Do you have a hobby?

Do you have a hobby? Yes? Almost everyone has a hobby. A hobby is something which you take pleasure from doing; relieves you from boredom, stress and keeps you occupied in your spare time. However, some hobbies naturally have more potential to thrive and expand than others and you can take some hobbies and develop them into successful businesses. Can you think of some businesses that might have started out from a hobby?

- Nail-painting

- Scrap-booking

- Knitting

- Building car models

- Building model aeroplanes

- Teddy-bear collection

- Pet-shop

There are many many other examples.

Are there some people who started out with a hobby and built up a very successful business from the ground up by doing something that they enjoy and are passionate about? Yes or yes? Absolutely.

Have you been to Plaza Singapura in Singapore? If you have, there is a shop there called 'Made With Love'. They sell scrap-booking materials and teach you how to create your own scrap-book. Instead of putting your photos into a simple photo album, you can use photos that hold special memories for you and create pieces of art that you can keep close to your heart

forever. Scrap-booking is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. But when these 3 ladies first started their business in Singapore, scrap-booking was relatively unknown in Singapore. It was a hobby for them and they started out selling their products from a push-cart. Within a short period of time, they now own a relatively big shop in Singapore's Orchard Road, where the rent is very high. They've done very well for themselves.

One of our graduates started her own nail-art business while attending our Entrepreneur Action Program. She generated more

than $2,000 while still attending the program and she now does it as her own business.

It IS possible for you to turn your hobby into a business too.

Here are some points for you to consider when you are thinking of turning your hobby into a business.

1) Commitment

- Do you have the commitment?

- Are you committed to make a business work?

You enjoy doing your hobby now in your spare time. But do you have the commitment needed to stick with it if you were doing

it full time? Doing something when you feel like it for fun is totally different from relying on it for an income.

If you have the commitment, we guarantee you that you'll find the time, the resources, the money, everything. If you don't have the commitment, you will find yourself struggling - especially if you depend on it for your livelihood.

Commitment is essential for getting a business to work. If you're not ready to put in the commitment or you're not sure, don't quit your job and go into a full-time business. Start off a part-time business and when you find you're making enough income as your job is paying you, then you may want to step out full-time and expand your business. By then, you'll have earned the right and have the confidence to be y'our o'wn b'oss.

2) Financing

- How much it is going to take to finance your hobby as a business and get it off the ground? - Do you have a head for business or are you going to need any help? - How much help will you need and what is it going to cost for you to hire other people?

3) Attending Business Courses

Some people ask us: is your company government-related? Do we get a certificate? And some will say: "Oh, I'm studying

business in the university, I don't need your course." Let us ask you, do you think you need a certificate to start a business? No - you just need to pass the minimum age requirement and anyone can register a business. Do you think you need practical skills, knowledge and experience to start a business? Yes. Which one will give you a better chance at running a successful business? Practical experience, yes?

Don't get us wrong, we think academic education is important.

But you know what?

* Academic Education will get you a job. Self-Education will get you rich.

If you really want to start and run a successful business, we're telling you that learning theories about business is not enough.

You need practical skills and experience. Our program is one way for you to gain the practical skills, knowledge and experience

in the shortest period of time. Another way is for you to find mentors and go out there and gain the experiences for your self.

4) Attracting customers

If you are going turn your hobby into a thriving business, it is essential that people know about you and what you are offering,

therefore you have to think about widening your customer base. How do you do that? Through marketing - something we've been sharing with you over and over again. Remember AIDA? Attention Interest Desire Action. Sales and marketing are two things you must master if you want to run a million-dollar business and we focus a lot on sales and marketing in our program.

5) Preparing yourself for success

- What happens if your business becomes a success?

You will have to be prepared for the transformations that will take place. When your business expands, it may become too large for a one person operation. By then, you will be faced with a whole new set of problems. In order for your business to grow, you must grow. If you're thinking of hiring someone, one thing you need to increase is your leadership ability. Successful entrepreneurs are always learning and growing. Successful entrepreneurs will tell you that they've been preparing for their success. Success didn't just happen overnight.

Some people have the dream of taking their business public, to be put on the stock-exchange. (That's how some people become 'instant-millionaires'.) But do you know that very often, the people who started the company are not the ones who take the company public? Taking a company public requires a different type of skill set from starting a business. So as you grow, your company will grow. Otherwise, you need to get people who know how to grow a business to help you.

6) Just Do It.

If you've always thought of turning your hobby into your business, you know what? Just Do It. Just start somewhere and

see what happens. But start out small. Especially if you've never done business before. Start small so your risk is low.

Better still if you can start with little or no money and generate infinite returns.

You can create your life exactly the way you want it.

T'ake A'ction N'ow!

Wendy & Jerome