No money to start a business? Why not start a club for free?

Have no money to start a business?

Why not start a club for free?

If you have no money to start a business, you could do things for free. Does this make sense? Yes, and dollars. Running a club is similar to running a corporation. Volunteers are employees and customers at the same time. You serve them and they work for you. Running a club gives you skills that you can take to a job interview...skills that can help you get a job that pays money.

Besides, if you start a club that caters to your interests, you will have fun! If getting a job is not about what you know, but who you know, why not just get to know more people? Running a club well is a good way to get to know more people.

Do not have the confidence that you can start a club? Why not? You already have started a club. Depending where you grew up, before you were six years old you likely started a club. When you invited the first child to play with you, you started your first club. If you made a good pitch the child played with you. If you did not, maybe he or she did not. If you ran the club well and shared your toys, he or she likely stayed in your club for at least a while. If you did not run your club well you lost that member.

You learned, and the number and quality of the friends you have now is largely a result of how you run your own personal club. The amount of people you know has a lot to do with that too. So, why not start a club you can change into a corporation when it gets big enough? Or that will help you get a better job that you like? And help you to ensure you are not bored outside of work? Taking an active role in a club will teach you invaluable practical skills employers are seeking. Running a club outside of work may be the best way to get experience that can qualify you for a first-time leadership role at work. Depending upon the purpose of your club, you can accomplish a lot of good with it, even if it remains a club and does not lead to a work opportunity. Why not start thinking about it today?

Why not D.I.N.? (Do It Now!)

Phree Shares Inc. started Toronto Poets as a club (www.torontopoets.com) and it was seen as such a good idea that it inspired the creation of other poetry clubs in the United States. Then we turned it into a corporation. Yes, we followed our own advice and it has been very fulfilling.