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messel

posts: 5

Dec 17, 2008 2:45 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Greetings readers!
I recently took a leave of absence from my tech job of 13 years, after burning out.  After many hours of reading and research on and offline, I`d like to narrow my entrepreneurial focus down to a web business that won`t require my attention 24/7.  I have no problems working hard and putting in the time to put the system together, but I`d like to avoid founding a business structure that requires my constant attention.

So far I`ve come across some fairly well designed small web hosting companies and admired their model.  After reading 4 hour work week, it`d be fantastic if I could make a small drop shipping web business a reality.

My major bottleneck at this time is trying to find what`s the right market and product for me.  I need one that I can get really excited about, so that my passion provides the fuel to make my first business as successful as possible.

Thanks for any feedback,
Mark Essel

messel12/17/2008 3:55 PM


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vapourlock

posts: 72

Dec 17, 2008 2:59 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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MY 2 cents?

It`s good that you have your focus narrowed down. It would feel like walking out of a crowded, fish market. Clarity is relief; almost therapeutic. But not wanting to do anything about your business 24/7? I doubt that. Automation is awesome, but no business is really hands free. Remember economics here: no money is ever exchanged if there is no value in what you provide. In the case of your drop-shipping business, perhaps this "value" might come in later, but you will have a lot of work to do to drive traffic to your website(s).

The take aways from 4-hr wrk week: outsource what you can`t do yourself. Whatever else the book talks about is really a personal call -- I have no comments.

Get to the warriorforum.com and register yourself( it`s free) and you will never leave that site. Startupnation.com and warriorforum.com probably contain golden nuggets of information that are hard to find elsehwere.

I wish you great success. Do keep me posted.

Ash



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Nick25

posts: 6

Dec 17, 2008 3:21 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Any business, whether online or offline, needs hardwork to get it started and to keep things going. You can`t run a successful business if you`re not willing to put in more hours building it, especially in its early stages. 

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Small businesses for sale | Buy a small business | Selling a business
messel

posts: 5

Dec 17, 2008 4:12 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Thanks for the feedback vapourlock and Nick25
No probs working hard at the get go, I`ve just read about some nightmare businesses that sucked all the time away from the owners because they spread themselves too thin.

Ashwin Satyanarayana (vapourlock), great website (rebelpreneur).
Really enjoyed reading the article
 http://rebelpreneur.com/2008/04/23/some-profitable-business-ideas-you-can-use-to-start-up-in-india/
messel12/17/2008 4:27 PM


-------------------------

Want to find out what`s happening in your dreams?
At the very least, share them to an interested community.
http://dreamsnare.com
RabbitMountain

posts: 423

Dec 17, 2008 10:18 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Mark -- I have a client right now who is doing something similar. He`s setting up a nice ecommerce site that is all drop-ship everything, he`s got agreements set up with something like 14 manufacturers at this point. He`ll be able to manage the site during the mornings when he is  home while still keeping his second-shift "day" job.

His product niche is archery and bowhunting gear. He travels all over during hunting season to go bowhunting for various kinds of game and is a major enthusiast... so that`s what he`s decided to pursue with his side business.

If you ended up with a surprise paid week off from your job, what would you spend it doing? Sleeping? Restoring a classic car? Go for a long bicycle tour of your state? That`s where my client started his decision process and it seems to be coming together for him quite nicely.

—paula
messel

posts: 5

Dec 18, 2008 10:17 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Excellent suggestion Paula, much thanks!

Right now I`m spending about 8-12hrs a day researching various markets/entrepreneur sites/reading texts.  I`ve found some excellent common themes from those that have started successful businesses.  I get really excited when other people are really enthusiastic about startups (energy feedback?).  My hope is that within the next two weeks I`ll start with finding a customer for a product I enjoy and am knowledgeable about. 

My old job consisted of a very small percentage of the time creating (designing/writing) new programs/scripts building on years of development, and a majority of the time making complicated batch jobs calling series of programs I wrote or helped write and putting that data into view graphs (charts) for the customer to review.  I lost interest with the total lack of control I felt over my own thoughts.  There was no freedom in the how, what or when aspects of that career.

My hobbies include:
  • walking (I like to walk about 50-100+ miles a week weather permitting)
  • online gaming (world of warcraft, I`ve tried most of the online games for pc/xbox360)
  • movies/films/tv series on DVD
  • reading (Buddhist philosophies, entrepreneurial books, occasional sci-fi/fantasy series)
  • forums (interacting with other folks that are interested in the same topics as I am)
  • racquetball (a few times a month it`s a hoot running around a big box with friends)
  • table top RPGs (D&D, etc)  even co-authored by own sci-fi future game that`s getting some editorial help at this time
  • anything creative, problem solving

messel12/18/2008 10:20 AM


-------------------------

Want to find out what`s happening in your dreams?
At the very least, share them to an interested community.
http://dreamsnare.com
googleguy

posts: 65

Dec 22, 2008 2:22 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Hi Messel,
 
I also have read the 4 hour work week...great book. I run an internet marketing firm and have done so full time for over 4 years. I always run into opportunities and look at each one carefully. Recently I became a Template Monster affiliate. Template Monster sells website templates online. I have purchased a couple for clients in the past and found that their templates are high quality, well designed and SEO friendly.
 
The best part of this business is that it requires very little effort. Once you sign up for the program, all you need is a domain name and your off making money. Template Monster pays 20% commission on all sales. There is no inventory, dealing with clients or anything else. Your only responsibilty is driving traffic to your new website.
 
They even provide you with a 100% functioning e-commerce website...FREE. My only cost was the $7.00 a year I spend for my domain name, I dont even pay for hosting, I get it FREE through GoDaddy.
 
Here is a link to my website that was given to me by Template Monster ( they offer about 20 different styles), find the "become an affiliate" link and it will provide you with more information about the program.
 
 
I hope this was helpful and good luck!


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www.searchmarketingsystems.net
messel

posts: 5

Dec 24, 2008 1:24 AM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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I`ll give it a looksy, thanks.

Time is running out for me (will probably have to get a regular day job again shortly :( ) , but I`m not giving up on my entrepreneur dreams.  Just gotta pay the bills while I discover my calling biz.



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Want to find out what`s happening in your dreams?
At the very least, share them to an interested community.
http://dreamsnare.com
PVnation

posts: 24

Jun 03, 2009 7:41 PM ET    Quote  Report Abuse
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Helllo,
I just wanted to know if you ever get a online hands free job. Please comment. I am looking for a realyable online job. It does not need to be a hands free. I only would like to make some decent money.
 
Thank you all
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