In today’s rapidly changing environment there is a continuing need to learn new skills and adapt to change. People are facing unprecedented changes and intense challenges in their lives. They are looking for a helping hand to guide them. If you have a desire to share your experience and have an affinity for teaching, there is a versatile business model that will help you turn your passion into a thriving livelihood.

The foundation of this cutting-edge business model is providing training that helps people in some area of their lives. This is not necessarily what you may consider traditional training or education. There are as many ways to shape it as there are unique expressions. It may include experiential learning, hands-on modalities and personal interaction.

A great example is a man who created a board game that teaches about edible and medicinal herbs. He started with a garage full of board games and wondered how he would sell them. In a short time, he has created a profitable business that offers a variety of products from hands-on herbal medicine making kits to e-courses and even an herb mentor group. Your specific offer and presentation is open to your imagination and passion for a topic. If you are not sure about your passion, the process of developing this business will help you find it.

The Ideal Business

This is the ideal business model if you want to work for yourself doing something that inspires you. There are virtually no start-up costs other than an investment in developing your own skills and getting the support you need to create your business. You only need a computer and a phone to get started.

The Qualities of this Ideal Business:

• Solo-operation: do it yourself without a staff
• No start-up costs and minimal ongoing expenses for a few on-line services
• Work from anywhere that you can connect to the internet
• Great income, includes passive and recurring revenue
• Life balance, flexibility and freedom
• Do something that inspires you and enjoy your business
• Make a difference sharing your message and experience

If these are qualities that you desire in a business, continue reading to learn more.

The Experts Business Model

As you share your knowledge about a specific subject and offer learning opportunities you will begin to establish yourself as an expert. Do not let the word “expert” stop you. You may not feel like an expert at this moment. You simply start where you are and develop your message in a way that people can clearly follow. There are four primary elements to establishing yourself as an expert and generating income.

4 Primary Elements to Implement the Experts Business Model:

1.  Choose a Niche

There are several options:

• Help people solve a specific problem and achieve their desired outcomes. This often relates to a challenge you have overcome yourself. You can offer guidance based on your personal experience and perspective.
• Teach someone a particular skill or craft. This may relate to a skill you have mastered or something you are very interested in.

It is important that you choose something that inspires you. Your passion will motivate you and keep you energized. The topic should be narrow enough that you can create detailed content about it and speak as if you are talking to an individual. This is often the biggest challenge. There is a tendency to choose a broad topic. Generally, the more narrowly focused the topic the better.

2.  Create Content

Once you decide on your topic, begin to develop content. Writing about your topic will help organize and clarify your thoughts. This is the place that many get stuck. If you have difficulty developing content your topic may be too broad. This process helps you refine your focus and hone your subject to create your unique expression. You may also discover your self-limiting beliefs as you proceed.

There will be a variety of different ways that content is offered. Some will be free content that helps people understand what you offer and begins to educate them. Other content will be developed into training modules. It is good to offer content in a variety of media types to support different learning styles. Media formats may include text, audio and video.

3.  Packaging and Marketing

The training may be offered in several formats and structured in different ways to provide a variety of learning opportunities and experiences. This is the “packaging”. It may be a stand alone information product provided as text, audio and/or video materials. It might also include a membership site or interactive learning environment that offers a forum or help desk and increasing levels of personal support. Teleconferences and webinars can be conducted as live events; recorded and offered as stand alone products.

Offering educational content is an effective marketing strategy. It builds a relationship with potential clients and develops trust. You create a community of people who resonate with your message and are interested in what you are offering.

4.  Services

Training by itself is often insufficient to help people make the changes they desire. Stand alone training can be coupled with more interactive options to create an experience that enables people to implement what they have learned.

These services may include group and individual coaching, as well as live seminars, retreats and other speaking engagements. It may also include hands-on services, such as massage therapy or other healing modalities. You may create your own unique offer.

This is a powerful model for coaches and other service providers. It builds your client base, increases your value, allows you to work with only the most motivated clients and creates other revenue streams in addition to your personal time.

The Elements Work Together

Although there is a progression through the elements when you first start; they are not linear steps. They all work together. To get started, you want to focus on Step 1 and 2. Once you feel comfortable with the first two steps, you will develop a larger strategy that includes Steps 3 and 4. It is likely that your overall strategy will evolve as you proceed.

There is a lot of detail and depth to each of these elements. This provides a broad overview of how to generate income by sharing your experience. I will be offering additional information about each of these elements. Be sure to subscribe to my Blog Companion if you would like to receive updates when new information is available.

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