Last Updated on October 19, 2024 by Daniel Stenabaugh
When I retired from my construction business in 2004, I never knew that my life journey would lead to finding a viable online niche.
I honestly believed my working days were over and I would meld into a life of leisure and relaxation and drift along on a sea of fun and carefree existence
Well that lasted as long as it took to move across country to begin a new life in Western New York.
I remember standing in the kitchen of my in laws condo in Trenton, New Jersey talking to my father-in-law about all the time we would now have to be able to visit and share more time together.
During our conversation my cell phone rang. I recognized the number from a friend of mine in California. He was calling to see, if I could manage a small project for him in New York. You know how it goes, ” I really need your help and if I knew anybody else I wouldn’t have called. But I’m really in a bind,” etc., etc.,etc.
I really wanted to thank him and bow out. Every fiber in me was struggling to say no. But friends are friends and I caved and after a long ten-minute conversation, I agree to help him out.
Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t desperate and I certainly didn’t need the money. More money in retirement can always come in handy. But I realized my resolve to hang up the tool belt wasn’t as strong as I had believed.
It wasn’t long before I realized that retirement was going to take a slightly different course than I had expected. In addition I came to realize that many retirees found income generating opportunities after retirement.
I did take on the project and after a few months I began to look around for things I liked to do that I could focus my energy on.
When a friend asked, if I had ever considered an online business, I had to admit that I had never really considered it. In fact, I didn’t even know what it was. It sounded interesting and I promised to check it out.
I had been self-employed most of my adult life, so that part of the equation suited me quite well. But finding the right niche was more of a challenge. However, when I thought about it in terms of helping people find answers to pressing concerns, my mind began to expand in all kinds of directions.
I soon came to learn that a niche is just a passion for something. It is something that is already a part of your life. It could be a hobby, or a personal commitment you currently pursue. Anything that you feel deeply about can be the foundation of an online business.
In the next few posts, I am going to delve more deeply into finding a niche that you can really pour your heart and soul into.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you right away.
Be well and take care.