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Have you ever noticed how your mind gets uncluttered while you are on vacation, then on the flight home you can’t write fast enough as new and inspiring ideas pour out of your mind? Recently, I was on the flight back to Austin after an energizing ski trip in Park City; I spent half an hour mapping out a plan that would create a significant improvement in my financial life. I’m now on the verge of a large empty nest and two sons in college, so it definitely feels like a time of transition in so many ways, including my personal finances.
This plan had come to me briefly in passing moments several times, and I had even mentioned it to my husband without much response. This time, however, he was seated next to me on the plane, so there was no escaping as I put pencil to paper and mapped out my idea, with my calculator in hand. It was fun, simple and wonderfully empowering to write out the financial consequences of this potential strategy. Simply knowing that I control my financial destiny with my decisions about making and spending money felt very enlightening.
Then it occurred to me that I actually enjoy financial planning and brainstorming new ideas with various potential results. Sure, this comes easily to me because I have been involved with investing and finances for over twenty years, but it’s also just plain fun to explore financial possibilities. I then realized that this process is not simple or fun for everyone, and that I could share this skill with others to help them feel more confident about their finances and help them explore ways to grow their money. Right then, I decided to develop a course with the simple steps I went through on the plane that day to help others become inspired while having some fun and helping them get a handle on their personal finances.
One of the several steps in the five week course, which begins later this month, is exploring ideas for additional income so that you can increase your cash flow and put aside more money to grow. I believe that everyone has a gift to share with others, whether that talent is creating healthy meals, taking an invention to market, or helping others enhance their career.
You can start sharing your talent with a book by simply making a commitment and begin typing; self-publishing has become more respectable and inexpensive than ever. Creating a blog to share your knowledge is almost as easy. Now it seems funny that I thought about starting my financial blog for three years before I actually did it.
What is the talent you can share to create a business that generates additional income while helping others? If the idea seems too big right now, consider easing into your own business by simply listing your skills on a local or global online freelance site, such as craigslist.com or guru.com. Additionally, there may be tax benefits that lower your overall tax bill if your primary intention with your small business is to generate a profit.
Write out the things that you know how to do very well that are simple for you; put a big star by the ones you truly enjoy doing. Write down your best skills, such as graphic design or speaking. Let your creative thoughts begin flowing. You’ll want a simple business plan with some realistic return on investment numbers before investing a lot of money, especially if your cash flow is currently lacking. First, simply invite ideas by allowing your mind to flow; then see what thoughts come to mind over the next few days.
Just think of all of the fabulous and profitable women owned businesses that began with a journal and a little time to explore. Is it time for you to expand? Take some time to brainstorm over the next few days. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for more information about my upcoming course so you can brainstorm this and other ideas to enhance your journey and start growing your money now.