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Shane

posts: 61

Dec 07, 2008 9:12 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi All - -

I am a burnt out network engineer that is almost done with his MBA.....I can`t begin to express how badly I want to get out of the corporate world and just have something to call my own. I believe in 4 day work weeks (yes, everyone should experience it), and treating employees as partners not workers.

I started a business ( a managed service provider business) but for some reason I just felt I was going down the same path of doing what I`m burnt out on.

After doing the life plan I discovered some great things but now i`m wondering how to narrow that down into a business.

I have over 15 years experience in IT. An MBA. And my talents are:

Teaching/Training/Educating

Being creative

Sharing Ideas ( I LOVE brainstorming)

Helping others

I want to work from home and be able to use my computer.

Any ideas get sparked from this???

One idea I had was something I call Innovate. It`s where businesses would hire me to come up with new processes or solve a problem. Then what I do is something I love doing: I go out and get several people from different backgrounds/experiences and we get together for brainstorming where no idea is too crazy and no one is left out. Once we have thought outside the box, strategized and came up with viable solutions, I do a professional write up and present solutions. The beauty is that I build a "pool" of people that I can draw upon for each new client opportunity. Now that would be awesome!!!!!

Any other ideas based on my experience and passions would be absolutely welcome!

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BizCritique

posts: 1

Dec 08, 2008 3:50 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Shane!

It`s great to hear of someone that shares my same crazy passion for brainstorming and problem solving. I`m working now as a chemical engineer (just out of school--I`m earning my stripes so I can financially stable enough to pursue a startup or other interesting project full time) but I have business and venture capital background as well. In the meanwhile I`m looking to get involved with a startup or two. I have lots of ideas, but always seem to get busy or have another better idea before I follow through on anything. I`m getting to the point, though, where I really want to take the leap. I love the Innovate idea.

Contact me at emortenson.googlepages.com

CraigL

posts: 9051

Dec 08, 2008 9:37 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Hi Shane,
The initial problem I see above is that although you`ve listed four "talents," that`s not really very helpful. Being a problem-solver, loving to help others, sharing ideas, and being creative are character traits...ways of being. They`re not going to point to any particular type of business in and of themselves.

You`ve also said that you`re burnt out on IT work, but I`m thinking your most likely clients, if you get together this solutions-facilitator business, would want you to come up with IT solutions. So there you`d end up still burnt out.

Instead of seeing your above "talents" as something to sell, I`m thinking you can apply all four of them to analyzing your own situation and problem. Coming up with a creative solution to this next step in your life. Right?

Of those listed, "teaching, training, and education" are the ones that offer tangible business options. However; I have a strong suspicion that you have way more talents and skills than only those three.:-) Maybe?

An important aspect of developing a new life-path is to go back to your childhood, from early memories to around 15 years old. What did you spend most of your personal time doing? Don`t consider school, homework, chores....but only your "play" time.

What sorts of things did you most enjoy when you were playing?

jwatkins

posts: 145

Dec 09, 2008 2:23 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Here`s an idea that combines your love of teaching with your IT experience and its a much needed service. This idea can go in two directions. 1) Set up a system that will allow school teachers to video themselves giving lessons and then have the lessons available to parents and students for extra help, studying, etc. With the No Child Left Behind legislation crushing school systems the administrators would welcome this additional help. 2) Offer public school curriculum lessons as a paid service for students and parents. You would actually pay the teachers to video themselves teaching the curriculum.

Just a couple of ideas to get you going.

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Get Out of Debt

Shane

posts: 61

Dec 09, 2008 4:27 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Craig -

Thanks...that was an extremely helpful reply and it really did make me think. And you know, you are correct - some of those "talents" we all have, don`t necessarily translate right into a business. Here`s one thing and this is what I should have expressed is even though I`m burnt out, it`s because i`m stuck in a rut. But instead of going back to childhood, what I did was think of one thing I did at work that really made me excited - - you know - - that thing you get to do at work where you just know it was meant to be and you just can`t wait to do it.....

For me - that was when I got to do a huge project and then train everyone. I loved it!!! I got to create the training outline, then hold classes. I couldn`t wait every single day to walk in and help people learn......it`s the one thing I wish i could do again and again.

So it allowed me to use my tech skills (since I did the project), it allowed me to be creative, and I got to teach!

But is there a business opportunity???

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Shane

posts: 61

Dec 09, 2008 4:30 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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j -

this is a great idea! I need to look into the No child left behind issues though as I was not aware of it`s effects....

I wonder what the competition is out there for this and is it even being done?

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jwatkins

posts: 145

Dec 09, 2008 4:39 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I`ve researched it and haven`t found any competition. However there are tutoring sites out there. What I would look into is each state`s curriculum requirements. They have specific things each student must learn and then be tested on. Simply find teachers willing to earn some extra cash and have them teach the curriculum.

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Get Out of Debt

CraigL

posts: 9051

Dec 09, 2008 11:13 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Seems like we`re all three thinking along similar lines. If you`re passionate about training, then Jwatkins` idea is excellent! Video feedback has been very useful in sports (e.g., golf, skiing), so it seems it`d be similarly useful in the classroom. Especially with the way teachers learn to teach these days.

Something else to consider: I believe that the overall corporate model is cracking, faster and faster, and is about to collapse. We`re going to fragment before coming together in a new economic model. To that end, I wouldn`t invest too much money in building a business focused on only what today would be considered to be a large corporation.

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