- 48 Days 9/24/08
1. I have a practical idea for a travel shower caddy, especially useful for the camper, but I have absolutely no idea where to start in having a prototype produced. Can you give me some advice?
2. Hi Dan - I have recently started my own business which provides a very specialized service to a niche market. I have a list of approximately 70 potential target companies in Tennessee. What is the best way to approach these companies to introduce myself and the services I provide?
3. What are the best ideas veteran teachers have come up with for getting out of the classroom and still making a living? I am an excellent teacher with on going resume building experiences in education but I am tired of the "system" teachers have to put up with.
4. There is a provision in my State's law that allows manicurists to offer services to individuals in health facilities. I would like to offer natural manicure/pedicure services to women recovering from child birth in maternity wards at a few area hospitals using nail polishes that are fume-free and safe for breast-feeding women. Would love to hear your thoughts.
5. Hi Dan, I'm 48yrs. old, & approx. 1 yr ago, I left a good job/benefits/salary in Corporate America to pursue something more meaningful. I thought that I would pursue my calling into FT Ministry or perhaps Seminary. 1 yr. later and I'm not in either. I'm now considering Teaching, but not sure. I'm running out of time & $. Can you provide any insight?
- 48 Days 9/17/08
1. I have been a stay at home mom for over 18 years and would like to go back to work on a part time basis. I am not planning on returning to my previous career, financial analyst, and feel like a college freshmen having to declare a major. How do I get started?
2. I'm a married, 28 years-old pastor finishing up my Masters of Divinity, paying for school as we go. In my church, we have a “glass ceiling” regarding income potential. What are some ways that I can increase my potential earnings in a church setting?
3. I have seen many people succeed with out a degree or schooling for that matter, however my parents and in-laws pound it in my mind that I will never win or succeed with out getting a degree. I am not leaning to the idea of being lazy; but I just don’t fit well in traditional boring class room environment versus on the job training and apprenticeships.
4. I get excited about your train of thought and even imagine how great it would be to apply the methods you mention in your programs to my own life yet when it comes time for action I end up watching mindless television re-runs and obnoxious commercials. Am I lazy, scared, lack self-discipline or all of the above?
5. I am a teacher with a job I cannot be fired from, a 10% pay raise each year and benefits I do not pay for. So what's wrong! I hate my job. I have experience with the food industry and an MS in marketing but 7 years since I was in the marketing world. Employers want to know why I want to switch now. Also I am mid 50's.
- 48 Days 9/10/08
1. How do you identify PASSION when that word seems so intense? You've addressed this before & I'm reading 48 days but the word "passion" itself seems too intense for me. I have a hard time saying that there is anything other than my loved ones that I feel "passionate" about... How do identify that when I can’t recognize what it? >Thanks for all you do!!!
2. Dan, I am in a real bind. I work as a bookkeeper for my family's business and handle all of my parent's personal bills. I DESPISE this position. The way money is being handled makes me really disrespect my folks. I want out. I'm sick of worrying about my parent's financial situation! How can I cut the chords without severing ties??
3. How do you combat the isolation of working from home? This month marks my one year anniversary working from home. I'm really getting lonely. I'm so busy working I don't have time to network. I really wish someone would just walk by my desk and say hi, almost to the point of getting a 9-5 job!
4. Dan, I'm 55 years old and finally following my dream of doing something with my love of art that I've had all my life. I'm doing wood sculpture similar to what was done on your property that you mention in your book. How do I go about getting my name out and what I do?
5. I quit my job to come home and care for our son with special needs. My wife works full time. I'm having trouble formulating my dream. I like lots of things. Most of my work career has been in journalism and pastoral ministry. How can I create a good supplemental income from home?
- 48 Days 9/2/08
1. A year ago I decided to leave a good job to attend graduate school to get my PhD in history. I now have no desire to complete my degree and I am completely burned out. How do I explain to an employer the gap in my work history since I did not complete my degree? Is this going to make me look like a quitter?
2. How can I find out what color my parachute is?
3. Dan, I've heard on your podcasts you have sold cars to supplement your income. My son and I would love to start doing this together. I've sent away for a dealer’s license, but the application requires a business address and insurance. If you don't mind revealing, how did you start and where did you find deals?
4. I've tried selling eBooks and podcast subscriptions over the Internet before and found that there is so much free information available; it was extremely difficult to get people to actually pay for it. I think I've made about $40 total. How do we make people want it badly enough to pay?
5. Is there really life after being terminated from a position? I have had an excellent work record until this last position. Though I made many improvements, for many reasons, most political - I was terminated. I don't feel bitter or angry - just hurt and disappointed in myself.
6. Years ago I got an entrepreneurial opportunity off the ground only to get killed by the IRS because I am not a good bookkeeper. I have lived in fear of that experience ever since. I'm just trying to turn this seeming setback into an awesome opportunity and turning point in my life.
- 48 Days 8/27/08
1. How do you know the difference between being in the wrong job or being in the right job and you're being stretched?
2. I was wondering if you might dedicate an entire podcast to raising kids to be hard workers and have a "No More Mondays" mindset. I need help being creative with my kids and helping them be creative in ways to make money.
3. Can you talk about pricing soft services like coaching and how to find the right price to charge?
4. I am stuck in a "RUT" I go to a job every day (commuting in rush hour traffic for an hour) that I know is not my calling --sitting at my desk for most of the day doing nothing and I am learning nothing. I don't know what to do.
5. What do you do if you want to start a business but every idea is either something you don't want to do, don’t know how to do or don’t have the money to do?
- 48 Days 8/20/08
1. Is it okay to work in something that is not my passion – but pays the bills?
2. Should I leave a government job – “with security” – to go with something that has more potential?
3. Is it too late to start at 50 to find a career that feeds my soul and my pocketbook?
4. Is it wise to borrow money to cover my income while I get my coaching biz started or continue working full time?
5. The company I work for is losing money and sure to close down soon. Should I move on or stay to the end?
- 48 Days 8/14/08
We had lots of response to last week’s podcast on “social entrepreneurship.” Here’s just one:
Thank you so much for the podcast with Jared. I am from Kenya and my village is crippled with so much poverty. I have wanted to do something with the women, most men are dead or gone. I wanted not to ask for aid or give the women handouts, I want them to use the available resources to make money and come out of poverty. My village is pretty small and I know this can work. I just had no idea how to implement this whole thing. I need to sort myself out in terms of getting some income and then achieve this long term goal that I have. Thank you so much and to Jared, you are a jewel in Africa we do not need Aid, we need to get out of the poverty ourselves. Grace Onyango
And then the usual questions:
1. I have a lot of academic and volunteer experience in the field of disability services. As a person with a disability I would like to coach persons with disabilities and/or their parents in life success strategies and navigating programs for the disabled. Is it reasonable for me to think that I could have a business coaching persons with disabilities up and generating a de
