As some of you may know I am in the process of starting my own business. And the government of Canada is keen on people starting their own thing - so through HRDC they have a Self Employment Benefit (SEB) Program.
I am in the process of re-applying.
My first attempt failed because I was not specific enough about what I wanted to do. I explained to them that I was a web application developer and I needed help establishing my own web-development company. I told them about niche markets that I hoped to cater to. I told them that I had all the knowledge and experience and a complete understanding of the industry and treds within the industry. I even mentioned a specific niche market that I hoped to cater to as an example.
I didn't want to be too specific for fear that it would sound as if I was a one trick pony. I also didn't want to be too broad for fear they thought I lacked focus and had no idea what I wanted to do.
In the end I chose to pitch my idea somewhere down the middle.
Turns out I should have been more specific.
I was praised for my abillity to present myself and my ideas in a clear fashion. I was told that it was clear that I knew what I was talking about. But, they wanted me to refine my plan and try again. Irony of ironies - they told me they liked the one specific example I had used and that I should tell them more about that the next time I applied.
So now I am refining my pitch and doing some legwork to see if there is support for my idea in the community... i.e. If I go ahead with this business plan are there actually any customers - can I make a buck.
What's the plan?
Wouldn't you like to know.
Ultimately I want to sell my services. I also want to combine my interest in visual arts and my interest in web technologies. Finally, I want to do something for my community - specifically the visual arts community.
I'll blog more on the specifics later as things come together.
So - like I said I have been refining my pitch and I have arranged a few meetings with some local art groups to discuss my idea. I have two of them tormorrow and the possiblity of more later in the week.
I also have some other projects that I am working on through NewPath Consulting. Those projects also require me to have a couple of meetings early next week.
Plus - my web categorization project looks like it will spawn another meeting in the near future.
Long story short - I've got meetings coming out the Wazzzzooo.
I can't tell if this means I am becoming more successful or whether it means that I'm getting good at arranging meetings.
andre
Posted by andre at April 14, 2004 04:20 AM