Leap of Faith

For months I’ve been researching how to launch a small business. I have felt very unfulfilled at my job since having a baby. I don’t want to be away from D and I certainly don’t want to be working for “the man” getting less than a standard of living raise each year and having no creativity or personal fulfillment. I’m not opposed to working, but I’m opposed to working for someone/ someplace that doesn’t allow me the flexibility I need to live my life.

I’ve been reading the following books:

Mommy Millionaire by Kim Levine
How I turned my kitchen table idea into a million dollars and how you can too!

Ladies Who Launch by Victoria Colligan and Beth Schoenfeldt with Amy Swift
How to live your dreams and love your life. Embracing entrepreneurship and creativity as a lifestyle.

"The Home-Based Business Kit” by Diana Brodman Summers and D-M Boulay
Launch a money-making venture from the comfort of your own home.

"LLC or Corporation?" by Anthony Mancuso
How to choose the right form for you business.

Depending on how depressing work is, the faster I read these books. My loose idea is to start what I’m calling a concierge business. I would start small and locally, and basically help people out with whatever they need. I know that’s not a very specific idea, but I have a much more detailed map in my head. My task now is to sort out all the details and create a business plan.

I just started reading “Ladies Who Launch” and it really speaks to my soul. Sounds cheesy, but at this point, I’m feeling desperate for a way out of my current career path. The idea in this book is that women approach business models differently than men do. Women network more and build things based on relationships. I swear, I was one step away from calling a shrink, or a career counselor before I started reading.

My loose timeline is to finish my reading in the next few weeks and then begin looking at business plans. I already have a domain, which I’m pretty excited about. I'll reveal it later once there’s something to see. I’d like to launch my part-time business in December. Of course I'll have to continue working for Corporate America in conjunction with my grand scheme, but maybe one day I can bid adeau to the 9-5.

My personal goals are to: make enough money to pay for the business, pay for health insurance for the family and pay for the nanny while I work. Anything on top of that is gravy. In a perfect world, I'll work only 3 days a week, with set hours.

So there it is. That’s what I’ve been milling about over for the last few months. It’s a long shot, but maybe it’s not. I’m going to start small and just see how it goes.

Back in July when I went to see the angel card reader, she pulled the “Leap of Faith” card. I didn’t even have this concierge idea back then, but I think this is what the card was referring to.