Being unemployed gives me a large chunk of discretionary time, but only a finite amount of which I can dedicate to a job search. The law of diminishing returns kicks in and it’s better to focus efforts elsewhere for the sake of productivity, not to mention sanity.
I’ve always wanted to run my own operation. Thus, I’ve been taking some of my aforementioned time to work on an alternative project. Like many other M.B.A.s, a good friend from school and I would often inadvertently conjure up ideas over late night beers. One such project is our website FloridaLacrosse.com, an online vendor of lacrosse equipment and apparel.
Now, a spin off that has come to immediate fruition is an Internet concept called Blind Bid Sports, which has a unique twist on the eBay business model and works by purchasing team equipment, uniforms or anything in bulk. I’ve worked on a business plan and we’ve shopped some agencies to build the Web site, however the concept is still in it’s infant stages, and can expand to virtually any sport and possibly into consumer goods. Currently, we are exploring funding options.
I used to be very skeptical regarding such ideas, and thought any efforts would be ultimately trivial. Recently, I’ve been spending about 20 to 25 hours a week on this and other endeavors that have slowly developed. Once I go back to full-time work, the concepts will get whatever time I can devote to them depending on vitality and future short-term earning potential.
One thing I’ve certainly learned is that great ideas really do need to start somewhere. If I don’t pull the trigger and take some fliers based on nothing but faith in my own ability, great dreams won’t ever be realized.
Safe to say, I would never have voluntarily chosen this unenviable state of being unemployed. However here I am, and I might as well make the most of it.
Photo by FloridaLacrosse.com.
Tags: Beers, Business Plan, Chunk, Consumer Goods, Discretionary Time, Ebay, Ebay Business Model, Fliers, Fruition, Full Time Work, Good Friend, Internet Concept, Job Search, Late Night, Law Of Diminishing Returns, Pull The Trigger, Purchasing Team, Sanity, Vitality, Wall Street Journal