Sourcing

 I don't know how many times I've seen advertisements or influencers talk about creating a drop shipping company that makes you money without you needing to lift a finger, or starting a blog and quitting your job to spend all day touring Greece with your family. The thing that each of these has in common, however, is that they are willing to teach you how to do it - just like they did - for a paltry $399. 

They know it takes more work than they make it seem, but it's not in their interest to tell you that until you've paid up. 

Cynicism aside, I have enjoyed learning about affiliate marketing and drop shipping this week because I have been intrigued by some of these claims before. And it's not that I'm less inclined to try them because I have learned the strengths and pitfalls this week, but I am more realistic about what it would mean if I did. And that's a good thing. 

I think that the biggest challenge I have to overcome is my mindset that I don't want to sell anyone something they don't need, and that they really don't need much of anything. I have never been a sales person and I definitely don't have a killer instinct to close the deal. But what I can change, is my assumption that I know what people want and need  - or more specifically, what they DON'T - and so I shouldn't give them the chance to make that choice for themselves. 

My other issue, is that I am the world's cheapest person, so I never think that anyone would pay anything near a realistic price, let alone a markup of that. 

This isn't really focused on sourcing a product, but it's what I keep thinking about. Actually, I like the word "sourcing". Having a business is just being a source of a good or service for people when they want or need it. It doesn't bother me that there are so many dog groomers (okay, it does a little) just because I don't need or want one. It's a service that is available to those who want it. And I'm sure some are too expensive for some customers and other customers don't care how much it costs, they'll do anything for their little ball of fur on whom they project all of their needs for love and acceptance (cynical, again?). 

It's been a long week. I don't think I'm any closer to knowing what kind of business I want to start, let alone where to source it, but I know more than I did this time last week, and that's a win.