Is Micropreneurship Right For Me?

"Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know, and you will see the way to fly." -- Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull 

Who is a Micropreneur?

According to experts, a micropreneur is an entrepreneur who starts a small business operation. They usually begin as a solo act. They are willing to accept the risk of creating and managing the kind of business that remains small, lets them do the type of work they "love" to do, and offers them a balanced lifestyle.

The rise of Corporatism has, on balance, done as much harm as it has sound. A slow-dawning realization began sometime in the financial disaster in late 2007, and millions lost jobs without any warning signs. The frustration with Corporatism prompted a worldwide "Occupy" movement. 

It also started something else that was entirely unexpected. All over the world, people began increasingly to say "No." "No" to the rat race. "No" to punching a clock for someone else. "No" to the entire rigged game.

In the U.S., these people fall into three major groups. 

Retiring boomers are bucking against the idea of sitting on the front porch and growing old as the world passes by. 

Millennials recognize that the game is rigged and refuse to play it.

Legal immigrants are coming to America to make a new life for their families, willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. 

These three groups capture the vast majority of the Micropreneur population.

The question was as R. Buckminster Fuller posed it: "What was I thinking about before somebody came along and told me I had to earn a living?" 

Each time that question gets answered somewhere around the world, a new Micropreneur is born.

Today, Micropreneurship is not just for geeks, artists, and under-employed workers, but for professionals such as realtors, marketers, consultants, and the like who choose greater flexibility and better quality of life with their families. It allows individuals to create a fulfilling career and the opportunity to be your own boss and visionary behind your business.

The Challenge

It's an exhilarating way to live. It is possibly the ultimate expression of individual freedom, allowing you to go anywhere. Live and work anywhere. Do anything you like, provided of course, that you can find a way to get paid for it.

Before someone came along and told you that you had to earn a living, what were you thinking? What did you truly love doing? What were your greatest passions? If you want to be a Micropreneur, finding your answer to this question is your starting point.   

This forces you to assess not only what you love to do but what your practical, marketable skills are. And make no mistake, we've all got them. Find your Passion!

Reality Check 

When was the last time something gave you "goosebumps" and that "exhilarating" feeling of accomplishment beyond your expectation? Something that made others feel good and how that made you feel proud. What were you thinking about it last night that made you jump out of bed early this morning to do it? Listen to that "quiet" voice in your head.

You'd be surprised what a bit of creative thinking and a whole lot of elbow grease can accomplish!

Regret vs. Failure:  Which One To Fear?

Failing at something is scary, no doubt. You may be wondering and asking yourself, "what if I don't make enough money?" Make a plan to save for those rainy days. You may want to keep your day job while you're nurturing your microbusiness. You may have to take another part-time job until you can jump in with both feet. 

Listen to your gut. Persevere. Remember how far you have come. Don't give up. Failure is a lesson learned. Get back up and keep going. 

You don't need to see or know the entire path. Just take the next step. Then the next. One at a time.

What Does "Success" Look Like?

You've asked yourself frequently: "But – if I do this…do I need a business plan or any other trappings of traditional entrepreneurship? How will I know if I'm successful?"

How success is defined is different for everyone. If you do something that you love, and someone pays you money for it, you then take that money and use it to pay a bill, put gas in your car, buy your kids' new shoes, and live the life other people can't. And grow your tiny business to whatever level you desire that continues to bring you freedom and happiness. 

When a handicapped gull asks Jonathan Livingston Seagull if he can fly:

"Come along then," said Jonathan. "Climb with me away from the ground, and we'll begin." 

"You don't' understand my wing. I can't move my wing."

"Maynard Gull, you have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. It is the Law of the Great Gull, the Law that is."

"Are you saying I can fly?"

"I say you are free." --Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull