How long have you been working? How long have you been doing what you currently do? How many employers have you worked for? How many customers have you served?
Are you currently unemployed or are you fed up with your current job? If you are self employed or a business owner, are you looking for additional revenue?
For 30 years, since I started my own business, I have done two things: A) Kept learning. B) Relentlessly packaged and sold my knowledge.
Do you like lists? I hope so, as here is some homework:
1). Within your area of professional expertise think about the problems that people have. Write them down.
2). Write down a list of the problems that you have solved, during your career.
3). Now write a list of your competencies. Are you a writer? Do you have software skills? Are you a manager or a leader? Are you an organiser? Are you good with people? What other skills do you have? Think of as many as possible.
4). Now create a list of the projects, technologies, systems and processes that you have worked with.
5). Create a list of the business activities that you enjoy doing the most; in addition, list the things that you definitely don’t like doing.
6). Compare the lists that you written: can you see any business opportunities there?
There are many ways to package your knowledge including consultancy, coaching, e-books, mentoring, public speaking, published books and training. Do any of these appeal to you?
Packaging and selling your knowledge takes confidence and writing ability. Why writing? Because you can let the search engines do the hard work of bringing customers to you. As someone who spent years banging on doors for Rank Xerox in his 20s, I can tell you that getting customers to come to you is much better than the other way around.
I work with independent professionals, small businesses and enterprises that are interested in packaging and selling their hard won knowledge. If you would like to find out more, you are welcome to email me via: nigel@nigeltemple.com
