Want to be self-employed, but don't know what business you can do? Here is an easy solution: Look at your problems with a new attitude. Wonderful income opportunities are hiding in your pressing problems.
Rahul was right. He knew that he could become prosperous if he worked for himself and he found a way to do it. Careful reading of useful books on self-employment gave him the confidence he required for entrepreneurship and the knowledge about the potential for prosperity. Yet there was a hitch. Even after reading many books and articles, he faced the same problem every entrepreneurial aspirant faces: what should I do? Trying to figure out how to do before you know what to do is like applying for a visa before you apply for a passport. Rahul and I met at this point in his life. He is a commerce graduate and is from a middle class family. His parents had been looking forward, for years, for his graduation and his salary so that a part of the family's financial problems could be solved. As soon as he left college, this responsible young man started his search for a suitable job.
"In the first phase of my endless search, I sought a job in a multinational bank or mega corporation. It took two years for me to realize that such a job was an impossible dream. Then he began his search for the position of an accounts manager in a medium-sized company," Rahul said. "Did you get a job?" I asked him. "Many companies offered me clerical jobs for a pathetic salary. My ambition for a higher position and higher salary stopped me from accepting those offers. Two more years rolled by before I could decide to accept a job for Rs.1,500 a month." Rahul said. "Do you like your job?" I asked him. "Life has become a meaningless existence and I have become a machine. I don't like what I am doing now. I want something else, though I don't know what I actually want. I am unhappy with my present standard of living," Rahul said sorrowfully.
"Did you take any steps to improve the standard of your living? I am sure you know that self-employment is the only way to become prosperous," I told him. "Yes. In a way, I am lucky. My aspiration for a better standard of life and prosperity has not died, though it is fast approaching terminal stage. Two years ago, I read an article on how to earn income through the internet. That article inspired me so much that I spent 75% of my salary on the same day and bought a few books on self-employment and internet" Rahul said. "I have never heard about a man who spent 75% of his salary on self-improvement books. Did they help you?" I asked him.
"Sure, they did. I learnt a lot from these books. After reading them, I have become confident and knowledgeable. However, I am clueless about where to begin and what to do. I am clear about self-employment. I am not clear about the project. I do not know how to discover a meaningful income opportunity," Rahul replied. "The easiest way to find out an opportunity is to look for them in your pressing problems," I told him. "Can you explain it and show me an opportunity please?" Rahul requested me.
"Our view about anything changes from time to time, from person to person, and from event to event. When a man hurts others with his gun, we punish him as a criminal. When a soldier kills enemy soldiers with his gun, we honor him as a hero. The same act of wielding a gun gets different values, because we judge them by different standards. If you analyze your problem with attitudes different from the present ones you have, it will become an opportunity," I explained to Rahul. "I have an aspiration to be self-employed. I want to earn income with the help of computer and internet. Where is the income opportunity for me?" Rahul was not sure whether my words would be of any help to him. "Can you think of a specific problem that you would like to solve immediately?" I asked.
Rahul told me about a problem that was pressing him then. "Last night I was trying to learn to use a newsletter creation software tool. This software helps you create newsletters and distribute it to thousands of prospects through email. The maker is a famous small company. Every book on internet income recommends this software. So, I downloaded the trial version of the software. No doubt it has hundreds of powerful features. But what's the use? It does not have a good user manual. It is a pain to find out how to do even a simple task. I have never had such a problem when I use the products of big companies."
"A big company has vast resources to develop user friendly manuals. But a small company has limited resources. It is not fair to compare the two companies," I told Rahul. "I agree. But, where is the opportunity for me in this problem? I wish someone can write a manual and solve my problem," Rahul said bitterly.
"Can't that someone be you? Many books recommend this software. So, there will be good demand for the software. Most readers will buy this software. Most of them will have the same problem that you have. You can study the software, create a user manual and sell it," I told Rahul. "Who will buy it from me? How will the prospects know I have a product?" Rahul raised questions. "That's easy. Create a sample manual and then send it to the software company. Offer to develop a nice manual for them. Tell them that they don't have to pay you any money and you will be happy if they place a small ad on their sales web page about the manual. You can even offer to split the revenue," I told Rahul. "Will they do it?" Rahul was not sure.
"Why not? Every businessperson knows the value of increasing the satisfaction level of customers. One satisfied customer will bring in dozens of customers. If you can solve a serious problem faced by the company, they will certainly welcome your proposal," I told Rahul. His eyes widened and he asked me, "Do you think this will work out well?"
I explained to Rahul, "There are hundreds of thousands of software vendors. Generally these programmers don't find time to create user manuals. For products from companies such as Microsoft and Adobe, you will find hundreds of manuals and books. You will not find even one manual or book for products from most small companies. Technical writing for small software companies is a virgin market," I gave Rahul a brief idea about the market potential and continued. "There is no need to have programming knowledge to create manuals. All you need is a logical approach, an eye for details and skill for simple, step by step writing. You may have to learn how to use software tools such as Adobe Indesign for creating manuals and screen-capturing software tools such as SnagIt. Technical writing is a profitable business." Suddenly Rahul was overflowing with energy. "I will not waste a minute from now onwards. See you," Rahul said and left my place.
After a week Rahul called me over phone. "I worked on two features of the software, created a sample manual and sent it to the company by email. They are in Germany. I sent them an email today morning. Within an hour they have responded. They say that they are pleased beyond measure with the sample manual and they want me to develop manuals for their other products also," Rahul screamed with joy. "Will they pay you any fees?" I asked him the important question.
"No. They'll make my manual an official one and recommend it to their customers. The manual will be sold by the company from their website. They say it will be easy to sell the manual for $9 a piece and they will give me $2 as royalty. They are confident of selling 5 copies a day," Rahul said in an animated voice. "Wonderful! It means you will earn $300 a month. It comes to Rs.13,000 a month!" I was beginning to scream.
"I have decided to have a farewell chat with my employer today evening," Rahul said before he hung up the telephone.