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When I tell people about PebbleStorm, a common question is “how will it make money?”

It’s a good question.

And I have no idea.

And I don’t care (yet) – both because I already have income, and I’m doing what I LOVE in a way that excites both myself and other people (notice – it has to excite ME in addition to others!).

As it takes off organically, the business model will come naturally. Trying to force it to generate revenue too early would harm its true potential in these early, delicate stages. Sure, I have lots of ideas/intentions on how it’ll happen – events, sponsorships, a book/books, workshops, getting paid in equity or a percentage of revenue for companies we help found or grow, subscriptions, etc. – but I’m leaving myself totally open for whatever makes the most sense at the right time. It’ll come with patience.

Making it easy to be patient!

Why make life hard on myself? I have another source of income to allow me to not care about when PebbleStorm starts generating revenue. Last year, I started BlackBox Revenue with a partner who also is ex-salesforce.com, Erythean Martin. BlackBox helps b2b companies with sales forces create predictable revenue (Cold Calling 2.0 presentation).

Klia Bassing & “Visit Yourself”

Sometimes it makes sense to quit a job and your source of income to start a new company – but often it doesn’t! Klia Bassing is an entrepreneur in Washington D.C. who started a ‘bring meditation classes into the workplace’ company, www.visityourself.net. I love it!

We talked a few months ago. She’s working on the business full-time, and it’s still early enough that it wasn’t bringing in enough income to sustain her indefinitely – she was using up her savings. I suggested getting a part-time contracting job to give her some breathing room while the business continued to make progress. A few days later, after digesting this, Klia wrote back:

Klia Bassing: “It was shocking to think about taking a part-time job because I had it in mind that that would be “failing”…going backward in a business that used to support me entirely (but in an unsustainable way, with me as the only teacher/service provider). After a bit of grieving, the clouds cleared and going back to consulting at the World Bank–or wherever–a few days a week just felt like self-care of my financial and mental well-being.”

Jealously guard your enjoyment

Why kill yourself? Why not find ways to make starting a company easier on yourself, so that you love it and stay EXCITED about it…and so that your excitement will infect others? Creating growth through consistent excitement and enjoyment is a much surer path to success (now and in the future) than growth through bitter, unhappy, unyielding determination.  If you’re stressed and unhappy, it will reduce your creativity and motivation and leave a bad taste with your clients or business partners.  Jealously protect, love and nurture your enjoyment of your work!

2 Responses to ““How will PebbleStorm [or insert your business here] make money?””

  1. Klia Bassing Says:

    Update from Klia Bassing of Visit Yourself at Work: I’ve been putting feelers out for part-time job possibilities. Contrary to my fear that such work would slow my business, I find I’m connecting with organizations with whom affiliation would both support me financially and further Visit Yourself at Work. For example, an ex-colleague that I adore now heads the Mind-Body program at a university in D.C. She and I went to lunch and I mentioned that I’d love to come on board. Though she didn’t know of a way to do this at the time, she’s interested in bringing me on and thinking about how to make it happen. Another organization with whom I’d done collaborative work in the past–a wellness center that wants to bring its services to corporations–is now reviewing my proposal to do its corporate sales. So I’d be helping them find new clients while also creating relationships for Visit Yourself at Work. Though I don’t yet have a tangible outcome, I already feel so much better. I’m demonstrating self-care to myself by putting the footwork into finding part-time work. Work that in no way compromises, and in fact furthers, my business goals!

  2. Myron Derbyshire Says:

    Hello, firstly I want to tell you that I follow your blog. Great post, I fully agree with you. Have a great day maty.

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