Here’s a quick checklist I put together to help you with your ideas! Be sure to also make one of your own! Share what has helped you by making comments below!

1. Keep in mind that technology is evolving faster than ever, and it probably won’t slow down. You don’t have to limit yourself to one field of work – learning many skills and launching multiple microbusinesses in a lifetime will be a common occurrence with rapidly changing technology and opportunities. Microbusinesses are usually much easier to start and fold than bigger businesses.
2. Do you want to start full-time, part-time, or pursue your microbusiness a few times a year? If you’re starting a photography business aside from your full-time job, you can take on a few jobs a year, or you could do your best to stay busy each weekend. There are no rules as to how much work you have to put into many microbusinesses. You can take a few months off, and continue to post more ads for work at your own convenience. If you only want to pursue work a few times, be careful you don’t have to turn many people down because you show up first in a Google search for photographers in your town. Increase your marketing efforts as you increase your availability!
3. Do you want to raise extra money immediately? Think of what you can do today. Although they may not be the most enjoyable jobs, house cleaning, lawn care, and baby sitting are a few ways to help others and earn extra money in the near future.
4. Write down the skills you will need to develop. Think of your long-term vision for the future. Continue to sharpen your skills. Make sure these skills will add value to peoples’ lives.
5. Think of valuable skills you already possess. You may be an excellent musician or an accomplished athlete. Or you may be great at math, chemistry, and English. Offer to privately teach your skills to people in your community or to people online. Some people even offer lessons through Skype!
6. Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. Minimize your time spent with unsupportive individuals.
7. Improve your writing. Writing is the main way we communicate today. We’re constantly texting and emailing.
8. Planning is important, but don’t let it hold you back. Topics such as taxes, insurance, and legal issues are often what disuade people from starting in the first place. Do your research and make sure you’re legal, but also remember to enjoy your work endeavors!
9. Get started today! Buy a domain for your idea through GoDaddy and build the site with WordPress. Start putting ads up for your products and services on a variety of classified websites.
10. Take breaks. When you’re working during the day, take 10 – 15 minute breaks every few hours. This will help keep you fresh. When you become a zombie and get busy with a breakthrough idea and don’t take these kinds of breaks, take a day or two off after the major aspects of your business are complete! After you make a decent wage for yourself, take a week off to recharge. Go to Florida, somewhere overseas, or simply relax in your town.
11. A microbusiness often doesn’t require much startup capital. As Mark Cuban says: “There are only two reasonable sources of capital for startup entrepreneurs: your own pocket and your customers’ pockets.”
12. Keep a positive attitude even if your plans don’t work right away. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Stick with it if you believe it will eventually work, but find other ways to make money and achieve success right away. You don’t need to get stuck with one form of work. You can still be passionate about something even if it doesn’t turn into a full-time job. But be sure to creatively think of other ways to share your passions. You can design an app, website, YouTube channel, book, educational course, and a variety of other products and services around your passions.
13. When you are successful, celebrate! Just be sure to keep going. As Indiana University’s basketball coach Tom Crean says, “You can’t be too high when you win, you can’t be too low when you lose. You’ve got to move on to the next thing.”