Turn your Talent into a Career

My financial success is questionable, therefore some may wonder why I think I'm "qualified" to advise anyone on money matters or career decisions. All I can say is that the two students who were failing College Algebra with the expert Math Professor came to me for tutoring even though I was majoring in English. They said he went too fast, they couldn't understand him, and when I explained it to them, it was much easier to learn. I told them that the reason I was more helpful to them is because I understood their frustrations and questions, where the expert professor would not be able to understand why they weren't "getting" it.

Everyone likes to say "Dream Big!" or "Go Big or Go Home!" and while that sounds like a great cheerleading verse, it's actually not great advice. I know because I got caught up and stuck in the web of dreaming too big for my own success. Every time I thought I had a talent or a great idea, I thought I was going to be the next Pavarotti or Einstein. Through a lot of hard work, many hours of research, and a lot of wasted money on failing, I finally learned that "dreaming small" may not sound as glorious as "dreaming big" but it's a lot more realistic and achievable.

The only "hustle" or "side gig" I kept for a long time was as an Avon Sales Rep. I began loving and selling their catalog products back in the late 90s when it was still popular enough to make some extra cash with. These days Avon still has great products, but that hustle is harder than it ever was because everyone is already familiar with it and the people who love it the most have their own sales account. The internet kinda killed the Avon Sales Rep.

But the internet is still the best place for aspiring new entrepreneurs who have decided that they are done punching the time clock to flip burgers. Websites like Etsy, Ebay, and Listia offer many opportunities for crafters, artists, and salespeople to utilize for self-promotion. If you are great at crochet or knitting or jewelry making, I recommend Etsy. If you are a collector and you have a garage full of nostalgic (hard-to-find) items, I recommend Ebay. If you are like me, still trying to find your artistic groove, I recommend Listia. All three websites have what you need to promote your products and make a profit.

What about services though? I'm a great driver. There is still Uber and Lyft. I'm a great painter. Shopify can help you sell your artwork. I'm a great singer or dancer. That's a tough one. You can try to be the next Justin Beiber on Youtube, or maybe you can just enjoy your talent in a local theater show or at karaoke. I was thinking about my talent in wrapping gifts. I love wrapping presents at Christmas time and a long time ago that service was offered to mall shoppers. When I inquired at the mall for a job like that, nobody knew what I was talking about. I guess everybody just shoves their last minute buys into a Dollar Tree gift bag these days or just hands someone a gift card. Well, if I ever get my little shoppe going at the flea market, I'll offer the gift wrapping service.

Planners, cooks, and cleaners often have what it takes to run their own business. Planning weddings, big parties, or making travel arrangements for others is still sought and is a low cost start-up business because you can usually begin at home. Same goes with Catering and Cleaning businesses. If you don't like those options or you've already done that and want to try something else, you might promote yourself as a Personal Assistant, which is a glorified title for Errand Runner. Errand Runners usually do the shopping, mailing, and dog walking type of tasks to free up a busier person's schedule.

I had thought that the "little guy" was someone who ran a new shoppe in a strip mall and hadn't made his name or brand famous yet. That's not what it means to be the "little guy". The "little guy" is the person who doesn't have the Capital to get into the strip mall, but does have the skills and talents and ideas to be useful to someone. The "little guy" may not have the financial means to "dream big" --- but a little dream means a lot to the "little guy". Sometimes success is just knowing that your talent was acknowledged and if that brings in a profit, than the "little dream" also brought business success.

May all your dreams come true.

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