Many Streams make a River

This is a lesson that I learned from my boss.  Consistant improvement should be a target of everyone.  That we do not need to wait for a big action or a huge change but through our daily efforts improvement would be the goal.   At different times in our lives these types of lessons can take on new meanings.  As I have thought about starting my own business I considered this concept of many streams making a river to mean that many streams of income can make a river of a company. 

At first I had considered a tax preparation business.  But I worried that it is seasonal so the income just wouldn't be there year round.  The two options were try to make enough money in the tax season to sustain our family or to find other sources of income.  The second seem to be a better choice simply because the former would require the hiring and training of many employees and marketing expenses would be far greater among other things.  Then I considered, and even started, my own Management Consulting Company.  But with no time and less money that never even got it's first marketing program off the ground. 

By bringing together the concept of many streams makes a river into the business planning process I realized that what I needed to achieve the flexibility that I want, that is a flexible schedule, I need to develop a good portfolio of services.

The portfolio is still under development and currently includes:

• Accounting Services
• Tax Preparation Services
• Quickbooks Training & Professional Services
• Investments

If each of these could develop into their own stream of income then the business could be sustained for a long time. 

Another blog that discusses the topic from a different viewpoint. The Survival Mom