Mentor Wanted
Written by Michael on July 31, 2008 – 1:47 am -Reader Janet is looking for some help on finding her career passion. She’s 30 years old and has had several different career paths, yet hasn’t been able to find anything she truly loves.
Here’s a recent note from Janet:
Let’s see… I have a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and am currently working on a Masters in Accounting and Financial Management to further my career as a CPA.
When I first graduated from college I took an internship as a media buyer in an advertising firm. I then moved on to a marketing position and I enjoyed it but I was laid off so I didn’t pursue marketing after that. I then went on to an office management and payroll position. My next move was that of a purchasing agent and then on to another advertising agency as the Creative Director’s Assistant. Because of the advertising world instability I left for a more secure position as a tax accountant at a small CPA firm, which is my current position.
I learn fast which is why I’ve been able to move around to drastic and opposing positions. My problem is that when I get the hang of something and understand it I begin to get bored.
I honestly don’t know what my life’s work is. I have currently taken on photography as a hobby and I like helping the elderly that live around me.
Anyone want to take a shot at giving her some advice?
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July 31st, 2008 at 9:03 am
Learning fast and then getting bored once I understand how things work is definitely something I can relate to.
Something I’ve found very helpful in validating the worth in the way I do this is Barbara Sher’s book, “What do I do when I want to do everything”.
I’m still working on completely de-programming from my brain the idea that I need to find my one true career path, but just embracing the idea that my path through life might be more wiggly has been really invigorating and powerful for me.
It sounds like Janet might be someone who connects with that idea too.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Janet, I have done a VERY wide variety of things in my life and have finally realized the purpose I am here for. I can share my story with you by email. There is never a boring day any more and both my technical and creative minds are satisfied. I LOVE MY LIFE!!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Hi Cynthia:
Thanks for your note. Why not send me your story? I’d like to share it with everyone.
Michael
August 9th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Hi Janet, Have you considered affiliate marketing (promoting other people’s products and services)? A fast learner with your qualifications and marketing experience should be able to do much better than average. With the knowledge you have, you’d have a flying start.
For someone who gets bored quickly, one of the big advantages of affiliate marketing is that it allows you to start small projects, work on them until they’re successful, and then move on to new more challenging project. You can outsource boring, repetitive tasks, including the maintenance of websites and blogs. I’ve been doing that for years.
Another advantage is that you can choose from many thousands of affiliate programs and millions of products. You can choose topics and products you feel comfortable with, ones you are genuinely enthusiastic about. You are your own boss so you choose the products you want to promote.
For example, because you’re interested in photography, you could build a website or blog about some aspect of photography and related products. But there are literally millions of other choices. Once you start researching, you may find better ideas.
Topics which work best are often ones in which the potential customer has a passionate desire for the product or service you’re recommending, or where the person is searching for a solution to a problem and your product solves the problem.
You don’t have to worry about postage and packaging or handling inventory - the affiliate merchant does all that for you.
You choose the hours you want - say 10 a week part-time while you’re learning. The choice is yours. (Warning: Affiliate marketing can get addictive because there are absolutely endless possibilities. When I was building my business I became so hooked on it I used to work just about every hour possible from dawn to midnight. Crazy! Remember to take time off for your family and friends.)
You can work from wherever you are in the world, as long as you have an Internet connection. My wife, Joanna, and I spend winters on the Gold Coast, Australia, and summers in New Zealand.
Also, you can make the projects as simple as a two-page website or as complex as a huge portal that employs dozens of people. It’s your choice. I recommend you start very small, sort of like serving your apprenticeship. (I explain a bit more about that in my free Affiliate Program Tutorial.)
Just one thing… If you don’t like the thought of spending hours at a computer keyboard, don’t immediately discard the idea of affiliate marketing. It’s possible to do OFFLINE affiliate marketing, where you talk to local businesses, such as plumbers or photographers or whatever. You can also talk at local clubs. Offline affiliate marketing is good for someone who has strong people skills and enjoys meeting people. Some affiliate vendors will provide you with tools for offline affiliate marketing.
The options in affiliate marketing are enormous. You’re pretty much limited only by your imagination. Many affiliates just earn pocket money. For others it’s given them a whole new lifestyle.
You can design an affiliate business to match your skills and interests. You can make it as challenging as you want it to be. If you’re ambitious, you could aim to get to the stage I’m at, where you employ several people and have partnered with bright people who have complementary skills.
If you do choose to try affiliate marketing, feel free to visit our friendly, helpful affiliate forum and ask questions.