Ready to make a difference in the world and make some money too? This guide will help you answer the question “what business to start?”
When it comes to choosing a business, it is important to understand that it is not just about making money, it is about aligning your passion, purpose, and potential with the world’s needs. The key is to find your Ikigai, the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
For example, let’s say you’re a nature lover with a passion for gardening. Your Ikigai could be starting a sustainable landscaping business that not only beautifies the environment but also helps to conserve it. This business aligns your love for nature with your skills in gardening, serves a higher purpose of environmental conservation and also has a potential to generate income.
Consider your talents, temperament, skills, motivation, vision, dreams, and lifestyle. These are the natural abilities and characteristics that make you unique and will guide you towards a business that aligns with who you are. For example, if you’re a creative person with a passion for design, starting a graphic design business might be a good fit. Or, if you’re a people-person with a knack for problem-solving, a consulting business might be a good fit.
But it’s not just about what you can offer the world, it’s also about what the world needs. Your business must serve a higher purpose and make a positive impact on the world. Only then will it truly bring fulfillment and success. For instance, if you’re passionate about environmental sustainability, starting a business that focuses on green energy or eco-friendly products might be a good fit.
Financial freedom is also an important aspect to consider when choosing a business. But true financial freedom comes from finding a way to generate consistent revenue, not just a one-time profit. And the ability to scale and automate your business will give you the flexibility and freedom to pursue your other goals.
Lastly, it is important to remember that a strong support system and network can be crucial to the success of your business. Surround yourself with people who can offer guidance, mentorship and potential customers. For example, if you know people in the same industry, they can offer valuable insights and advice, and even help you to establish connections with potential customers.
Choosing a business is not just a decision, it is a process of self-discovery and aligning your inner potential with the world’s needs. Trust your intuition and don’t be afraid to fail, because failure is an essential part of the learning process. Take your time, do your research, and remember that true success comes from aligning your passion and purpose with the world. And always keep in mind that the ultimate goal is not just financial success but also inner fulfillment and making a positive impact on the world.
Below are a few of the many resources available to help you learn more about how to choose a business that aligns with your passions, purpose, and potential. It’s important to remember that your journey is unique, and finding the right business for you may take some time and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to take risks and explore different options, and always keep your Ikigai in mind:
- “The Power of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles: This book explores the concept of Ikigai and provides practical guidance on how to find your purpose and meaning in life through work.
- “The Lean Entrepreneur: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less” by Brant Cooper and Patrick Vlaskovits: This book provides practical strategies for identifying and pursuing business opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “The Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers” by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur: This book provides a comprehensive framework for developing and evaluating business models and identifying opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek: This book explores the importance of understanding your “why” and how it can guide you in finding a business that aligns with your passions and purpose.
- “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael Gerber: This book provides valuable insights into the common pitfalls of small business ownership and offers practical strategies for finding a business that aligns with your passions and purpose.
- “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss: This book provides practical strategies for creating a business that generates consistent revenue and gives you the flexibility and freedom to pursue your passions and purpose.
- “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins: This book provides valuable insights into what makes a successful business and can help you to identify opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries: This book provides practical strategies for testing business ideas, validating assumptions and identifying opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “Ikigai Way” (https://www.ikigaiway.com/) – This blog is dedicated to exploring the concept of Ikigai and provides practical guidance on how to find your purpose and meaning in life through work.
- “The Lean Entrepreneur” (https://leanentrepreneur.co/) – This blog provides practical strategies for identifying and pursuing business opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “Start with Why” (https://startwithwhy.com/) – This blog, inspired by Simon Sinek’s book of the same name, explores the importance of understanding your “why” and how it can guide you in finding a business that aligns with your passions and purpose.
- “The E-Myth” (https://www.emyth.com/blog) – This blog, inspired by Michael Gerber’s book “The E-Myth Revisited,” provides valuable insights into the common pitfalls of small business ownership and offers practical strategies for finding a business that aligns with your passions and purpose.
- “The 4-Hour Work Week” (https://fourhourworkweek.com/blog/) – This blog, inspired by Timothy Ferriss’s book of the same name, provides practical strategies for creating a business that generates consistent revenue and gives you the flexibility and freedom to pursue your passions and purpose.
- “Good to Great” (https://www.jimcollins.com/blog/) – This blog, inspired by Jim Collins’s book “Good to Great,” provides valuable insights into what makes a successful business and can help you to identify opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “The Lean Startup” (https://theleanstartup.com/blog) – This blog, inspired by Eric Ries’s book of the same name, provides practical strategies for testing business ideas, validating assumptions and identifying opportunities that align with your passions and purpose.
- “Entrepreneur” (https://www.entrepreneur.com/topic/starting-a-business) – This blog provides a wide range of articles and resources for entrepreneurs, including guidance on starting a business, identifying business opportunities, and achieving success.
“Choosing the right business is not just about making money, it’s about creating a legacy. It’s about aligning your passion, purpose, and potential with the world’s needs. And the key to this is finding your Ikigai, the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.”
In conclusion, when it comes to finding the right business, it’s important to remember that success is not just about making money but about creating a legacy and making a positive impact on the world. Take the time to understand your talents, temperament, skills, motivation, vision, dreams, lifestyle, Ikigai, financial freedom, and network, they will guide you towards a business that aligns with who you are and what you want to achieve. Remember that success is a journey and not a destination, and it takes time, hard work, and perseverance.
As Ronnie Screwvala said, “A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement.” So, take action towards your goal and make your dream a reality.
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