What do sewing, accounting, nursing, shorthand and making bows have in common?

A Note From Colleen

Hi, Friend.

That thing you learned ages (ahem, decades and decades) ago could be the answer to how you make money online today.

The skill you acquired in your 20’s now has decades of experience behind it, making it incredibly valuable.  

Experience is earned. It can’t be gotten simply by completing a course or taking a program. 

Lean into those things you’ve been doing ‘since the earth cooled’ (one of my favorite old sayings). There could be money waiting to be made there.

Thanks for being here.

Cheers,

Colleen Kochannek, Publisher

PS: If you’re interested in POD (print on demand) I do have a special offer for you below.

*This publication may include affiliate links and links to products I sell. If you click and buy, I may earn revenue and/or commission. 

I recently asked a question in my Facebook Group: What’s one skill you learned in your 20’s that you still use today? 

The answers were golden and so telling:  

• Sewing

• Accounting

• How to teach… just about anything

• Making bows

• How to listen

• Nursing 

• Shorthand

• How to balance a checkbook (this one… gah! I don’t do it because it gives me angst)

There’s a myth I find myself busting over over - that you need some unicorn, one-of-a-kind magical skill to build a successful digital product business.

No.

You need to lean into what you already know how to do well. 

Having ‘done something since your 20’s’, while you’re now beyond 50, qualifies you as highly ‘experienced’ in that thing. You, in fact, do that thing very well.

Remember what I said just a few seconds ago? Experience is earned. It can’t be bought. There’s no short-cutting it. You’ve got it or you don’t.

I guarantee the woman who has sewn for 30+ years knows a LOT about the craft. 

The nurse with decades of experience. Yes, please, I’ll take her over the rookie.

The woman who has made bows for decades? She’s the one you want to call upon to help with the wedding centerpieces.

Seemingly old-school skills like shorthand? You can call it old-school if you want, but I guarantee it’s still a highly sought-after ability in many circles (journalists, court reporters, students for whom taking notes is still important).

The point is you need to look at the whole picture. Inventory all of your skills, especially those you’ve had for so long that they’ve become second nature and you’re blind to them. 

The magic, one-of-a-kind value is in the experience - not the rarity or unusualness of the skill.

The more I contemplate this whole 3rd Act season, and how to manage it, the more starting an online business makes sense. 

I’ve often spoken about the benefits of having a simple digital business, including bolstering the finances,  but it goes beyond money. There are lots of intangible benefits, too:

A simple digital business can:

• Give you the flexibility you need to earn money and be a caregiver for an aging parent or sick spouse

• Help you completely avoid ageism in a workforce that won’t pay you at all (because they won’t hire you) or pay you what your experience is worth 

• Help you set a foundation for this next season that’s an unexpected several decades we didn’t account for

• Give you the opportunity to finally be fully in charge

• Let you earn money for skills you’ve spent a lot of time honing - and feel valued (Not sure about you, but I’m not willing to give my my time away)

• Give you the opening to pursue your interests

• Provide the flexibility to take better care of your physical self

• Give you the space to redefine yourself and figure out what you really want, without constraints of being an employee

• Provide the flexibility to travel or move if you wish

The Google Chrome bookmark bar? I use it ALL THE TIME. Any file or folder I use regularly I put into a bookmark on my desktop so I can access it with one click.

My most accessed files for 2024, tools I use regularly and direct access to product files.

The bookmark is such a time (and sanity) saver!

Digging Thru The Decades: My program that helps you uncover every know-how, skill, talent and asset you can turn into a simple online business. After you unearth WHAT you can sell, I also teach you how to formulate that know-how into a viable (sellable) product.

Stay tuned…

If you’re looking for some inspiration for what you could do as an online business; or, want a quick reference for how the whole process works I have two items for you to check out:

1. 109 Simple And Inspiring Ideas You Can Make Money With (A Free Guide): Inspiration for what you could do as an online business.

2. The Go-Getter’s Guide: A Simple Quick-Start Online Business System  For Women Over 50 ($6 guide): A quick reference for how the whole digital business process works

3. Facebook Group: Join 2.5k women, all over 50 and all starting simple digital businesses. I host weekly Facebook Lives on various ‘Getting Started In Business’ topics

I don’t promote many outside products, but when I do you can be sure it’s a good one.

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My friend, fellow entrepreneur and fellow lady near 50, Mae Cee, has had an incredibly successful print on demand t-shirt business for years. She’s also been teaching Print On Demand to those who want to learn it… for a long time.

She gets us, ladies.

I know nothing about Print on Demand, but Mae sure does and she’s opening up her PODHero Program this week. There are tons of extra bonuses coming Tuesday and Wednesday, so check it out ASAP. This offer expires soon.

Because she and I are buddies (we’re in the same mastermind) she’s given me a $50 OFF coupon code to pass on to you. (Coupon Code: P2P50)

Check out Mae’s PODHERO HERE.

If you decide to purchase, and want $50 off, USE COUPON CODE: P2P50 at the checkout.

Questions and suggestions for admin or the Ask-Me-Anything section. Simple Hit REPLY to this email or email us at: [email protected]