While I generally try to avoid the use of overhyped buzzwords, I always thought the term microbusiness had a nice ring to it. I have also always scoffed a little in my head when I read about small businesses with “only” 200 employees on Forbes or CNN Money. Aren’t there a lot of one or two person operations out there? Don’t plenty of people make their way financially via self-employment?
In that vein, I have been working towards a few one-man operations and a few collaborations with my older brother, a long time web developer who has long made his way towards breaking the shackles of the traditional nine to five in lieu of a more interesting portfolio of careers. He’s a professional beekeeper, for example, along with our current revenue from the portfolio of niche sites.
Which begs the question: Where to expand from here? Finding new business ideas that are small, nimble, and scalable may sound like they are easy to find based on motivational blog posts like the Art of Nonconformity, but I have found that isn’t the case.
The biggest obstacle, surprisingly enough, is finding something fun that makes money. I have heard plenty of friends that tell me that they just love logistical analysis, but you know what? That sounds pretty damn boring. Right now I can pay the bills, but expansion is going to be needed if I want to get where I want to be.