Not doing it for the money

[Taktik]

Hi,

I am 33 years old and am currently working in marketing and PR in an e-commerce-business. Altough I really like my job and everything is fine, I always felt somehow dissatisfied, because I thought that I could earn more. (At least I thought, that was the problem. More on that later.)

So in october 2016 I started selling products on Amazon via FBA. I sold supplements in a niche, that was relatively new, but there was already a demand. I knew, that I could make some money there, because I saw it in my job. I didn't had to do any research or anything like that. I then expanded the portfolio.

It really went well an in 2017 I had a six-figure revenue with the best month being march with around € 20.000 in revenue.

Interestingly, altough my side business went really well in 2017, I got tired of it. I was just trading products and selling them for a little bit of profit. Furthermore the competition got stronger and I had to put in more effort to make profit.
The only motivation for me in 2016, when I started my side business, was the money. As it turned out, it was not money, that I wanted. I never used any of the money, that I made on Amazon (except for buying products to sell and paying taxes or operating expenses).
I thought, that I did it for the money, but as I found out, that wasn't important at all for me. So I let things slide and "closed" the business last month, but I already didn't do much the last 10 months. Basically just selling the products I already sold at the beginning, but it felt like an annoying chore.

So I didn't do much in the last couple of months, just working as an employee. But with every day, that went by, I got a little bit more annoyed and dissatisfied again. The feeling of wanting more money came back, but I realized, that I misinterpreted it back in 2016. I am not dissatisfied, because I could earn more, I am dissatisfied, because I can't fulfil my full potential working as an employee.

So now I want to start a side business once again, but this time I don't want it to annoy me after some time. I guess that means, that I need something with more purpose, like providing some kind of value to my future customers. This is something, my first business did not have. Unfortunately I don't have any clue, what I could do. I haven't figured something out yet.
As it turned out in the last couple of weeks, my mind is still primed to look for opportunities to make some money fast, but I am not acting on it anymore, because I know, that it is not going to motivate and fulfil me in the long term.

So at the moment, I am looking for business ideas, that have the potential to give me more than just money.

 

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[Andy Black]

Hi,

I am 33 years old and am currently working in marketing and PR in an e-commerce-business. Altough I really like my job and everything is fine, I always felt somehow dissatisfied, because I thought that I could earn more. (At least I thought, that was the problem. More on that later.)

So in october 2016 I started selling products on Amazon via FBA. I sold supplements in a niche, that was relatively new, but there was already a demand. I knew, that I could make some money there, because I saw it in my job. I didn't had to do any research or anything like that. I then expanded the portfolio.

It really went well an in 2017 I had a six-figure revenue with the best month being march with around € 20.000 in revenue.

Interestingly, altough my side business went really well in 2017, I got tired of it. I was just trading products and selling them for a little bit of profit. Furthermore the competition got stronger and I had to put in more effort to make profit.
The only motivation for me in 2016, when I started my side business, was the money. As it turned out, it was not money, that I wanted. I never used any of the money, that I made on Amazon (except for buying products to sell and paying taxes or operating expenses).
I thought, that I did it for the money, but as I found out, that wasn't important at all for me. So I let things slide and "closed" the business last month, but I already didn't do much the last 10 months. Basically just selling the products I already sold at the beginning, but it felt like an annoying chore.

So I didn't do much in the last couple of months, just working as an employee. But with every day, that went by, I got a little bit more annoyed and dissatisfied again. The feeling of wanting more money came back, but I realized, that I misinterpreted it back in 2016. I am not dissatisfied, because I could earn more, I am dissatisfied, because I can't fulfil my full potential working as an employee.

So now I want to start a side business once again, but this time I don't want it to annoy me after some time. I guess that means, that I need something with more purpose, like providing some kind of value to my future customers. This is something, my first business did not have. Unfortunately I don't have any clue, what I could do. I haven't figured something out yet.
As it turned out in the last couple of weeks, my mind is still primed to look for opportunities to make some money fast, but I am not acting on it anymore, because I know, that it is not going to motivate and fulfil me in the long term.

So at the moment, I am looking for business ideas, that have the potential to give me more than just money.

Welcome, and thanks for your intro.

I’ve worked with eCom business owners who sold products that changed their customers lives.

I like the work I do because I can make a difference to people’s lives and the lives of their families.

A positive feedback loop from your customers/clients may help.

Check out @Carol Jones ’s story. They sell ironing board covers, but touch many people’s lives in a positive way.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

So now I want to start a side business once again, but this time I don't want it to annoy me after some time. I guess that means, that I need something with more purpose, like providing some kind of value to my future customers. This is something, my first business did not have. Unfortunately I don't have any clue, what I could do. I haven't figured something out yet.
As it turned out in the last couple of weeks, my mind is still primed to look for opportunities to make some money fast, but I am not acting on it anymore, because I know, that it is not going to motivate and fulfil me in the long term.

So at the moment, I am looking for business ideas, that have the potential to give me more than just money.

Yes, you are maturing from "money chasing" to "value providing" -- it's one my core values in both books. Value providing (while making money and winning your freedom) is incredible rewarding.

Welcome to the forum.