Greetings from Kiev, Ukraine, the first European country on my latest tour of the world.
I don’t speak Ukrainian or Russian, so in places like this I just walk around and look at things. It’s not a bad way to travel, all things considered.
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Two weeks from yesterday, I’ll be launching the Empire Building Kit to an initial group of business-minded folks in our community. But today, I want to give away a free advance copy to two people.
The EBK is all about building a sustainable lifestyle business in one year by doing one thing every day. This is a serious project for serious people.
In compiling the material, I looked at dozens of different, interesting lifestyle businesses. We’ve got a guy who produces murder mystery parties, a professional dog trainer, a photographer, a writer, a winery, a tax planner, and so on. None of them are professional bloggers. (Nothing wrong with that, naturally, but I think us bloggers get enough attention most of the time.)
Oh, and they all make around $50,000-$150,000 a year from their lifestyle business. I like this range because it means the business is not a huge company, but it’s definitely a great living from doing something that you love.
EBK contains an onslaught of material—case studies, video interviews, several hours of screen-capture video, a 365-step checklist, transcripts, and so on. I like working with partners, but I wanted to do this one on my own. Every day on the trip, I’ve been interviewing people by Skype from various airports and drinking more coffee than usual as I frantically work on wrapping it up in the next 10 days.
The winners will get the entire product, including ongoing updates and access to a special webinar I’m doing only for the first group who gets it during the initial launch.
Win a Free Copy
I give away books every month on Facebook or Twitter to random commentors, but I don’t want this (much bigger) giveaway to be random. Instead, it’s deliberate –
I want to give the entire product away to two people who will be extremely likely to use it well. I’m looking for one person who already has a business and wants to scale up, and one person who doesn’t have a profitable business but is very serious about building one over the next year.
The question is… Should it be you? If so, let me know why in the comments section of this post. A panel of extremely biased judges will review the entries and make a decision by Sunday night, 6pm EST. Don’t wait!
If at any point in the comments, you want to vote for someone else’s submission instead of your own, you can do that too—but please don’t try to game the system by getting all your friends to post comments. My cat gets tired enough trying to weed out all the spam comments that come through every day.
Also, please be concise—no need to use the entire 1,000 word limit that we have on the comment form. The biased judges and I are more interested in what you have to say than how long it takes you to say it.
Alright, that’s it! I’m going to dinner as soon as I can figure out how to order something in Ukrainian, and I’ll check back in on your comments in an hour or so. Have a great Thursday.
Update: It looks like we received a few entries. Thanks so much—we’ll announce the winner in a new post shortly.
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Image: Avyfain
March 27, 2010
Deanell Sandoval
Dear Chris,
I am tired of being complacent. I am done waiting for MY life to happen, done sitting on the edge. I am ready to jump, to begin taking risks again.
I owned a business for eight years. I loved my business. I created it out of nothing. I worked tirelessly to nurture this business and was willing to sacrifice anything for it. I am an addict, an entrepreneurial addict. I love executing my vision, it consumes me. A mere two and half years after closing the doors of my business I am ready to begin again. I miss being an entrepreneur.
Two years ago I was afraid to start again, to run again I felt like I had failed but I now know my first business was not a failure…it was my education.
So, that being said, I am determined, I am focused, I am ready and it is time.
Thank You.
March 27, 2010
rachael schirano
I am a photographer. I love photography. I love everything about it, from the behind the scenes technical to the finished print. But what I love most is being able to truly see beauty in people and things and places…and sharing that with the world. It took me a really long time to discover something I was truly passionate about, something I wanted to build a business and life around And now that I have found it, I feel like I am trying to climb up a crumbling mountain as I move forward. I don’t have the luxury of taking enormous risks, with a family of six and a husband who is unemployed. But at the same time, I don’t have the luxury of not following through on this dream either. Since I am just starting my business I am not sure which category I fall into, but I do know that I want to do it right…right for me. I am not scared of the hard work, I just am uncertain about where to start, unsure of what needs to be done.
March 27, 2010
Michael Coleman
There are tons of great submissions on here, and I’d like to throw my hat into the ring in the “doesn’t have a successful business yet” category. Some quick background info: I’m 22 years old, graduated from UC San Diego in December, and I’m currently interning for a consultant as a business plan writer while I get my business together.
Why am I an entrepreneur? Growing up I’ve always been interested in business, and after some priceless life experience studying abroad in Rome, I discovered my life’s purpose: to enable and empower people to achieve their goals. On a wide scale, its my goal to help people get what they want, and get it a little more quickly, and easily; I believe I’ve started building a great business model to accomplish that.
I’ll benefit greatly from these tools, because I also want to learn how to fit these goals into the rest of my life. In the next few years I plan on living in Munich, Thailand, and Buenos Aires, and I want my business to thrive as well!
Thanks
March 27, 2010
Heather
Please help me prove they naysayers in my life wrong! I am a big believer in lifestyle businesses. I have a couple of well thought-out ideas just just about ready to put in motion. I have the domains registered and I am building my content every day.
My personal life style business idea is “The Mom Conspiracy – having it all on your own terms.” I will build my “tribe” around other moms like myself. Moms who are successful in the workplace – but need to spend more time with their children than the standard career allows.
Secondly, my husband is a prolific writer on all things nerdly. I recently set him up with a simple blog (nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com) and it has been very popular, especially his recent tutorial. I made my first Squidoo Lens last night – (www.squidoo.com/nerdlypleasures) and it is in the top 5% of the Tech and Geek section.
I am ready and able to build my business – and I would love to be one of your success stories!
March 27, 2010
Melissa Dinwiddie
I’ve already created a (very small) “Empire” as an artist–but I’m not actually looking to grow that particular Empire. I’m proud that I’ve built a very small business that works… but it’s no longer giving me what I really want. I spend only a small portion of my time actively creating, I’ve long felt it was time for a change, and I’m finally making it!
Chris, you and the AONC have provided a model for me of *really* living the life I want, where I get to:
1) spend most of my time doing what I love
2) inspire and help other people to do the same (which is, in fact, an essential part of #1 above)!
I’m on a mission to follow my evolving Bliss, to record the journey on my blog, and to help others pursue *their* dreams. I don’t know yet exactly what this will look like, but figuring that out is part of the process, and I’m excited to be on the path.
I can’t wait to hear more about the EBK! It sounds amazing, and worth saving for. Thanks for the inspiration.
March 27, 2010
Don Fowler
Sounds like a wonderful way to get up off my procrastination. I am a geologist, artist and teacher. I have been thinking about what I want to do for the rest of my life, and have found it slow going. I have lots of interests, and find it difficult to choose only one or a few to concentrate on. At least that is my excuse up until now.
I want to combine my love for geology and teaching to help people become more aware of their world, and more aware of what their options are. A good knowledge of geology is useful to evaluate life and what you can do. So far, my problem has been how to get people interested enough to make the efort to learn about the subject enough to be useful.
I am currently working on a web site and blog, and plan on having it up in a few weeks. This is only the first step, and your Empire Building project is just what I need to continue the process. So far, I have had a problem with action speaks louder than words, but it does.
March 28, 2010
Benoît
I have lost my job a few weeks ago and at 24 I have understood that you can only rely on yourself to do what you really like. I have a hard time figuring out how to start my own business. The hardest part is to start and to know what is the first step. Once you start something it is usually easy to figure out the next step. Hard work doesn’t scare me. Some guidance would help be get started and do really what matters in my life and help others.
March 28, 2010
Beth
Having started a small and not passion-driven affiliate business, I realized my priority should have been an investigation of my talents and passion. I’ve spent a long time simmering up a plan to give myself and others an ecstatic life:
I’m starting a retreat/sabbatical resort to help incubate and launch creatives and lifestyle-business hopefuls (what a great list of those you have here!
)
1 -a focus on how bodywork, yoga, and contemplation can kick-start the growth progress. i’ve experienced it, but it would have been easier with help.
2 -include resources and personalized planning to help people learn to market themselves and grow their heart-centered art/business.
3 -keep the cost extremely low. comparable to rent in the states (magic of geoarbitrage!) = amazing people can come!
Your empire building kit will fit in perfectly to help me a grow a movement online to support the physical dream as it becomes a reality! Many thanks for the opportunity to share
March 28, 2010
Jessica Jo Stenquist
Thanks for your initial consideration. Chris–I emailed you my interest in your Empire Building Extravaganza but had no start up cash. Thank you, by the way, for responding to my proposal. Hopefully I have not missed the deadline and will get a positive response to this second attempt.
It all started when I was in my undergrad…I thought it interesting that everyone tended to do the same things every night or weekend. I loved finding the new fun/odd/interesting thing to do. Working as a recreation therapist I have discovered there is no one to go to find information. My goal: Connecting people to their community one city at a time! Do my part to revive the feeling of community.
And that’s about as much as one nut shell will cover.
Happy judging! Please let me know if you need more information.
March 28, 2010
Timm R
Coincidentally enough, I planned to use the next year and a half to get into ‘real life’ and become an author. During summer break 2009 I wrote my first novel (something I’ve wanted to do since I wrote a long “short” story in 7th grade; now I’m a junior), and last month I took an innocent trip to Quebec that left me rejuvenated. I was depressed at how stagnate my life was until that moment even though I have all this energy to put into it. School is the biggest roadblock with its slow-paced, irrelevant classes populated by too many immature peers, taking up 7 hours of my day. But not next year: I am going to homeschool and finally have the liberty to build my life. I will work to become published, write the sequel that I already can’t wait to do, and start one blog about my writing journey and another detailing all the personal development things and other endeavors I’ll take while not sitting around all day (literally). This kit sounds like an opportune jumpstart, no?
March 28, 2010
Jill
It has been such an inspiration reading all of the responses to this post. Everyone has such amazing and unique ideas to share with the world and such passion to accomplish their dreams. Thank you everyone for so bravely sharing yourselves here. By opening ourselves up to one another we give each other strength and support in knowing that we are not alone on our missions! I believe that we all will acheive our dreams, as long as we stay true to them. Don’t ever give up, we already have everything that we need! Just take the next step. You will either find a place to put your foot, or you will learn to fly…
I too am following my dream of creating art and traveling the world, and inspiring others to follow their own dreams in the process. I think that the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and not be so set on the outcome. This way every day will bring happiness.
Thanks to all and enjoy the ride!
~*Jill*~
March 28, 2010
Jill
Just another thought…
After reading through all of the ideas listed here I noticed that alot of them could really work well together. It might help to contact the people who’s ideas you feel drawn to and see if you can help each other to take it further. When passion combines it multiplies…and the possibilities become limitless!
Thanks again to Chris and to all of you fellow World Dominators!
~*Jill*~
March 28, 2010
herlizardness
I like the idea of doing one thing every day. It feels very kaizen-great change made through small steps. And I think it will help many of us create the awesome lives we’ve been dreaming of. Thanks for the opportunity Chris.
March 28, 2010
Bobby
It should be me! I have two businesses that could use some explosive growth (why not?) and here they are:
1) Real Estate Investing: I do that infomercial creative real estate investing stuff, but could sure use some help systematizing and outsourcing.
2) YouTube comedy sketches: I am a ‘YouTube Partner’ and get paid for making comedy sketches on my channel and would like to increase my subscriber count and build that income.
Please pick me!
March 28, 2010
Matt
I’ve been very curious about the Empire Building Kit. I’d like to think that I could benefit from it. The truth is that I don’t have so much of a business as I do a hobby (photography) in the process of becoming a business. I know that the only times when I feel truly happy, and feel that I am doing what I was meant to be doing, is when I am taking photos. I’ve got some ideas and plans on where I want to take things so that I can really live out my passions, provide a service that others can benefit from and have that happy and free feeling every day, but I get caught up on a few sticking points:
1) fear of moving forward and taking the risk
2) finding the time between working full time at a job I dislike and raising and supporting a family.
Could your Empire Building Kit help me to break these chains? I don’t know, but I would love to try it out and put my best foot forward; to take a step and if it feels good to take another step.
March 28, 2010
Jenn Brockman
I have a business already but am moving in a new direction. This week I will begin coaching school. Not physical sports like golf or basketball, but life, emotional, personal coaching.
It’s a path I’ve been on for the last few years and have decided to get serious and follow my bliss. I love to help people help themselves! I hope that by the end of next year (a year from now) I will be well on my way to a great coaching practice. I also plan to incorporate blogging or at least writing, into my practice and would love to utilize your kit to get where I’m going.