I’ll admit it, I like Macintosh computers. I’ve used them for over two decades and haven’t found a better machine. So, here’s my take on using a Mac for business.
It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I keep creating products in my head. But more importantly, I have actually created products to sell on my Mac. I learned long ago that any tool I buy for my business has to pay its way.
When I first saw the Macintosh back in the mid 1980’s, I thought that it was a pretty nifty piece of equipment and immediately looked at how it could save me time and effort.
At the time, I didn’t have a printer, so I would have to work on my little Mac and go to the printer to buy copies from their laser printers. I would even take my floppies and go to a ‘full screen’ printer that had those big, tall monitors (remember those?) so I could work more effectively.
I was always creating a flyer, promo piece, or other give-away with my Mac. I kept trying to figure out how to pay for my expenses with this fine computer. Things kicked into overdrive when I got my new printer.
Anyway, as a result of this program with the printer, I had to print 3100 pages a month or pay a $100 dollar fee. So, I started to think, “What can I print monthly to get my printing up?”
I decided to write a workbook about my experience as a performer and include a lot of my marketing materials I had already created. I ended up creating several versions of the book, getting endorsements from other performers, and selling many copies every month.
Needless to say, I created and print these copies from my trusty Macintosh.
Problem solved.
I surpassed my 3100 pages per month years ago in my Mac office, because I have several products now that I market that have all been created on my Mac. Not just print mind you, but audio and video as well.
What do you do once the product is created on your Mac?
We’ll get to that in a minute.
If you’ve owned a Macintosh of any type for any amount of time, you’ve had friends, neighbors; even family members ridicule your choice of computer.
But you stood fast.
You took the barbs, survived the mockery.
You KNEW that which you had was a better machine. You KNEW a Mac fit your inner desire for creativity. You KNEW a Mac fueled that longing to get things done.
You VIEWED the world differently. Or as Apple so fondly puts it, ‘Think different.’
In order to make profits with the Mac, you must also think different.
My wife, Debbie, worked for a large national company for over twenty-three years. She spent her early years with the company learning the ropes, starting from the ground up.
Promotion followed promotion. Debbie flew all over the country opening up projects for the company. Kept making more money every year. She was secure in knowing that her work would create the income she needed and was safe until retirement.
Then the bomb fell.
The corporation said they were “phasing out” Debbie’s position, but in reality, the corporation wanted to save money and hire someone else, younger, for less pay.
Bammo. Out of work.
Now, as Debbie had made clear to me, as her former corporation tried to help her find a job, the consultants said repeatedly, “You don’t want to be an entrepreneur, it’s not secure.”
Hmmmm. Ask Debbie if she feels secure.
She now asks me how to sell products, how to run a business. She is even took classes on being an entrepreneur.
Now, listen.
You may be comfortable in a job, make good money, and like working for set pay, certain hours, and benefits.
But as an entrepreneur, you must think different.
The fact you have a Macintosh computer puts you ahead of the game because you are swimming against the tide and loving it.
If you want to create products that sell with the Macintosh, you must learn to keep your eyes open to opportunities.
We know that the Mac is superior in creating photo albums, creating movies, creating DVDs, creating sound, creating colorful documents. All of these creative benefits of owning a Macintosh factor into thinking about product creation.
Next, as a MacInfopreneur©, you must determine is there a want for a product that you might envision? It is more important to determine what people are buying and gear your product to that market than to create something people need.
A good case in point is Apple’s iPod. Millions were sold last year. So we know that millions of people have these handy mp3 players. So, what was created on the heels of the iPod?
Speakers, covers, earbuds, special docking systems, and too many other gadgets to mention. What you have to realize in creating an information product for any market is determine what people want.
Now, before we go, there is one more thing I want to talk to you about…
Quite obviously, you’ve got to know how to develop and create a product that the public wants on your Mac for an easy home business. And, let’s be honest, you’d like to create something that will sell like crazy, right?
The problem is that it takes a lot of time to create a product to sell, doesn’t it?
Most home business owners NEVER finish their projects. Why?
Running a home business WITHOUT a Mac is HARD!
Most people never really get started.
As I mentioned earlier, I created a manual for performers called Outrageous Marketing For Magicians, then I wrote The Magician’s Emergency Toolkit.
These manuals took about a month to produce, working night and day.
However, I learned new methods since then and can create products quickly.
Two weeks ago, I sat down at my Mac, put on some headphones with mic, and within two hours had created a new product.
I then wrote a simple letter explaining what the product was about (Performing for resorts).
I sent the letter to ONLY 35 people.
I made $591.
Total time invested: 6 hours
Would you like to earn $98 an hour?
It’s possible.
It’s possible to do this without having a website, not knowing a thing about internet marketing, and never having marketed a product before.
But if you have a Mac and some desire, this can happen for you.
Easily.
Without taking out a loan to start a new business.
Without thumbing through hundreds of pages of mind-numbing technical gibberish or hogwash.
Without buying a bunch of new software.
Without a long learning curve.
You’ve just got to put on your thinking cap.
The opportunities are endless.
The Macintosh computer is the tool that makes creativity flow… especially for MacInfopreneurs. ©
