Doing What You Love To Do – Part 1

Posted on 22. Feb, 2008 by Nate Moller in Starting an Online Business

(This is the first part of a two or three part series on “Doing What You Love to Do”.)

Scott Hanselman once talked about three aspects to evaluate the dream job. They are:

  1. Doing Stuff You Love to To
  2. Doing Stuff You’re Good At
  3. Doing Stuff Someone Will Pay You to Do

Why do you think these concepts are so important to consider as you start your first on-line business? One of my good friends, Melissa S., couldn’t say it better:

I think it is very wise for Prosper to encourage the students to pick something they love to market. I love ballroom dancing and I guess there is a gene in most women that makes them love shoes.

Because of Melissa’s decision to do something she loved to do, she has seen amazing results with her first website.

As many of my readers know, my first website was all about clogging shoes and the clogging dance industry. I was such a wild little kid that my mom did everything she could to calm me down. She put me in every sport, piano lessons, singing and finally, after exhausting all other options, clogging was an attempt to drain me of unnecessary energy. At the time I don’t know how much I really liked it, but, it’s paid off now in more ways than I ever imagined. Clogging is really why I’m now so actively involved in the search engine optimization and on-line marketing industry. Without that first website idea, I would not be doing what I do today.

So why is it important to do something you love to do? As I mentioned in a previous post, starting an on-line business isn’t easy. You have to be patient, diligent, hard working and persistent. Luckily I had a mentor that took me by the hand and walked me through some of his trials and errors (although he wouldn’t claim he had too many :) ) so I didn’t have to go through them on my own. He didn’t tell me what industry I should get involved in to start, but he did have me write down hobbies, interests, and things I enjoyed doing. As I look back at my education, this was one of the first steps towards my success.

If you are just getting started with an on-line business or thinking about starting something new, this is my biggest recommendation – Do Something You Love to Do! Many people have a tendency to think, “What will make me the most money?” or “What’s the best selling thing out there – I’ll do that.” I’m yet to see a mindset like this become really successful. Yes it’s important to do market research. Just because I love to watch sports on TV doesn’t mean that activity is going to make me money. But as you consider different options, don’t rule some out just because you “think” they wouldn’t be profitable or you “think” they are too saturated with competitors.

In Part 2 of this post I plan to do a case study on a client that has really seen success with her first on-line business because she followed this simple concept – she picked something she loved to do and then monetized it.

18 Responses to “Doing What You Love To Do – Part 1”

  1. Patsy Kelly

    22. Feb, 2008

    Hey Nate!
    This is great–love the illustration with the overlapping circles that really narrows down what your ‘dream job’ is.

    I’m so glad you encouraged me to focus on something I really loved. Once I eliminated all the things I was trying because I thought they sounded easy and quick, or fast money-makers, and concentrated on something I really loved and am good at–well, I won’t say it was easy or fast, but it’s going well now and in fact I was just looking over price lists and thinking about a couple of new suppliers.

    Reply to this comment

  2. Nate Moller

    23. Feb, 2008

    Patsy,

    Great to hear from you! You are a perfect example of someone that is doing what they love to do and, low and behold, you’re power seller on ebay because of it! Thanks for the comment – I hope to talk to you soon.

    Nate Moller

    Reply to this comment

  3. Matt Siltala

    23. Feb, 2008

    Trials? What are trials? I never heard of them!! LOL – Thanks Nate!

    Reply to this comment

  4. Mark Kaye

    11. Mar, 2008

    Hi Nate!

    I took your advice and posted a “Comment Contest” on my website. I received some great giveaways from TV studios this week and I offered them up to all of my readers! In the first hour I received 20 comments! Pretty good social networking tactic!

    Thanks!

    Mark Kaye

    Reply to this comment

    • Nate Moller

      13. Nov, 2008

      What’s been happening Mark? I see you on TV stuff – how’s business? We should talk again soon – I’m still game for an interview or something.

      Talk soon!

      Reply to this comment

  5. Nate Moller

    11. Mar, 2008

    This is great to hear Mark! Every body wants something for free! I found this article too that reminded me of what you are doing: http://www.retailmenot.com/

    Granted, the idea is a bit different than what you are doing, but the concept is similar – they are probably making money by referring people to different specials, hopefully on high ticket items.

    Great job!

    Reply to this comment

  6. Brooke

    09. Jun, 2008

    My business started with doing something I loved. So many people loved my product and asked for more. I never intended to sell it. But, hey, I loved to make them, they made me happy and people love to buy them.

    Reply to this comment

    • Nate Moller

      13. Nov, 2008

      Brooke,

      You’re one of the best examples of someone who is doing what they love to do and making money at the same time. When you approach a business that way, the speed bumps become fun to find ways around instead of barriers that cause you to quit or give up! I look forward to talking soon. Enjoy your vacation!

      Nate

      Reply to this comment

  7. Jesse Rucker

    05. Jul, 2008

    Hi Nate,

    We are trying to build a website but having trouble. We finally found the niche we love even though we had so much trouble to start with. We will keep trying.

    Reply to this comment

    • Nate Moller

      13. Nov, 2008

      It’s coming right along Jesse! I know you can do it and am happy we finally got the merchant account stuff fixed today.

      Keep up the good work and keep asking questions – it’s the best way to learn!

      Reply to this comment

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  9. Kaly Shippen

    13. Nov, 2008

    Nate, I am going to take this advice to heart. It goes along with one of my favorite quotes, “There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few that will capture your heart. Pursue those.”

    Reply to this comment

    • Nate Moller

      13. Nov, 2008

      Great quote Kaly. This is so true – if you don’t love what you’re doing, do something else! Every person I’ve worked with or interviewed has this common characteristic – they are doing what they love to do. Their business is their lifestyle, not a JOB (just over broke).

      Thanks for the comment!

      Reply to this comment

  10. Doug Folsom

    20. Nov, 2008

    Makes sense. I’m a believer!

    Reply to this comment

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