Going Offline With Your Online Business

This post was most recently updated on February 23rd, 2014

In my last post, I wrote about “What Happens When Life Throws You A Curve Ball?

Well here I am this week to tell you what happened.

I have always seen this little movie in my mind that I was going to teach High School and College kids about how to be entrepreneurial on the internet.  Why? Because I have noticed that a lot of young people in our country are getting discouraged about what to do after their school years.  This angst makes perfect sense considering the economic swings we have been experiencing in the United States, and most of the Western world, in recent years.

To me, so many kids are confused in an economy that they don’t feel secure in.  The little movie in my head was of me teaching kids a “back door” plan.   By all means, go to college, set your goals, but in the meantime, discover your passion.  It may or may not be related to what you are going to school for.  But when you discover it, your passion will take you a long way.

There is one kid I know going to school for a business degree, but she has a horse she takes care of.  She knows lots of things about horses.  When I asked this girl  “how would you like to make money talking about your horse?”…   I got the crazy look.  So, I  explained to her how she could create internet offers to actually teach people ways to take care of horses.

I asked her how much time she spends on the computer and it was every waking moment she was in her home.   I then asked if she was interested in a little experiment.  She had thousands of friends on Facebook.  I asked her why and it was for social reasons.  I asked her to start talking about her horse.  She obtained so many replies from “friends” she really didn’t know.

I told her how to monetize her expertise with horses, and now she is writing an ebook!

WOW!

But let me get back to my curve ball.

I sought help from an alternative high-school about a computer program they could help me with.  We met and they are teaching me how to use it.  We will meet every Friday until I get it (poor kids – lol).

In the meanwhile, I asked the head of the Technology Department if the school was interested in me teaching them Internet Marketing.   He was so happy to hear that because many kids were asking about it.   We are currently setting up dates where me and my husband, David Merrill, will be teaching these kids how to monetize their passions online.

I know it will be a challenge, but they will learn not only personal branding techniques, but patience, writing skills, and marketing skills.

Moral of the story: Whatever we learn, we pass on.  Did you ever think of teaching the marketing skills you’ve learned online to kids, adults or baby-boomers in an offline setting within your community?  If you are a Go-Giver, consider it.  I learned this lesson when a curve ball temporarily took me away from my computer.  It has turned into an awesome experience!

Just think of what YOU can do with your passions if you share them within your community.  All the while, you’ll be branding yourself in ways you may never have thought of.  Give it some serious consideration!

I appreciate your feedback.  Thanks, Donna

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Donna Merrill

Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.