He’s telling me about his adventures like this: “I know I can’t become successful in my current job by just doing what I have being doing ever since I started here! This means I have to change what I am doing. But what can I do?

I see that my friend is a stockbroker, maybe I should become a stockbroker, but the markets are not doing so well and neither is my friend. Aha! I heard there is an options trader coming to town. He’s giving a course, maybe I should invest my money and go on that course and learn all the secrets of the options trading and know where to invest. I’ll even buy the software, allowing me to track the markets, but as I go along I realize that I don’t know so much about this industry after all. So maybe I can start a franchise, buy someone else’s working concept and make more money, but which one should I buy? Maybe it’s easier to start my own company. My uncle has started his own company. Maybe, this is my destiny? Ok, but his business is not doing so well either, so I can not do that.

Hey, my Auntie has a business in networking marketing, residual income. Maybe something for me, right! Let’s do that! But wait, my brother is an insurance agent. That sounds like big bucks, right? Maybe I should talk to him. Or wait, my mother, she’s playing the lottery, maybe I should do that! Right! Is it really? No, this is all too confusing; maybe I should keep doing my current job after all. I end up doing nothing at all!”

If that is awfully close to your reality, it is time to think again about your focus, understanding and commitment. It is a great idea to invest time in finding your passion.

If you don’t know how, come and talk to me!

Enjoy every day,
Bert Verdonck
Create, Connect & Contribute

Yes, Tonia and I have created a new website about our passion for travel, photography and life!

It is called BERTONIA

Of course, it is full of pictures (check out the galleries!) and enjoy our extended galleries on Picasa as well! We’ve included pictures from Bali, Goa, Normandy, Zeeland and the Camino to Santiago.

Tonia wants to create more inspiring pictures and contribute to share her view on the world. By being a passionate photographer, you can already sense her ability to make you part of it. It feels sometimes like you are with her at that right moment the picture is taken. Excellent!

Now, dream away with BERTONIA and tell us your first impression…

Enjoy every day,
BERTONIA
Loving Life

Of course, this is not about you  

What can you do to break this pattern? Start by creating a vision and dreaming again! Make a list of things you really, really love to do. It doesn’t matter if these have no correlation at first sight. Start writing now! 

Just come up with a list of stuff like driving luxury cars, dining in fancy restaurants, flying around the world to explore nature, etc. Wouldn’t it be great to do this for a living? Be paid for what you love to do…just make sure you choose something you really love! 

When you have this list, just Google and find out who else is doing this? Find out about your competitors. It would be great if you find them. That means there is a market for it,right? And if they can, you can too  

Now, think about this activity. Do you love it so much, you are dreaming of doing this every day? Would you enjoy it every day? Great! If not, go back to updating your list until you find something you are daily passionate about… 

The next step is to think about the business model. Most people never get started because they think they don’t have what it takes to build a successful business. In their mind they are lacking background (education, experience, age,…), resources (people, money, equipment,…) and guts (giving up security, positive attitude, business feeling,…). But guess what? No one does! Every entrepreneur is learning along the way! And who said you can’t start small? 

Before you do actually start, write a business plan and talk to some specialists. Most of them are willing to have a first look at your plan for free. All you have to do is ASK them! You might be surprised how many are ready to help a fellow entrepreneur… And if after a while you are absolutely sure, you didn’t find anyone, just ask me

The most important thing to do is to start working on the “What” you want to do. Make sure you are passionate about it! If you have found it, you can start working on the “How” of your business. You will see how much easier it gets once you have the “What”! 

Enjoy every day,

Bert Verdonck

Create, Connect & Contribute