FormerlyToolman
01-03-2009, 08:12 AM
Hi everyone,
I used to post on the other forum, back when I was self employed. I just went back there for the fun of it, and got the private message telling me that there was a new forum here. I figured that I had better come over here and check it out.
I haven't even looked at the other forum for close to a year.
A bit of history, for those who do not know me. I was self employed for over ten years as a mobile tool distributor. A year ago, I began to come to the conclusion that what I owned was in no way a business... it was simply a job! I had no employees, and no way to leverage people to increase my earnings. The business model just was not suited to this. If the business was going to make money, it had to be me, working at it, full time. If I could not be there, no money was made.
That business is many times sold to people as a means to "freedom." You can have the freedom of working for yourself. It really was not true, and it took me years to realize this.
That, and other issues too numerous for me to go into here, led me to seek out another opportunity.
So now, I operate a segment of their business for them. It has had its own challenges, but I enjoy it very much! I have a staff of around 22 people directly under me, so that if I can't be there, everything continues on. It is very freeing! I function pretty well in what they term as a "high stress" position. I laugh at that, because they do not know what stress is!
There is still that little bit inside of me, however, that wants to do something to earn a bit of money on my own. Maybe not to run a part time business, but what I have heard referred to as a "side hustle." Simply a chance to pick up some extra cash by doing a little something on the side.
I have always enjoyed writing, and I figured that was a good place to start. My writing "hustle" earned me $1000 last year, which isn't bad. I can write a 1000 word magazine article, completely edited and ready for publication, in less than two hours. I hope to also write a full length book soon as well.
I have also taken an interest in personal finance (hence the blog I have linked here.) I am of the belief that people can significantly improve their lives by implementing just some simple financial principles, such as budgeting, not spending more than what they owe, and not using consumer credit (I know, what a strange idea!) I will be exploring more of that in blogging, and writing, as well. I have an Excel budget spreadsheet that I use, that is pretty detailed, and people have expressed an interest in using it. There might be an opportunity there as well.
Perhaps I could adapt my sheet for business use, or do some Excel consulting for some businesses out there? Who knows?
I look to expand my blogging into a site with advertising, and some affiliated marketing as well. I also have a goal to start another blog this year.
This is just the start of some of the side hustles I have going. Maybe all of these can be formed into one big group, called "FormerlyToolman Inc," and make up a real business? Who knows? But, I always believe that the spirit of this (or the other) forum has been about people who operate something to make money on their own, weather to completely support themselves (as I used to), or to supplement income from a full time job.
So, with that, I figured that I would come back, and be part of the community once again!
I used to post on the other forum, back when I was self employed. I just went back there for the fun of it, and got the private message telling me that there was a new forum here. I figured that I had better come over here and check it out.
I haven't even looked at the other forum for close to a year.
A bit of history, for those who do not know me. I was self employed for over ten years as a mobile tool distributor. A year ago, I began to come to the conclusion that what I owned was in no way a business... it was simply a job! I had no employees, and no way to leverage people to increase my earnings. The business model just was not suited to this. If the business was going to make money, it had to be me, working at it, full time. If I could not be there, no money was made.
That business is many times sold to people as a means to "freedom." You can have the freedom of working for yourself. It really was not true, and it took me years to realize this.
That, and other issues too numerous for me to go into here, led me to seek out another opportunity.
So now, I operate a segment of their business for them. It has had its own challenges, but I enjoy it very much! I have a staff of around 22 people directly under me, so that if I can't be there, everything continues on. It is very freeing! I function pretty well in what they term as a "high stress" position. I laugh at that, because they do not know what stress is!
There is still that little bit inside of me, however, that wants to do something to earn a bit of money on my own. Maybe not to run a part time business, but what I have heard referred to as a "side hustle." Simply a chance to pick up some extra cash by doing a little something on the side.
I have always enjoyed writing, and I figured that was a good place to start. My writing "hustle" earned me $1000 last year, which isn't bad. I can write a 1000 word magazine article, completely edited and ready for publication, in less than two hours. I hope to also write a full length book soon as well.
I have also taken an interest in personal finance (hence the blog I have linked here.) I am of the belief that people can significantly improve their lives by implementing just some simple financial principles, such as budgeting, not spending more than what they owe, and not using consumer credit (I know, what a strange idea!) I will be exploring more of that in blogging, and writing, as well. I have an Excel budget spreadsheet that I use, that is pretty detailed, and people have expressed an interest in using it. There might be an opportunity there as well.
Perhaps I could adapt my sheet for business use, or do some Excel consulting for some businesses out there? Who knows?
I look to expand my blogging into a site with advertising, and some affiliated marketing as well. I also have a goal to start another blog this year.
This is just the start of some of the side hustles I have going. Maybe all of these can be formed into one big group, called "FormerlyToolman Inc," and make up a real business? Who knows? But, I always believe that the spirit of this (or the other) forum has been about people who operate something to make money on their own, weather to completely support themselves (as I used to), or to supplement income from a full time job.
So, with that, I figured that I would come back, and be part of the community once again!