When I went to my P.O. box the other day, I found this book in my box. It has a simple title, and drew me in immediately. Author Chris Guillebeau, has written a book, “The $100 Startup,” that should fly off the shelves. Chris’ company is one of my afilliates, Unconventional Guides, and has furnished Red Dog News readers with great products to live the “unconventional” life. Endorsed by such legendary entrepreneurs as Seth Godin, “The Bootstrapper’s Bible”; Tony Hsieh, Zappos.com; John Jantsch, “Duct Tape Marketing”; and Erin Doland, “Unclutter Your Life in One Week,” “The $100 Startup” will surely find a welcome spot in your business library.
Whenever I first come across one of these books, I take a cruise through and see how it relates to photography. As it happens Guillebeau has a few great references to photography here, as well as a good deal other business ideas and suggestions along with a tremendous amount of real-life examples.
There’s Susan Conway, who shucked her journalist job when she discovered she was making more money at teaching photography classes. Kyle Hepp and her husband were both out of work and took a much-postponed honeymoon when she decided to turn from dabbling in wedding photography to letting it become a full-time pursuit. The story of Darren Rowse is almost a legendary one for entrepreneurs.
Rowse began blogging in 2002, and turned writing for several of his personal blogs, including Digital Photography School, into a full-time occupation making six-figures. Throughout The $100 Startup there are dozens of examples of people who started with next to nothing to build their own life-enhancing careers.
“It’s all about finding the intersection between your expertise—even if you don’t consider it such— and what other people will pay for,” Guillebeau writes on the cover flap. “You don’t need an MBA, a business plan, or even employees. All you need is a product or service that springs from what you love to do anyway, people willing to pay, and a way to get paid.”
Do you have an idea that has been burning a hole through your brain? Is your “gut” telling you to quit what you are doing and go in a different direction? How do you make that happen, and remain at peace with your decision? Go ahead… think about it!
