Looking for my muse

[ralvarez]

Hi everyone,

Probably I could get some feed back from you. I have 4 to 5 months in which I can do something for myself, now the good thing is I do not have a lot of expenditures, just bare minimum, and I am decided to do my best to get out of rat race forever. I have been a Spanish teacher, a personnel recruiter and a logistics supervisor, I would be happy with something that could net me 3k monthly.
Can also partner with somebody. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rey

[searstower]

Try looking at the muse thing a different way. Instead of figuring out what you can do to make money, find people who have a need first.

In other words, find a market first. Then find out how you can provide what they are looking for (you don't even have to be an expert at it, believe me).

Here's an idea to get you started. Where I live, there are a fair amount of south american immigrants. Most of them work in high level jobs (consulting, banking, etc) and they need to appear very professional and educated, but occasionally they pronounce their English vowels as if they were spanish, or they substitute v for b.

Teach them how to understand and hear the differences between bus & boss, curve & curb, etc. Can you automate it? (I'll bet you know other fluent english speakers who could tutor your clients while you kick back and collect the checks, right? )

What other groups of people in need do you think you could help? Give us the group/need and we'll help you make it a muse!

Rebecca

[ralvarez]

Thank you Rebecca,
It is a very good idea! I had actually thought of that market, as I was a teacher and a personnel recruiter and I live in Miami, FL.

I wrote down some ideas but mostly geared towards the person that is unemployed and looking for a job, thought about a DVD with good and bad examples of the interview process together with an information booklet or e-book with useful info about job search etc.

This is a field I know very well, also resume writing, translation etc, I can include a section on accent reduction, and gear everything to the South American immigrant.
My only problem would be how to make the info unique as there are similar offers in the market.
Or do you think it would be too ambitious? Should I just focus on one aspect or encompass everything?
Also, it will be challenging to come up with a DVD, not to mention expensive.
Rebecca, I appreciated your help.

Thanks,
Rey

[Drewkerr]

Just keep your mind open, and open eyes and ears. Start to think about what you enjoy then you can usually get something to come up with.

Best of luck!

[searstower]

Rey,

One of my teachers has a very simple business success formula that he teaches to all his students.
1. FOWTW (Find out what they want)
2. GAGI (GO and get it)
3. GITT (Give it to them)

1. You already have a foothold in this market right? Is the product you are dreaming up something they want? If you are sure, ask them. It will save you time and money on manufacturing later.

2. Go and get it. Also, it will be challenging to come up with a DVD, not to mention expensive.

Anyone with a newer Mac can do this for you for pennies. OS X Tiger has a DVD creation application built into the OS, and most of these new computers have superdrives (with DVD burners).

Your cost is some labor and the price of blank DVDs. Your local University or library might even have a Mac lab where you can go and do this yourself!

3. Give it to them. Tell all of your recruiting network and your spanish teaching network what you are doing and that you have a product for sale. Ask 1-2 people to try it out for you free in return for feedback and testimonials. The word will spread. Finally set up a website so they can order without contacting you.


My only problem would be how to make the info unique as there are similar offers in the market.
Or do you think it would be too ambitious? Should I just focus on one aspect or encompass everything?

Whose got a better product, Wendy's or McDonalds? A high quality, unique product is only 2% of monetary success in business. Access to your market is the critical success factor, and it sounds like you've got that.

Good luck!
Rebecca