA

There virtual PA's on mn, I shall try and remember who they are - or perhaps they'll shout!

I've always quite fancied doing the whole PA/admin thing. I hate doing my own paperwork, but I like organising things, so if I was getting paid for doing it for other people it would be different. I'd include doing things like sorting out people's e-mail inboxes. My inbox reaches 2000+ e-mails all too quickly, and filing them is a job I hate.

There's a thing, BIWI.

I want to be able to access my emails from my iphi

argh. Pressed send too soon.

I want to be able to access emails from my iphone, but if I put them into neat little folders in outlook, I don't think I will be able to. Or can I?

Your iPhone receives e-mail in a different way though, doesn't it? But I'm really not technical enough to know any more/how to do anything different!

oh, yes. True. Will have to try it out.

Aww thanks porridge. Of course it was generated from someone else's thread about earning 1k month, till Xenia intervened to bang us all on the heads a bit. Have sneaking suspicion that if I was truly a 1k a day earner, I'd have just taken the credit...

And thanks nanky for the pm - excellent idea and will follow up with some research... Hope you find someone for your App.

If people want encouragement.. have been working with someone selling an app for about US dollars 2 million although I am not saying everyone can sell an app for that kind of amount and it is not complete yet.

I spent 6 hours today clearing a room with one of my off spring although I am not sure that is the sort of task we could easily outsource. There were some ideas about concierge services on this thread or the £1k a day one re. Quinessentially which was originally a start up.

I would certainly recommend fast responses to customers. I am very quick and that alone often gets work. If you are very very good but very very slow you might as well not exist.

If you set up your mail on the server with folders then it should come to your phone (if you're using imap settings) in folders too - although it took me a good few months to discover these sub-folders.

Can you explain more about how that would work, DD? My e-mail folders are all set up on Outlook in separate folders, but it's different on my PC and on my laptop, because that's where I set up the folders.

When you say 'the server' - what do you mean? As you can see, I am technically very challenged!

At the moment, I have various 'rules' set up, which diverts mail into client-specific folders, and it would be useful to have that set up on my iphone too. At the moment, I have 3 e-mail addresses set up on my phone, but they receive e-mail as a totality, and there aren't any sub-folders for any of the addresses, nor do I know how to create/access them!

(I'm already thinking that there is obviously an opportunity here for a technical/IT wizard!)

Yep. I've got a blackberry - which was gifted out of desperation by my technologically able DH. I was all excited about it becasue I could make a wee cover with beaded brambles on it (brambles for my blackberry, geddit) However, I have no idea how to set up my work email - and the bloody thing scares me a bit.

Very pleased with my felting and beading and embroidered case though.

Also - downloading music for my classes and uploading photos to my website and blog give me the shivers too.

Embarrassing. I left my heart in the 80's.

lurky lurk

Wot no posting today, Mintyy?!

Trying to get off Mnet biwi. Got a fortnights worth of washing to do! (and a fortnights worth of Mnet to catch up on ). But am marking place on thread.

haha mintyy, I've just seen you lurking over on the fasting thread too. Lurkfest.

GW297 - I also spent a bit of time trying to look for a mentor during my start-up phase for online biz and couldn't find anyone suitable. (I contacted my former Chartered Institute of Marketing tutor and an ex-Business Link contact I had from a previous employed role, who I thought would be well connected).

Have you checked out forums like www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk? There are several boards on there that I find helpful - e.g. Ecommerce, SEO and retail.

The planning phase is very exciting - full of possibilities!

If you have any specific Q's, then feel welcome to pm me.

I love the way that you can't just lurk, though - you have to tell us that you're lurking! Which means you're posting ...