Writing a Business Plan & Getting Ready for Graduation

[Rudy]

I am currently writing a business plan for my computer technical support and IT / networking consulting services and IT/network design & setup services. As a senior in college, a lot of it is in limbo right now, but I think I've got a pretty good idea of where I want to take this business - especially when I try to go full time with it upon graduation this coming May.

I'm not looking forward to finding a job in the current American economy, that's for sure!

What is making this so difficult for me is two things:
1) I'm not sure if the city where I live now (and go to school in), Chattanooga TN, is the place I will want to live in - or even be living in - 2 years from now!

2) My major has nothing to do with computers, but is called Community Development. Basically, I have been trained to be able to go into a poor community, either in the States or anywhere in the world, and help it develop economically, socially, etc... Basically the phrase "wholistic development" is appropriate in this context. I go to Covenant College, a Christian school, so we also focus on missions and spiritual poverty.

What I like so much about my major is that it focuses on building relationships with the beneficiaries, and it focuses on enabling the community members to help themselves - rather than me going and doing things for them or telling them what to do.

Anyway, I've got a good start on my business plan, and am beginning to think about and pray about running the business, but ALSO doing community development work. I can definitely see myself working overseas for extended periods of time. But I can also see myself working in America for the rest of my life. All of that to say, I have no idea WHAT I'm going to end up doing.

I'm continuing to update and improve my resume, and am beginning to get that onto places like CareerBuilder, so I know that will help.

I'm just hoping that the right doors will open at the right time, and that I will trust the Lord that things will all work out.

As it is now, I'm planning on pressing ahead with this business plan and launching my business as a full-time operation when I graduate. I gotta do something - I need to pay off student loans!!! (And I DON'T plan on defaulting on them... and the upside is, I don't have any credit card debt)

So for you in the work force now, what are your thoughts?

 

[weblord]

this line caught my attention.
you need to ask yourself what you want to do and are best for it, if not what you want to do that you will always want to do for the rest of your life?
i started with cars, computers and computers, ministries..
i ended up on computers/internet and still excited doing it.
i'll be turning 41 next year btw.
been doing this since 1999

All of that to say, I have no idea WHAT I'm going to end up doing.

 

[Mike]

So for you in the work force now, what are your thoughts?

I've consulted business and individuals for years, wrote concepts and business plans for what seems to be an eternity and taught individuals from entry level technicians to Oncologists...through all this, one thing i can tell you:
It's the ingredient to success, without it, I would have been burning out before I knew what hit me - Passion.
If you have passion for what you're doing, you won't let setbacks, lost sales or discouraging words stop you.
It's similar to discovering the love of your life - if you want it, you'll go after it, come rain, snow or roadblocks.
Money? Nice, but completely secondary. It's a byproduct of your passion.

I'm not advocating this as the "ultimate" solution, but it's the quintessential base of all success.

M.