9 Steps for Starting a Business Doing What You Know And Love

Three years ago, I thought I had it made. I worked from home as a business coach for entrepreneurs all over the US. When I got pregnant with my son, I got walloped by the reality that I wanted to be home with him full-time. I never knew I wanted that!I had no idea who I was anymore. I was proud of my identity as a career woman. I had put off having children and assumed I would be the mom I aspired to be, and work at the same time. I was right and wrong.So I quit my job and stayed home with my son for a year. It was a wonderful experience, and yet, I craved more. I wanted a project that was all my own that would allow me to express other forms of my creativity in addition to mothering my son, so I launched my own boutique consulting firm.I combined my training as a marriage and family therapist, 15 years as a meditation teacher, and 10 years’ experience as a small business coach and strategist, and decided that I wanted to help other moms to feel empowered and happy.I now teach other moms how to launch and grow their own businesses so they can be home with their kids full-time, just like me. Most of the moms I meet share that they have a [not-so] secret desire to start a business from home that makes them feel great AND provides them with the flexibility and profits they need. When women find out what I do, they lean in closer to me and ask how they can launch their own business as well. Here are my best tips for taking who you are and what you know, and turning that into a business.Get out a notebook and treat this like a workshop – right now. If you feel some excitement about this topic, listen to that because the energy you need for actually launching your idea is contained in this initial excitement!

Starting a Business Doing What You Know And Love

1. Write Down Every Job You've Every HadMake sure to include everything, whether it's volunteering, babysitting, being a mom or that dog-walking job you had as a kid. Further expound on each item by writing down all the tasks associated with that job. Finally circle all of your favorite jobs and tasks.2. Write Down All of Your EducationFocus on what you loved most in school (classes, etc.). Don't get hung up on whether or not you finished your degree. Remember to think outside the box and include the unconventional and informal aspects of your education (i.e. trainings, workshops, etc.) as well.3. List Out Your Favorite Hobbies (now & in the recent past)While your hobbies may not translate directly into a lucrative business venture, you may be able to take aspects of these passions and weave them into your dream business.4. Write Your "Dream Job" DescriptionIncorporate the jobs, tasks, educational experiences and hobbies from the lists you've just written out, into a position what would encompass EXACTLY what you love.5. Call Yourself A Consultant In...Take the dream job you outlined above and call yourself a consultant in that role!6. Read the Dream Job Description Out LoudHow does it sound? Write in your journal how it would make you feel if you could do the dream job in a flexible way that allowed you as much time with your child(ren) as you desire.7. Find a Friend or Coach To Act As a Sounding BoardThis is often a good time to ask those near to you or whose opinions you respect, whether they can see you in this role, whether it optimizes your strengths and what steps you could take to execute on your plan.8. Ask Yourself QuestionsEven more important than consulting with friends or coaches is consulting with yourself about what you want out of your new business venture. Whatever business you decide to launch, you have some important decisions to make. These questions target your core values, the "why" of you business dream. Ask yourself the following:

• Why do I want to start a business now?
• How do I want to feel each day?
• How much do I want to work each day?
• How much money do I want/need to earn?

9. Answer the Questions with CareThe answers to the questions above will be very important to your success. Once you have your answers drawn up, it's time to integrate your answers into the consulting role you've dreamt up for yourself. By establishing your business vision around considerations of passion and strength first, you can ensure that the business structure you develop will be true to those values.

What consulting role emerged for you from the above exercise? Tell us in the comments about the business idea you created from what you know and love!