Starting an Online Business: How ANY Woman can Become an Expert
By Kathy Wilson
A recent poll showed women who were interested in starting their own online business were held back by several factors. One of these was they did not believe they had any skill they could be an “Expert” at. Don’t buy it. That’s just your negative thinking getting the better of you. You have a skill within you right now that you can teach others, and build a business around. Here’s how to find it.
The first trick is to find something you really enjoy, whether you are an expert or not. This is a matter of creating a list of things you are interested in, (not necessarily an expert in...yet!) then narrowing it down to your top three favorites. Prioritize them, and then use that list to determine which of these three has the greatest potential for a profitable business. Find a problem within that topic that isn’t being solved by anyone else. Now solve it. You’ve chosen your business!
Now you need to hone your skills in order to become the expert on the subject.
When I realized I had a passion for the “Homemaking Arts” if you will, I had just had my first son, and had no choice about staying home. My first was a preemie, and pretty ill at that, and he needed me to care for him, no one else would do. So I signed up for a home correspondence course on home decorating. That gave me a basis, and then I just spent time learning. I read a lot, I tried new things, I grew my skills. And because I had a passion for it, my skills reflected that.
Low cost ways to become an expert on a subject:
*Access your library. Libraries have online databases that often are shared between numerous libraries. This gives you access to a lot more than you will ever see on the shelves at your local branch. I usually spend some time at Amazon researching titles of books in my subject, and then I take the list to the library or access the online catalog to see if it can be found for me. Read everything they can get for you on your chosen subject!
*Get on the internet and do a search for your topic. Try several different phrases in your browser search. You should find many sites that offer free articles, e-courses and information. Read and learn! This is also a good way to see what the competition is offering, so you can know exactly where you need to be better than them!
*Investigate local classes that are offered in most communities, often for free. Retail shops, home improvement stores, adult education and the Small Business Association in your area should all have opportunities for learning.
Becoming an “Expert” at anything is a matter of perspective and confidence. There will always be someone who knows more than you on any given subject. To be an expert, you simply must know enough to begin teaching it to others with integrity. It doesn’t mean you know everything, and it doesn’t mean you stop learning. A good businesswoman never stops learning!
