Have you ever hunted for something in your closet that you really wanted to wear and once you found it you were surprised (or weren’t surprised) that it didn’t quite fit? Please read on for my recent experience about trying to find something that would fit.
In my last blog post I mentioned that this was a very unique summer and that we would be gone three weekends in a row. If you didn’t read my captivating blog from last week, please click here and enjoy.
Last month my wife and I were approached with the opportunity to attend a special black-tie gala event that supports an organization devoted to the health and well-being of its members. If you have been following my journey, you may remember that one of my passions is serving on the board of an organization that fights pediatric cancer. So, this was right up my alley.
The exciting part was that this event was going to be in New York City. Anytime I get to travel to New York City and be in the middle of this vibrant environment it is truly a gift.
We proceeded to make our reservations and the last step of the process was deciding what we would wear for this special event. As I stated before, this was a black-tie event so dress was expected to be very formal in nature. So, I went to my closet and started to look deep in the back for my tuxedo that rarely has the opportunity to be showcased. And I found it just waiting to be taken out for a night on the town.
I quickly unwrapped the outfit from the dry-cleaning bag where it was stored and proceeded to put it on. Something was just not right. I don’t exactly know what happened. Somehow, and I don’t know if this is common with every closet, but I find clothes towards the back of the closet have a tendency to shrink.
That could be the only explanation for this tuxedo not fitting. And by not fitting, I mean not even close to fitting. The jacket was too tight, the pants were too tight and the shirt was too tight. About the only thing that fit were the cufflinks.
I asked myself when was the last time I wore this tuxedo? Surely it hadn’t been that long! Or, was it a practical joke that my wife or children were playing on me and they replaced my tuxedo with one that a child would wear? Or, was this simply a bad dream where all my clothes in the back of my closet suddenly didn’t fit? That was probably it! I had a quick moment of panic. When I pinched myself and realized I was not dreaming.
I yelled down to my wife to ask her why my tuxedo didn’t fit any more. My wife is wonderful! She came upstairs, looked at her robust and strapping husband, smiled and said, ”honey, I don’t know.”
Now we all know why my tuxedo didn’t fit and it wasn’t because the closet shrinks clothes or the silliness of being in a dream where nothing seems to fit. It had everything to do with all those extra plates of nachos, bags of potato chips, late night bowls of ice cream, excuses for not going to the gym and a whole host of other reasons why those clothes didn’t fit. I was glad that I had time to prepare for the inevitable experience of getting my clothes tailored or worse, needing to purchase another tuxedo.
This was a very important event and it was an honor to be asked to attend and support a very worthy cause. All my travel arrangements were already made and the only thing necessary was for me to get there and look appropriate.
After many failed attempts to force myself into an outfit that clearly would not fit (I was actually scared the button was going to pop off the suit in a violent manner and possibly do harm to who whomever was in its way), I realized the outfit could not be worn and probably not be tailored for a proper fit.
I was resigned to the fact that I was going to need to obtain a new SUITable tuxedo. I looked into renting and quickly discovered that that process would be more expensive than actually purchasing a new one. Fortunately, we know of a very good garment boutique and the owner took pity on me. He gave me a fantastic deal on a tuxedo that not only fit but would last me years to come.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
I was recently challenged as to why I had chosen the niche that I’m currently working through and pursuing in my online business. My focus has been “the making money online” niche. In this venture I have been exploring many ways to help me become successful owning and running an online business as well as helping others do the same. It has been very rewarding and I am enjoying the process as well seeing some success.
As I was looking at what some of my peers are doing, I noticed that some were branching out to other niches. I found this very interesting as they were pursuing opportunities to run their business with ideas and skill sets that they possessed. I was very impressed with their willingness to use their knowledge and make their unique businesses work.
Choosing the niche is extremely important. It must not only fulfill a need that others have but also be rewarding for the person offering their products and services.
Choosing the wrong niche might be as uncomfortable or inappropriate as trying to wear a tuxedo that clearly does not fit. One may want it to fit, one may hope that they can make it work, but in the end a different tuxedo must be chosen. If one chooses the wrong niche, it will be very evident to their customers. One must absolutely believe in what they are doing. If not, it will be obvious to the customer.
There is a chance that I will expand my niche in the future and begin to offer other services in the areas of my expertise and interest. I believe that I have a lot to offer to those who are interested in what I am passionate about. But for now, I’m very satisfied in my own niche as I am still learning and progressing at my own pace.
If I expand right now I may not be ready and as a result, I may not give my customers the quality service that they deserve. For me, my niche still fits and there is no need to go out and find another one at this time . I may get to a point where I outgrow it or want to add to it and if that happens I will make it work .
I was recently talking to a very good friend of mine and he has pivoted from his initial niche to something that he values very much. It is a good move for him and the timing is right. I’m proud of him for making this courageous move to try something new and different.
Out of curiosity, I did a quick search of popular online business niches as of this date: Below is what I discovered in case you are interested in discovering what many are considering at this time:
1. E-learning and Online Education
• Includes courses, coaching, tutoring, and certification programs.
2. Digital Marketing Services
• SEO, social media management, email marketing, affiliate marketing, and content creation.
3. Personal Finance and Investment Advice
• Blogs, YouTube channels, and online courses focusing on financial literacy, cryptocurrency, investing, and wealth building.
4. Health and Fitness Coaching
• Online fitness programs, nutrition plans, yoga classes, and wellness advice. Digital fitness trainers, wellness bloggers, and virtual health coaching are popular due to the shift to online services.
5. E-commerce and Dropshipping
• Selling physical or digital products via platforms like Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, etc.
6. Affiliate Marketing
• Promoting products or services through affiliate links to earn commissions. Popular among bloggers, content creators, and influencers who can leverage their audiences for product recommendations.
7. SaaS (Software as a Service)
• Offering subscription-based software for businesses, such as project management tools, CRM systems, or accounting software.
8. Personal Development and Self-improvement
• Online courses, workshops, and resources for personal growth, mindfulness, productivity, and time management. Many consumers are eager for resources that help improve mental well-being and personal success.
9. Gaming and eSports
• Twitch streaming, YouTube gaming channels, eSports coaching, and video game development.
10. Sustainability and Eco-friendly Products
• E-commerce stores selling eco-conscious and sustainable products like reusable items, organic skincare, and zero-waste goods. Increasing environmental awareness has driven demand for green products.
Are you in the process of choosing a niche for an online business or have you locked in an idea? What made you chose your niche?
In case you are curious, the event was a huge success, New York City was thriving and yes, the tuxedo fit!
“The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.”
— Peter Drucker
“Every decision you make in business has the potential to either advance or detract from your mission. Choose wisely.”
— John C. Maxwell
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
How does a tuxedo take its coffee? Black tie, no sugar!
How do you make a tuxedo laugh? Just tickle its “fancy”!
Bonus Dad Joke:
What do you call pants that don’t fit anymore? A “Waist” of time!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Hey, Ernie!
Love your story, as always! Your wife is a gem!
I believe I will branch out into a book niche once I am ready. But I’m still going to promote affiliate marketing as a business. The main reason I’ll do both is that I would like to help people like me, disabled people who must work from home, know that affiliate marketing can be highly profitable and that we’re not doomed financially. If I can do it, almost anybody can. Once I have that tucked nicely under my belt and made a routine, I’ll branch out, read for a living, and share my passion for imaginative literature! I was an English teacher, and I love to spark people’s imaginations and watch what happens next!
I love the tuxedo jokes! Have a great week!
Nakina
Hi Nakina – I think this is a great plan and I’m so pleased that you have chosen your niche and have thought ahead to what is next. Your future niche is going to be so beneficial not only for you but for those who are in a situation that they cannot control. Cheers to you for choosing something that is not only needed but is extremely kind! Have a great week
OMG Ernie, I had a good laugh reading this post!! As for niches, recently I decided to hone in on health and fitness for seniors, going forward. Since I was a nurse for X number of years, and good health is one of my passions, this seems doable. Onward with our journey!
Hi Kate – I’m glad to make you laugh. Find that more and more people laugh with me and more than likely they laugh at me but that is OK. This is such a great idea for your niche as it not only meets your passion but it meets your need to help others in this productive way. So excellent! Have a great week, Kate!
I can totally relate to your experience, Ernie! Your analogy about the tuxedo fits perfectly with the struggle of finding the right niche. I’ve been torn myself and am starting to transition to what I’ve been doing for years: helping seniors grow old with vitality. It’s so important to choose a niche that resonates personally, and I appreciate your insights on the evolving landscape. Here’s to finding our perfect fit in this journey!
Hi Alison – Thank you so much for your visit. I always love it when I see that you’ve made a comment to my little blog. While I’m comfortable in my current niche I can see myself getting antsy in the very near future and may decide to change gears some. I’m not sure if it’s impatience or just moving on to the next level and step in my career. I love your new niche idea. While I don’t really consider myself a senior yet, I can see how beneficial this would be for so many people right now. Take care, my friend, and talk soon!
Ernie I always look forward to reading your blog for your touch of humor and the bad jokes at the end. You have agreat way of weaving a story into a lesson. Bravo
HI Scott – Thank you for your visit to my blog and for your comment. I’m glad you found the bit of humor I have to offer beneficial. That others would find my very bad dad jokes funny but I put them in nonetheless just in case it brightens someone’s day. Have a great week!
Hi Ernie,
It sounds like you had quite an adventure preparing for your black-tie event! I loved the analogy between finding the right tuxedo and choosing the right niche for your business. Both need to fit well, or it will be uncomfortable, no matter how hard you try to make it work.
Like you, I’ve stayed with the “make money online” niche for now because I’m not quite sure what other niche I’d want to branch into yet. I’m enjoying the process, but I also admire those who have pivoted successfully when the time is right. I know I’ll be ready to expand when I’ve figured out where my next passion lies, but for now, I’m sticking with what fits. We all have to do what feels right at the moment.
Thanks and have a great week!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Yes, it truly was an adventure preparing for this event. I probably overthought it as I usually tend to do, but it was fun to dress up for the occasion. You and I are in the same situation with the making money online niche for now. I’m enjoying it and I’m also enjoying learning about the process. I am hoping that as I progress I can use this knowledge to branch out and apply it to things that I am passionate about. So many people have done this and I’m just not ready for this next step yet. Thanks for your visit and for your comments and have a wonderful day!
Hi Ernie,
That was a good story! I don’t mind doing the affiliate marketing niche for a while, but at some point, I also thought about switching to something else. I don’t know. Maybe photography while traveling the world? Who knows, but I do like photography. For now, my plan is to do the affiliate marketing niche and gain some skills. Later, I will use that skill in other niches. But we’ll see.
Thank you for your post!
Hi Alberto – I like your thinking that it is very similar to mine. I also like the photography niche. I wish I was better at it as I tend to take a lot of pictures. Right now that’s just a hobby as I take pictures of my family and I think I’ll just leave it at that for the time being. I do admire those people like you who can turn that into a profession. Capturing people’s memories and documenting moments in time is so precious. Excellent choice for your future opportunity! Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
At least the Emporer still has clothes! I like your anology to the importance of choosing a niche for those that have a need as well as for being rewarding to the business owner.
I am somewhat like you in that the my make money online niche still fits. But that won’t stop me from mixing it up with some healthy choices.
Hello – The first line of your comment really made me laugh as I had not thought about that line when creating this blog post. Nice one! As always, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my silly and hopefully, funny thoughts. Have a great weekend, my friend!