What Is The Business Epiphany Which Drives My Passion?

Rolls of Blueprints On A Desk.

The Oxford Dictionary defines an “epiphany” as a moment of sudden revelation or insight.

So, what is this business epiphany which drives my passion? I feel EVERYONE should have a business or a side hustle in their life.

I’m a serial side hustler! (In fact, I listen to several side-hustle podcasts). My grandmother taught me to keep my eyes open to solutions to problems. If people are frustrated, then there is a solution that can be created to solve that problem. There are a lot of frustrated people in the world, therefore, there are lots of business opportunities waiting for YOU to solve them.

My longest business solution has been dealing with the bureaucracy centered around building permits. As a teenager, a contractor hired me to go to the local city hall to get building permits for room additions, new homes, and commercial building projects. While I was there, I would overhear people complaining about how much time they wasted at the building department saying they would happily pay someone to do it for them.

Was it true that someone would pay me for doing a mundane task? Well, the contractor was already paying me, so the evidence was definitely there. I noticed some people at the building department were handling multiple sets of rolled-up building plans, and I realized they were taking care of several projects during a single trip. This seemed more efficient than a single project per trip like I was doing, so I decided right then and there to expand my business operations.

Keep in mind, this was several decades ago. Back in the mid-1990s, there was a kiosk in my local mall that printed business cards on-demand. I came up with a business name and designed my first set of business cards for my mini business experiment.

Now, if you have never been to the Building Department for permits, it’s similar to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You take a number and wait and wait and wait, only to be called and sent to another window to take another number and wait again. This process would usually take several hours and involve multiple trips over many days and sometimes weeks.

When I noticed frustrated people at the building department, I would approach them and introduce myself. I would ask if they needed any help finding specific departments and I would offer free guidance while I was waiting for my number(s) to be called. I consider myself a shy person, but It didn’t cost me anything to strike up a conversation and be friendly. Plus, the conversations were helping me get out of my comfort zone.

I would often be asked if I worked for the building department. I would reply no, but that I provided a service where I “pulled permits” for people who didn’t want to waste their time at the city offices. If they asked for my contact information, my business card magically appeared with a flourish.

This “business experiment” involving “pulling permits” for people started out as a summer test and eventually turned into a lifelong side-hustle. As I noticed a need in my niche market, I would expand my service offerings so I could be a one-stop service provider for my customers.

Over the years, I started taking on more restaurant and bar clients. In addition to designing their new floor plans, I would offer website design services for them, as well as merchant services. Each time I noticed a pain-point for my clients, I would solve their problem for them, and they would happily compensate me for solving the new problem for them.

I noticed my passion was helping these brand new business owners get their businesses off the ground. After all, they were investing large sums of money and time to develop and create the business of their dreams. I wanted them to succeed and they were happy to pay me for my assistance when I could streamline the process for them. I’m hoping I can help YOU get started too!

Now, how does this relate to YOU?

I’m not sure where you are in your business journey, but if you’re reading this, then I assume you have a business idea in the works. Conduct a “mini-experiment” like Alan Donegan likes to suggest on his podcasts.

A “mini-experiment” costs little or no money and you can test out a business idea to see if there are enough customers in the marketplace to support your business venture. (If you recall, my mini-experiment was only the price of 100 business cards). A mini-experiment saves you from taking out a loan, signing a long-term lease, and going into massive debt before you know if your business idea “has legs.”

If your “mini-experiment” works, congratulations! If it doesn’t, then you can easily pivot and try something new!

Look for frustrated people and see if they will happily pay you for solving their problems. Once you find a customer willing to part with their money, then you are officially in business!

Be observant and create YOUR financial nest egg by helping people! Get out there and help solve a problem for someone TODAY! Good luck!

Get started with Step 1!

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