Own my own business

selling chicken related things. Eggs. Cards. Photographs. And?

In a good way, but the pond, even a mini pond or a micro mini pond, is off the list for the moment. Hopefully I’ll return to it some day.

So far, everyone I talk to about the disaster recovery thing says something like, “It’s a cool idea.” ...and then they ask me if I will have extra garlic from my harvest this year… and, I must admit, I have more passion for garlic than for disaster recovery (although it is a topic near and dear to my heart…). So should I really start thinking about garlic on a small scale?!

Of course, it isn’t THAT simple, but my research seems to indicate that I have the skill set, much of the knowledge, and the personality to become a successful Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Consultant. I’m scared, but since it doesn’t cost anything at this point, I’m proceding with research, article writing and planning.

Even though I LOVE garlic, the viability and money making potential of becoming a garlic farmer seems pretty remote… on the otherhand, I AM a geek. So I’m thinking something more geeky-like: small business disaster recovery/business continuity consultant. I do a certain amount of this combined with project management and technical support in my “day job,” so why not turn it into a business? It IS a topic near and dear to my heart.

Some steps to take:

1. DONE – Set up a business email
2. Make a list of articles for a business blog
3. Make a series of polls for my business blog
4. Write the articles so that I can easily post them every other day or so, even when I am behind
5. Write the “permanent” articles to put on my blog that tells about me, the company, what we do and why you need me
6. Make a list of people who might be potential customers or who might at least review my site and give me some ideas
7. Start my business blog
8. Ask people on the list to review the blog – leave comments, ask questions about the business, reply directly back to me with comments about the site layout and design
9. Design & Print up business cards
10. Design & Print up a post cards
11. Give business card to everyone I see
12. Buy stamps and send post cards to select businesses from the phone book
13. If marketing looks good, get a business license, register with BBB and other formalities of becoming a business

Of course, this is a very simplistic view.

Other things to do in parallel include…
1. Make a business plan
2. Write down my personal goals and my goals for the business
3. Become a total expert in the field

I am growing enough garlic to do a micro test this year at the local small town farmer’s market. If I break even, I’ll be thrilled. If I lose money, well, all my stock garlic to start the plants cost under $100 – and I’m NOT going to sell ALL of it – going to EAT half of it ourselves. If the planting and growing part works out well (i.e. Mother Nature cooperates), then maybe next year I will tripple the crop and do another little test. Maybe I will slowly gain a reputation for growing garlic and a business might just grow itself? It’s pretty nebulous and mostly a fantasy right now, but it IS a thought.