Hello wonderful people! I'm turning 18( f) soon and since my parents didn't let me go to school I won't be going to college. I have just passed my driving test, and I really want to start a business,and gain some independence! So far I think my best idea has been a residential cleaning business, as it's low investment and potentially high income, plus I could work on my social skills and be out of my parents home.
My problem is that the idea doesn't excite me, but to be honest- and I'm not trying to be dramatic- nothing does excite me. As I previously mentioned, I wasn't allowed to go to school, I also wasn't allowed to interact with people or make friends. I feel like I didn't develop very well as a person.
I'm sorry for rambling, my question basically is: Do you think I should start a solo, residential cleaning business despite feeling clueless and apathetic about life in general?
Thank you for reading!
I want to start a business, but I don't have a passion!
byu/Square_Hammer_ inEntrepreneur
Posted by Square_Hammer_
6 Comments
A lot of people are moved by anger and frustration instead of passion.
A business exists to solve a problem. Becoming an entrepeneur is all about seeing opportunity in the problems people are facing instead of just complaining.
Instead of thinking about what you’re passionate about, think about a problem that pisses you off, or that worries you. And instead of complaining go after a solution for it.
For example, let’s say there is no decent coffee shop at your city. So you start your own. You don’t need to be passionate about coffee, you just need to be a solution to the problem that bother you and be eager enough to do it right. Same goes for the cleaning business idea, you need to feel like you’re going to do a better job than the other companies do, you need to be eager to solve a specific problem. That eagerness a lot of times come as a sense of need and not passion.
passion is the biggest lie sold to new entrepreneurs. in my line of work half the top performers dont care about the actual product at all, they care about the leverage and the lifestyle it buys them. cleaning is actually a great place to start because the operational loop is simple. you find a client, you do the work, you get paid immediately. that momentum cures apathy faster than thinking about it ever will. just treat it as a vehicle to get out of the house and build a bankroll, you can figure out what you actually love later once you have some cash.
I’ve been here in life man, I’m 23 and was feeling like this a couple years ago. What I found out is that you just have to start something and do something to get out there. Even if it doesn’t excite you at first, it’s the start of something. It gives you something to do and taste that you are responsible for which builds character and traits. You also never know what opportunities may come from doing this. You could meet a cool residential owner that you connect with and take you under their wing. Bottom line I guess, is that if you stay stagnant nothing will come from it. But if you put yourself out there and start trying new things, new opportunities can be presented that you may of never know or had access to before because you never put yourself out there. And hey you may just find your passion. Hope this helps, feel free to pm me if you need.
You don’t need passion. You need to be aware of your customers passions.
It doesn’t matter what your first business is. It’s just a learning experience.
Boring jobs are often the most lucrative. You don’t have to love it, but if it crushes your soul every day that’s not sustainable.. out the work and you’ll find enjoyment in success and what that provides outside of work.
I think you’re kinda lucky not to have a passion motivating your business choices.
I have a passion, and it means I have to bend over backwards to force it to work. Longer hours than I should.
You get to make choices based on: work life balance, flexibility, reliability, profit margins. You are literally living my dream rn!
There’s no shame choosing a business that lets you make maximum profit in minimum hours. Because that leaves you with time and money to develop and pursue your passions.
I think your idea is a good one. Start with a few clients and work out communication, scheduling, supplies, etc. you’ll probably have to offer some crazy good rates at first- until you have referrals, a little experience, a small marketing strategy. Don’t worry, those things are best developed the hard way- via experience.
Don’t expect to make your ideal profit in the first few months or even year- that’s typical for a new business and doesn’t mean you’re failing, you’re establishing.
That might mean you need to work part time at something else to make ends meet until your business picks up- that’s also normal and not a sign that you aren’t “making it.” Maybe your part time job will be a huge drag, but you know you’re investing for your next step.
You can always add on to your services. I’ve heard really good things about power washing? And there’s all kind of seasonal work- leaf collection, mowing and weeding, Christmas lights hanging and removal, you can even add drop in car cleaning and detailing (if I could afford someone to clean around my home you can bet I would love them to clean the interior of my car while they’re at it!
Start with your core offerings and add things slowly, that feel manageable.
No reason to wait. I waited and waited and waited till I felt I was “responsible enough” to run my own business at 30. But I never got “responsible enough” because the only thing that could teach me how to run a business was to just start.