What is it that makes one feel like starting over? Starting an online business after another, or trying anything again, with a small tweak?
I’ve been thinking about this as I reflect on recent changes in my life and look back to a year ago. Being somewhat introspective, I can’t help to try to understand why I start over.
Am I addicted to starting?
After all, starting it’s very exciting. For instance, this past September, I founded a new company to offer integrated design, branding, and managed online marketing for small to medium businesses (we call it Sync Digital Marketing, check it out!).
There is so much that is wildly exciting about new projects.:
- What do we call it?
- What’s our mission?
- What does it look like?
- And so forth, and so on…
It’s certainly enough to get excited, and after a while, get hooked on it.
Maybe I’m a quitter.
I mean, I could just carry on with existing projects as they are, right? Certainly starting new projects is going to require dropping others.
Am I a flake? If so, how do I know? when does it end?
Maybe I discovered something.
I most certainly did. And the chronology of what happened brings me to this moment.
The first thing that happened was that, with the help of my coach, I made some discoveries about me. I’m talking about the kind of self-realizations that drive a lifetime.
The most important thing I learned is that I’m genetically pre-disposed to teaching, and that I thrive in that role.
So feeling I had found my calling I promptly decided to start something. The excitement around the South By Southwest Interactive festival here in Austin fueled that excitement.
Right away, I started in what I would turn into a community for small business owners to learn the best, simplest, most cost-effective online marketing strategies, and apply them with the best tools, and participate in a private forum.
Meetings were had. Talks were talked. Plans were made. I named this project the Do-it-Yourself Online Marketing Club, and went to town working on it.
Trash Early
Seth Godin talks a lot about starting, doing, creating, shipping, but he also talks about trashing. Trashing early. In fact, it’s part of his recommended Project Management steps.
Maybe I’m rationalizing now, but as I started workin on the DIY Internet Marketing Club, I came to the realization of two very important things:
- It was a monumental task
- I couldn’t afford to do it.
I was also involved in yet another start-up, and pretty quickly fell into a state of overwhelm the likes of which they make movies about.
I’ve also always believed a lifeguard must be a good swimmer first. My financial situation was not very good, and monetizing this idea would take time.
So I decided to focus on solving the issue of making a living, kill the DIY IM Club, cut my losses, and call it a day.
The greatest failure is to have never really tried.
Remember I mentioned I started a new company? A funny thing happened then.
Our soft launch has been well received, so I decided not to take any more clients under Creative Journeyman. At that point I asked myself: “What now?” What to do with this brand, this following (however small). What happens with all that I’m learning now? And what about what I know about myself and my mission?
So I decided to keep Creative Journeyman a blog about design, branding, and internet marketing for small business. Since I already have a rich content outline and calendar, and some education-level content and tools created, I figured I’d just post here what I was going to share with the DIY Internet Marketing Club audience.
For free.
How can it be free?
How can it not?
It’s my true calling, remember?
Please sign up for updates, as they will be coming in more frequently, with carefully though-out tools for small business online marketing, reviews on the books I read, curated articles, and the occasional rant or rave about this small business world we share.
Looking forward to it,
Anita363 via Compfight
Many of us are afraid to follow our passions, to pursue what we want most because it means taking risks and even facing failure. But to pursue your passion with all your heart and soul is success in itself. The greatest failure is to have never really tried.”
– Robyn Allan
