When thinking of doing something more creative and entrepreneurial for income, one way to get an idea off the ground quickly is simply picking the lowest hanging fruit.
photo by Madilyn Peiper
Your lowest hanging fruit is something you can quickly generate income from. It’s a problem that’s easy for you to solve considering your unique skills and abilities. It’s the most obvious opportunity right in front of you and would require the least effort.
While this may not be your dream business or even your passion, it’ll be something that will get you in the game. Then, you can experience little wins which help build momentum. It can also be a positive learning experience as you cultivate ideas for your next project.
Not only that, it will keep you from falling into the trap of the one thing entrepreneurial myth. (For more on the one thing entrepreneurial myth, here is a guest post I wrote.)
Starting with your lowest hanging fruit will create quick cash flow. This will allow you to work on other projects which may require more time to get to profitability. And, it’ll help you clarify what your passions are and what your dream business could be.
Career and business expert Dan Miller explains how your passions cannot be found in a vacuum. You’ll only be able to identify them as you’re actively out there doing things.
Questions to identify your lowest hanging fruit
1. What skills and abilities do you have that you could easily offer as a service?
2. What personal and professional connections do you have that could give your idea legs?
3. How could you add value to a market with a product or service?
4. How could you add value to someone else’s audience so it would be mutually beneficial? (Here’s an example of how I did this.)
5. What is something you could get up and running quickly that would start generating income in the next one to three months?
When looking to start something on your own, it is good to consider picking your lowest hanging fruit. It’ll get you up off the sofa, experiencing little wins, and learning all kinds of new things.
Question: What is your lowest hanging fruit and how would you benefit from picking it?
Great post Michael – my lowest hanging fruit would be my secretarial skills and that is why all my adult life I’ve worked in different companies and situations using those skills – including right now. It is easy for me, I enjoy it even though it isn’t my “passion” – so for me it’s a definite win!
Nice, Ann. I think that’s great. I’m sure there are lots of people out who would benefit from a service like that.
Food for thought! Not sure I know what that is for me but now you’ve given me something to ponder. Hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hey Donna, thanks! We did have a nice Thanksgiving. We were with Claudia’s family and had a great time together.
How was yours and what did you and your husband do for your first Thanksgiving together?
We actually went out to lunch at a local restaurant. My daughter was on a cruise with her husband and inlaws, my son and his wife went to her large family get together, my husbands girls live in Alabama and spent it with their mother, so it was just us two. It was quite and relaxing and good. Thanks for asking. Glad you guys enjoyed Claudia’s family.
That does sound relaxing. Glad you had a good time.
I guess there are a lot of things I could do – raking leaves, cutting grass, cleaning service, balloon twisting for events, delivery / concierge service, tutoring math, proofreading / editing. We have some unexpected bills to pay in the past couple of months, so I’m going to make Saturday my day to explore and do this kind of work. Will probably start with the Mystery Shopping since Chris Peek got me informed and also seeing your success with it as well.
Very cool, Michael.
Yeah, Chris Peek is your guy to get you up and running with that. Just keep in mind there’s a bit of a learning curve with it. Once you do your first 3-5 jobs, you’ll start getting into the swing of things. Also, there will be higher paying jobs some months more than others. Keep that in mind.
Absolutely great post! And excellent questions to help identify the lowest hanging fruit. Yes, it’s in doing where the Best fruits are uncovered and picked.
Thanks, Rob. Totally agree. We have to get out there and try things!