The Million Dollar Lab

I'm currently in the process of building a brand new business. It's been something I've had on my mind since selling my first business (a section care and lawn mowing company). A few months ago I decided that it's time to get stuck in now and have a go.

I remember a while ago reading a book by Richard Branson where he stated that the basics of any business can be learned in about 2 weeks. There must be some truth in that statement because he has built more than a few companies in his time. Richard Branson is also a business hero of mine. I really enjoyed reading his biography and finding out how he started and how he got to where he is today.

With most things in life the hardest part is always getting started. Like I said I have been procrastinating on my idea for about a year and a half now; but the beauty in starting is that it costs you something and that cost builds comittment. So even though to be honest I am on a bit of a shoe string budget, (which is no excuse in any case) I've found it really helpful to invest a bit of cash and get things on the move. Even with only a few hundred dollars in, it becomes a lot harder to give up or get lazy and stop. A bit of commitment also causes unexpected help to show up; I personally think once your fully committed and all in, God lends a hand.

Where it is starting to become a lot of fun, is the little gems and opportunities that show up along the way. So far I have found a place to get graphic design work done super cheap and super quick (http://www.elance.com/).  I have also found a way to setup a business phone line for $10 a month and because my beautiful wife is also on the hunt for customers, I have a few people lining up to use my company. Elance and the $10 a month extra phone line are massive blessings that explode a few of my worries and excuses. It is amazing the things that can be done and the opportunities that arise once you're started on something

With my last business, I built it purely to escape a job. With this business I want to build something that works, is replicable, and is sell-able. I found with the section care contracting that it became just a job and by the time I realized, I was pretty sick of it and ready to move on. What I'm doing with this one is building it in such a way that it is ready to be sold straight away. It will be built in such away that it is apart from me rather than a part of me that I have to slave at all the time.

In any case it should be fun.  I'm still on the look out for new ideas. I'll keep you posted on how I go.