Exploring the online micro-enterprise

To continue building my online business, I made a big decision to leave the Columbia Basin Herald.

During the summer, I will work as editor part-time for the Crescent Bar Chronicle, a weekly seasonal newspaper covering life in the Crescent Bar community.

When the season ends, I will be my own boss. Hopefully I don’t get annoyed with myself for bossing myself around, or for being too lazy.

Hopefully I don’t get fired, otherwise I can’t give myself a good reference.

It may seem difficult taking a leap into a blank-slate future, but the transition in my case felt natural. Maybe the jitters haven’t hit me yet. Maybe I missed my caffeine jolt into reality.

After this summer, I am going to be self-employed. 

How much pressure is that?

I signed up for a free small-business workshop through the Prosperity Center. The four-week course is designed to help me write a business plan.

Having a business plan is scary because it means I cannot lie to myself about the investment it will take to build my business and the profit needed to get a good return.

Having a business plan is also an intelligent way to leap. I think of the business plan as a parachute. If I were to jump off a cliff, I wouldn’t jump without a parachute. The parachute may fail regardless, but my chances of survival are greater with the gear strapped to my back.

The timing of this invaluable class couldn’t have been any better. I feel lucky that I signed up in time. After accepting 40 people into the program, 25 people remain on the waiting list.

For others who are interested in signing up, the course will be offered again this fall, according to instructor and Prosperity Center Strategic Development Coordinator Glen Byers.

From my first class, I learned how truly challenging it will be to juggle all the responsibilities of a business owner as sole proprietor. Some people enjoy customer interaction as “front” people, some people enjoy making products as “back,” people, Byers told us.

I am going to be both for awhile.

The challenges of this new endeavor may be great, but I am looking forward to the journey.

My business is proof that something stressful can also be fun, a concept I never experienced in quite this way.

I hope others find their good stress, too.

Chrystal Doucette is the Columbia Basin Herald health and education reporter. Her nickname has recently changed from Java Beans to Soapy, as her coworkers hope the best for her.