During my federal and writing careers, I’ve come across many people wanting to start their own businesses. Although for many, this desire and dream still lives within their hearts and minds. The fear of not knowing how to get started, or what type of business to start prevents the probability of making an effort to bring these desires to fruition.

Meanwhile I’ve noticed. Like the people mentioned above, most with a desire to start a business already have what’s needed to get started due to formal education, job experiences, family environment and personal development.

Let’s ponder a few jobs you might have held, or currently holds such as secretary, office manager, electrician, mechanic, welder, landscaper, construction worker, nurse, building security, property inspector, typist, desktop publisher, blogger, housekeeper, plumber, cook, or beautician.

You see where I’m heading?
Basically, you’ve either acquired certifications/diploma from a college, private training facility, or on-the-job-training from your employer(s). As a result, you’re already prepared to start your own small business from your residence (home or apartment).

Starting a business is easy – when you do what you know.
Let’s assume you learned a craft from a familiar environment. For instance, throughout your youth and teen-years, your grandmother, aunt, cousin, and/or mother enjoyed cooking and baking which made their kitchens the hub of great foods and family gatherings. As a result, you grew up in different kitchens – helping out by retrieving cooking containers, utensils, and stirring pots. As well as, washing dishes, fetching ingredients and learning to cook as well as those adults. Further, you might have learned skills while working at family-owned businesses such as a community store, lawn care service, daycare, handyman repair service, a farm, auto shop, private property maintenance/rental, and other trades.

I’m sure if you reflect on past experiences, you’ll quickly recall one or more skills you enjoyed doing which might inspire you to consider the probability whether to; or not start a business doing what you already know how to do.

Most potential business owners have what they need to get started.
Every job and scenario mentioned above provides an opportunity for you to start your own business, based on what you know, or have learned from one or more previous jobs. At this point, due to work experience, training and familiar background you are prepared to start a business, right now. It really is up to you!

In addition, outsourcing and down-sizing of government agencies and private companies, sole-proprietorship business owners offer their service(s) to these vendors as independent contractors. You can do the same.

If this article or others (articles/people) have inspired you to consider, or start your own business based on what you know. Please share your thoughts, and/or comments.