If you’re sitting at a desk in a dull office, raise your hand. If you feel stuck in a job you dislike but are scared to quit because you don’t want to give up job security — especially during these difficult financial times — say “I.” Have a passion that you wish you could turn into a job? Too many of us are unhappy with our current job situation, but maybe there is no reason we should be.
If you raised your hand and/or said “I,” you should pay a visit to shatterbox, a site that “wants you to wake up in the morning and love what you do.” (Yay!) The video-based social community was designed for students and young professionals to find inspiration and share ideas about innovative careers. However, it may not be a bad idea for anyone to visit, regardless or age or current profession.
Shatterbox currently has 18 videos featuring passionate people sharing the stories of how they followed their hearts and found professional bliss. The stories are wide-ranging, from the two male models who started a successful granola company in their kitchen to two girls trying to green up the party industry to a lawyer turned yoga studio owner. You can leave comments, share your own ideas and stories, and connect with other users.
Founder Amanda Holt says: “I founded shatterbox in 2009 because I saw fellow twenty-somethings struggling to find inspiration in their careers. It’s scary out there, but I know it’s possible to love your job even right out of college. So I wanted to find people who love what they do. I found them. And I captured their stories for shatterbox.”
Watching a few of these videos will make anyone feel more ready and empowered to go out there on their own. But, remember, for every one of these success stories, there are even more stories of failure out there. Starting a company always means taking a risk, so do your research, draft a proper business plan, secure funding and make sure that you have some savings tucked away. No business makes money right away, and it may be worth considering a part-time job to keep you afloat while testing out the waters with your new venture. If it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t have spent every penny you ever owned.
Don’t sit around and wait for the right moment (there’s no better time than right now), and never give up unless you’ve exhausted all paths. Owning a business is hard work, especially in the beginning. Don’t hesitate to call in help for things that require expertise, like legal matters and finances. Find a mentor, and do not be afraid to reach out to your peers with questions. You may have to power through some really bad times to get to the really good ones. But once you’re there, it will most definitely be worth all your while. In the words of Ingrid Yang, founder of Blue Point Yoga, “Do what you love and the money will come. If it doesn’t come, you’ll still be doing what you love.”
Resources
sba.gov: The U.S. Small Business Administration, an independent agency of the federal government that aids, counsels, assists and protects the interests of small businesses. Check out the Small Business Planner.
business.usa.gov: An official site of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Helps small businesses understand their legal requirements and locate government services from federal, state and local agencies.
Start-up at Inc.com: Advice on wide-ranging topics related to start-up businesses, from one of the leading magazines focused on the topic.
FastTrac: Award-winning entrepreneur learning programs, run by the Kaufman Foundation.
Kickstarter: Popular funding tool based on the crowdsourcing model. Make a compelling video, set a desired amount needed to start your venture, spread the word, have people invest any amount they wish.
Top photo by Ryan Jesena, Creative Commons
