So What's Next?

Of all the links for things to do in my last newsletter, the most readers clicked on the Adventure Travel one.  So, for all of you who are feeling some wanderlust, here’s an idea from Norman Clearfield and Habitat for Humanity.

If you are looking for a unique, rewarding, life-changing experience, please consider service in Africa. We are looking for adventurous people to join us on this exciting and challenging trip to Ethiopia. While helping people in great need of decent housing, you will also have the opportunity to explore the unique Ethiopian landscape and culture. We will be building in Bahir Dar on the shores of beautiful Lake Tana and there will be an opportunity to participate in an optional tour of historic cultural and religious sites in the region.  Continue Reading »

How many times have you wondered what it would be like to have your own little business venture?  How often have you thought “I could do that…”?  How many ideas have you discarded because you decided they were silly or someone else told you they wouldn’t be viable?  

 If you aren’t already acquainted with Barbara Winter then you have missed some of the best inspiration for entrepreneurs out there.   And, as of yesterday, the new revised edition of her classic book, Making a Living without a Job is available everywhere.  

This new updated edition includes conversation about earning income in a chaotic economy, ways to use the internet and social networking to build a business, and how to leave your employee mindset behind.  I recommend buying this book to anyone who has ever given two minutes worth of day dream to doing something for themselves.  

Barbara has been my mentor and has more years than she would like me to tell of successfully marketing her own business without spending mega bucks.  Her philosophy is a marvelous combination of “keep it simple” and “just do it” that she shares with humor and contagious enthusiasm.      

You can order your copy today from my web-site bookstore (look in the career information category) or pick it up at your local book store.   

I’ve been known to suggest some pretty silly small biz ideas just to get your creative juices going, but since some people need some really good practical ideas here are some more serious ideas.

Computer work at home:  Virtual Assistants, Transcribers and Survey Responders are some possibilities. All three offer flexible hours, stay-at-home perks and pay per project. For valid information check out these two sites – www.e-workingwomen.com and www. ivaa.org

Mystery Shopper:   Offers flexible hours, requires a car, and becomes more lucrative as you prove your ability to provide good, timely reports.  Some allow you meals and merchandise at free or reduced prices.  Check www.e-workingwomen.com and www.mysteryshopper.org and www.mystery-shoppers.com   (Don’t ever pay a fee to a company to provide this service!)

Cater Waiter:  Offers flexible hours, usually requires only black pants and a white shirt (and comfy black shoes), responsible for helping with event set-up, serving and clean-up. They keep lists of available people and you can choose to accept or decline an event as they call you.   Check your local yellow pages for Caterers and Party Planning Services.   (There will always be weddings!)

Pet Care, House Cleaning, Personal Companions, Tutoring:  These are all services that you can provide by posting flyers around condo and apartment communities and on public bulletin boards in coffee shops and grocery stores.

Newspaper Delivery:  This is Dave Ramsay’s (Financial Peace guru) favorite way to pay down debt.  Early morning hours allow you to make money and then get on with your day.  Don’t just think the big ones – many communities now have local papers that are delivered to stores and sidewalk boxes as well as home delivery.

While You’re Away Concierge:  Forward mail, water plants, check the lamp timers  – provide services to people away on long vacations.  I found out last summer that the post office is worthless at forwarding mail and that my house got too hot and humid while I was away causing some damage.  I will pay someone responsible to send me my mail once a week and keep my condo in working order whenever I am gone from now on.

Seasonal jobs:  think about what kinds of things happen seasonally in your area.  Grow vegetables, herbs or fresh cut flowers to sell at the Farmer’s Market; work as a tour guide at a local historical site; set up a street stall to sell your art, jewelry or hand-made items; be a “sandwich-board” for local businesses on the boardwalk at the shore ; offer lawn-cutting and trimming services; work as a life-guard at a pool.

I hope this gets you started.   The list of books in my February Workin’ My Way newsletter offer lots more ideas.   If you’re not already sign up, just Do It Now!   (Our official motto for this year.)

If you have other good ideas to offer or questions about any of these, please comment below.

I was on a chat room board earlier today where a lot of folks were asking how they could earn an income working at home. There are many of us who want to do this for a variety of reasons. Stay at home Moms are the usual suspects, but it might also be that you have a disability that keeps you housebound, you are caring for someone who needs you there, or maybe you just want to quit fighting the traffic. 

Whatever the reason, there are unlimited possibilities today. You can work for someone else fielding phone calls, setting appointments or doing internet research. You can set up your own internet business selling on e-bay or on your own web-site; you can be a ghost writer; a medical transcriptionist; there is no limit to the ideas.

The question most people were asking on the forum was how to figure out which offers and jobs are scams and which are authentic.  Of course you have to do your own research to check up on any offer, but I would suggest that you start with the site www.workingfromhome.com which is the work of Paul and Sarah Edwards. This dynamic couple has produced numerous books for small business owners and self-employed folks, and have a reputation for providing quality information and sound advice. Some time spent studying the resources on their site would be time well spent and you can order their books from my web-site bookstore.

Daniel Craig - Murder at the Universe Mystery Writer

I included some quotes from Daniel Craig in an earlier post called Take the Night Shift to Hawaii. As the general manager of the Opus Hotel in Vancouver, BC, he works at a career he loves that also provides a rich background for this aspiring writer. He spends his days in a resort hotel environment chock full of interesting people and unique characters. What fodder for an author!

About 10 years ago, he started getting up at 5 am to write for two hours before going to work. His first published book, Murder at the Universe, is about a hotel manager in New York who becomes a reluctant sleuth when a murder takes place on property and his colleagues become suspects.

Daniel has now been contracted by Midnight Ink Books to develop the premise into a series featuring this hotel-manager-turned-sleuth. He just finished the second installment and it will be released in June of 2008.

When asked to comment on his dual career, Daniel said,

“As a writer I can set my own schedule and am only accountable to myself. Although now that I have a book contract I’m accountable to my editor, plus there are the readers to think about too. My job as a hotel manager allows me to live a comfortable life and to have a social outlet and network while pursuing my lifelong goal of being a writer. I have a creative side that needs to write, but I also am social and like to travel and enjoy the finer things in life, so having two careers allows me to have it all. It just makes me a very busy person.”

On designing an ideal life, this energetic young man says,

“I meet lots of people who dream about pursuing a creative endeavor but can never find the time. If it’s really important to you, you must make the time. Don’t wait until you’ve done all your other activities and use whatever time is leftover to pursue your dream. There is never any time left over. As the Wealthy Barber says about saving money, pay yourself first.”

Murder at the Universe

Technorati tags: writing fiction, part-time author, dual careers, hospitality careers, creative writing, mystery series