Fifty years ago, it seemed that the only viable career option was to work for someone else for 5 day and 40 hours per week. How times have changed! With the rise of social media and remote work, the idea of working a typical 9-to-5 is quickly becoming outdated.  Even precautions related to COVID-19 have taught us the working from home is a viable option for many people. As the typical career ideas fade, entrepreneurism has become extremely popular and many people are asking: How do I become and entrepreneur? This is not a surprise because developing a business that you are passionate about, being in control of your work life and career, and having flexibility are coveted advantages for many people.

The first step to becoming an entrepreneur is figuring out what you want to sell. A good way to make this decision is to ask yourself: What is a problem that needs a solution that I also care enough to work on? Answering this question does two things: 1) it identifies a gap that you can fill, and 2) identifies something that you care about enough to invest in. It may take a try or two until you figure out what niche fits your interest and skills, as well as provides a product or service that people want. Don’t be discouraged. Figuring what you want to do as an entrepreneur is the single most important step in the process, so it's well worth however much time it takes to find an honest conclusion.

Once you decide what you want to do or provide, spend some time researching the industry. How are services similar to yours sold? Who is utilizing this type of service? Who are your specific buyers/target audience? This research will not only help you in developing a top-notch product or service, but it may give you additional ideas for your budding business.  Spend this time deciding if you want a business that is solely online or if you want a brick-and-mortar storefront as well. Deciding the specific format of your business will help you move forward in your entrepreneurial endeavor.

Start small or test your idea before you put all of your investment resources into a business. You want to make sure that your product/service is in demand and that you have an avenue to get it in front of your target buyer’s eyes. This test drive could be offering your services to a few acquaintances that could use your product or asking the opinion of a community in a local business group. Once you are sure that the demand is there and that your idea is the business plan for you, you can start marketing, networking, and selling.

It used to be that the only way to a great career followed a particular path: graduate from high school, go to college, get a job, and then spend years climbing the cooperate ladder. Fortunately, this is not the only path anymore. You can become a successful entrepreneur with or without a formal education. However, depending on the industry you're going into, a specialized form of education for that market may be necessary or helpful.
 
If you have a service or skill that you can already perform, you probably don’t need any formal training in that field unless you want to grow your skills. However, regardless of the industry you're going into, educating yourself about sales and marketing will be vital to growing your business. Ultimately, businesses succeed or fail based on number of sales. If you want to sell enough to pay your bills, you need to have sales and marketing skills. Fortunately, there is a wealth of free information and programs online to help you grow as an entrepreneur and grow your brand.
 
In some industries, like the medical and health industries, formal education is often needed in order to provide accurate information and services to your clientele. A formal education in business or economics may aid you in some processes but it is not necessary. Moreover, there are thousands of industries that you don’t need a college degree to succeed in. The truth to remember is that education itself is important, formal or informal. Find someone in your social circle, online, or through an educational program who's succeeded in areas you want to make money, and learn from them. 
 
The world of business is always changing. The needs of your clients and customers will change. You will change. Success as an entrepreneur relies on keeping an open mind and learning. Just remember that your education does not have to be extensive or significantly time consuming. Little bits at a time. Learn the step you need to take, and then implement right away. 

You don’t need large monetary backing in order to succeed as an entrepreneur. With this century’s massive online world, you can start a business from anywhere you have an internet collection. Below are some tips for building your empire before you have a dime.

• Sell a skill you already have: If you have a skill that people need, sell it! If you're a whizz with computers, advertise your computer fixing abilities on social media and online forums. If you have some extra time to shovel snow for your neighbor, you could hang up signs, or go door-to-door offering your services. People pay for things that they either cannot do or don’t want to spend their own time doing. Offer your skill in areas where there is already a need.

 

• Use an online freelancer website: There are a variety of freelancer websites, including Upwork and Fiverr, that you can advertise your skillset or product, as well as look at job postings from employers who already need what you have to offer. Being an entrepreneur takes many forms. Even doing freelance work, you're still in control of the jobs you choose and the hours you work. These websites are a great platform if you're just getting started.

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• Become a middleman: You can get paid by connecting people to products and services that they need - a sliver to deliver. One way to do this is by drop shipping, which is basically developing an avenue for people to buy product (typically online), and then having it shipped to them from a separate company. You set the prices, so you make a profit for the connection (tip: there is a ton of information about drop shipping online). You could also set up a referral plan with local businesses. You can refer people, including family and friends, to a business, and get a referral fee for sending the company customers. It's different from direct sales in that you're just referring people, instead of closing deals. But if you create enough connections, becoming a middleman can be a very lucrative endeavor. 

These days, our lives seem to be a little more unpredictable than they used to be – in our “new normal” of living with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, and all the changes that it has brought to the world, it has created some unique challenges that many of us have never had to face before.

Perhaps you have been furloughed from your job with no real idea of when you may be able to return, or maybe you have been laid off altogether or have had hours drastically cut down. With similar situations in companies across the country, it may seem as though the options for making a living are few and far between.

However bleak the job market may seem, there is an option that should be seriously considered – that of the online side hustle. This is a great option in these times of on-again, off-again quarantining, as most of these jobs can be done completely online from the comfort of your home. The online side hustle can be beneficial for parents who are trying to navigate providing for their families while also helping kids with remote learning, or for someone who is experiencing decreased hours at their regular job and needs a little extra to make ends meet.

​While there are many options for online business, we are so excited to share with you a specific company: Bonvera. We believe it's a great example of a company you can join up with to earn extra money doing an online side hustle.
 
Bonvera is a company that prides itself on taking care of its entrepreneurs, and being a support system for those growing their own small business. There are multiple resources for Bonvera entrepreneurs to help them with growing and promoting their own business. They give people the opportunity to sell product, and also provide personal and leadership development. Whether you've ever been in business for yourself before or not, having both product and training available helps in developing a profitable business.
 
Bonvera offers a wide range of products from weight-loss systems, to vitamins, to essential oils, and household cleaning products. The company stands behind the fact that these are products that you can feel safe using for yourself, in your home, and around your family. Therefore, they're products you can feel confident in marketing to your friends and family as part of your own online business.

​Bonvera’s program is designed with ease in mind.  When you get started, your "team" helps you work through a simple and proven process to provide extra income for you and your family. How much you make will be dependent upon the work you put into it. It is your business, so it’s all up to you! But you also have the support of pros to make the journey more easily achievable. 
 
Since Bonvera places a strong emphasis on leadership and support, you'll get started by working with an already-established Bonvera entrepreneur, who will introduce you to the wide range of opportunities available through your website, products, and business structure. Most Bonvera entrepreneurs treat their Bonvera business as secondary income, and work to build it in their spare time. Which is great news for someone who already has a full-time source of income and does not have the time to dedicate to a second full-time endeavor.

When you become a Bonvera entrepreneur, in addition to choosing how much or how little you would like to work on your business, you are also given the opportunity to do two things: sell the products that you believe in to the people that you care about, and build a team around you who will all help each other learn and grow. There is even a possibility for you to be compensated based on the volume of sales your team does, monthly.
 
Your customers have the ability to order their products directly online, without having to go into a store or be in contact with anyone. With the way life's been lately, his is a huge benefit. Most concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic aren't as big of a deal when your whole business is online. And since life doesn't seem to be going entirely "back to normal" for a while, having the ability to make money online is a lifesaver. You can connect with customers virtually and give them the opportunity to order their products without having to compromise their health, or the health of their families.
 
As with any business venture, you have the freedom to market yourself and your business, with the backing of Bonvera’s products and its leadership training opportunities. You can choose to market on various social media platforms, or through a website of your own. Your team of entrepreneurs can help you decide which methods of sales are best for you. 

​An additional huge benefit to being a Bonvera Entrepreneur is that you gain access to the many educational opportunities offered. It's a continuing business education that helps you grow both personally and professionally. Bonvera is about so much more than helping people make a little bit of extra money in the short term – the team is committed to helping you continue to grow and learn in an ever-changing business world.
 
Bonvera has opportunities for connecting with those around the country who are also building an online business with the company – there are typically monthly as well as annual leadership and training events. Bonvera even has a calendar set up on their website so that you can easily see if there will be an in-person event near you. There are also both live and recorded online events which can be attended from the comfort of your home.
 
Another opportunity for Bonvera entrepreneurs is a program called New Way MBA, which is a program designed by the most successful entrepreneurs in the company. It provides focused information on topics such as how to be a leader, bringing out the best in others, and overall communication skills. This program was created as an accessible, affordable way for people to continue their education in a way that can be applied both to their personal and professional lives.

​With the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic still looming large, and looking to be a part of our every-day lives for the foreseeable future, being involved in an online business is a direction you can look to ensure that you can continue to support your family with increased finances. It seems that online business are not going anywhere anytime soon, but rather, seem to be growing exponentially. 

Just look at any number of online health, home product, and skincare businesses that have doubled or tripled in sales this year from their online store. 
 
It is worth considering beginning an online side hustle of your own that can earn you and your family extra money for fun activities or trips (when it is safe to travel again!), or could turn into a dream you never realized you had. It could possibly replace your existing full-time job, if given the proper time and attention.

Marketing yourself is one of the key skills necessary to navigate our world today. To get a better job, build a business, build a brand… you must learn this essential skill! The team at The Social Entrepreneurship Blog can help guide you in the right direction to develop the skills needed to better market yourself to meet your goals and build a better life for yourself and your family.