Sorry for the long time between posts, Christmas is a busy time for my family. Let's go.
I own a micro business. I call it that because it is not big enough to even be a small business. Knowing a trade makes it easy. I weld and fabricate small projects in my garage. I think this year I'll branch out my work into rough carpentry, as that's another thing I'm experienced in. I'll outline my process so that maybe you can benefit as well. It's really simple.
I've always had the drive to work for myself if I wanted something. As a kid, I started many summer businesses with my best friend. He handled the money, I did the work, and we both taught each other those ways. We had a mobile neighborhood casino, a bike racing syndicate, and a bicycle shop as our three biggest prospects. All to pay for our drinks and snacks for the summer.
When I found myself hating my career path at the age of 21, it was simple enough to change. I looked for a couple weeks at careers that included physical work and would provide a lot of profit on a small investment. I buzzed through welding school while my wife and I moved in with my parents for a short time.
My first fab job represented a 50% raise. Still not enough for what I wanted, but it was progress. I learned a lot and got another job making double. So 300% increase in income in something like 3 years. I was proud.
I bought my first welder from a co-worker and did my first independent side gig using a generator I rented. I bought another machine that would have cut production time on that first gig from 3 months to a week. I reinvested 100% to equipment for a while, building assets. I had a good job that paid my income.
Around this time, I started reading about how to start a business. I was introduced to the idea of a micro business in a blog I was reading, probably Art of Manliness. The concept was to have many project businesses that required very little startup cost, and high profit margins, even if the actual dollar amount was low. At that time I had about $600 in equipment, all paid off 100% by jobs.
The blog recommended a startup cost under $200, as that would make for easier profits. I was already beyond that, but applying most of the ideas through my own conception. It gave me a name to use for my work. The project was never meant to pay my entire way, just to be self sustaining and self growing. It was working.
The next step was to reallocate the money so I could make use of the money. Once I got where I was comfortable with the abilities of the shop, I started putting the money into other projects. A snowball effect, so to speak. I had hobby money in addition to my regular payroll. The project is now. Self sustaining and profitable, and it has increased my quality of life. That's always a goal, and will be a major focus going into 2018.
Hope this can give y'all an introduction to a concept that has helped me. My micro business has grown and is at least 10X profitable at this time. I'm hoping to do big things with it this year.
I'll try and post again later this week.
Til then, later
Nate.
