Why do you need a “niche”?
They say that “variety is the spice of life” on one hand and then every bloody thing you read on creating a business is that you need a niche!
I can’t tell you the heartache I’ve felt about all of this, I thought I was flaky and flighty and got really bothered by other people who did multiple things! Why couldn’t I just decide on one thing? Like a ‘normal person’ (here we go again with the 'normal person' myth).
Gosh, and the 'feedback' I’ve received about how I am totally destined to fail because I am trying to do too many things.
Just do one thing.
Stop faffing about with the businesses that don’t make money and pour all your energy into the ones that do!
But I’ve got so many passions, how can I choose just one?!
My arguments for niching...
- Probably make it easier to sell stuff, as people know you for the one problem you solve.
- Life would probably be bit more simple.
- You would have a rinse and repeat business model.
- The answer to “what do you do?” wouldn’t involve a 30 min conversation over a cuppa / glass of wine.
- You’d probably make more money being the person who solves the XYZ problem.
- Easier to become a “known human” in a niche.
- We like to categorise people into boxes, because takes up too much brain power when people are doing a bunch of different things. It confuses people if you're un-categorisable! (And apparently that’s a bad thing?)
It’s the advice every ‘business guru’ trots out… get a niche.
My arguments against niching...
- It would get a little repetitive and dull doing the same thing all day every day.
- What if you thrive on variety and novelty?
- What if you have lots of different passions?
- What if you want to help a bunch of different people?
- What if you niched and there were loads of people who needed my help and I couldn't help them as they were not in my niche?
- What if you can solve loads of different types of problems?
- What if you liked to do (and were good at) loads of different things?
- What if you don’t want to be put in a box?
What if you would rather be thought of as a useful person, who can help other people solve problems (or know the exact person you need to solve your problem).
It’s the same as the pressure I felt to have my one unique “Why”, yeah thanks Simon Sinek for all the extra baggage I was carrying around about not having my one true life purpose!
I was in a workshop with Tara Mohr, she was talking about “Callings”. Someone in the group asked about the difference between knowing your “Why” and having “Callings”. She said something along the lines of… surely most people have the same why/purpose… to bring love and light into the world, callings are those things that we feel drawn to do, they could be our callings for years, or just a weekend and YOU CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE CALLING (Tara didn’t shout this… I’m shouting this. Because this was a real game-changer for me!) I could breathe knowing it’s ok to be drawn to do different things, to want to help different people in different ways.
Then I was invited to a book launch and got to see Marie Forleo talk about her passions - business, dance, marketing, spirituality, etc. And she said the magic words… “Multipassionate Entrepreneur.”
It’s all about following your passions!
What are you passionate about, Michelle?
At the core, I help people solve their own problems.
To illustrate this, I made a couple of diagrams.
What I do:
And where I get to do these things:
What the companies do:
I’m a multipassionate human.
I like variety and novelty.
The companies exist to appeal to different audiences, but I fundamentally do the same jobs:
- Disrupt organisations
- Spread happiness
- Recruit humans
- Develop leaders
- Coach mums
I couldn't choose to do only one of these things, I love them all and have space in my life for them all - could you imagine asking a mum to choose which one of her kids to put all her love and attention into?
I also love speaking to people, making friends, learning new things, creating programmes, workbooks, diagrams (and websites) and courses, facilitating conversations and have seem to have recently unlocked my love of writing (I have a cool idea for a fictional novel!).
Watch this space!
Some Cool Resources:
Tara Mohr on callings - https://www.taramohr.com/tools-and-inspiration-for-playing-bigger/how-to-recognize-your-calling/
Marie Forleo explaining how to thrive as a Multipassionate Entrepreneur (MPE) - https://www.marieforleo.com/2020/11/multipassionate/
Marie talking about how not to look flaky as an Multipassionate Entrepreneur - https://www.marieforleo.com/2016/07/multipassionate-without-looking-flaky/
Some examples of Multipassionate Entrepreneurs - https://www.katjahunter.com/blog-1/multipassionate-entrepreneurs
Psychologist, Deep Thinker, Coach & People Problem Solver | Enhancing Performance through Strengths Based, Person Centred Workplace Initiatives
3 年Fantastic article. We shouldn't be limited by our imagination and neither our profession. I also love variety and if we have the expertise, credentials and competence to provide multiple solutions to clients then nothing should be stopping us, but sadly people views do (usually where people judge others by their 'last job'). Variety in the workplace/your work also means we are likely to encounter different situations, challenges etc, which means more innovative and creative problem solving - I find it helps me assess my work and explore how to improve what I do and how I support clients. Thanks for sharing!
Helping people in business take THEIR image more seriously!
3 年Terrific! A really great thought-provoker. To me, there's nothing wrong with multiple niches, just a case of allowing each to do their thing - with you in the middle of them all!! Sounds contradictory but it isn't! Great article, Michelle ??
??Nourishing your soul, Nurturing your spirit - Taking you on a Culinary Journey of Self-Discovery | LinkedIn Top Voice??| Chef ????| Coach ??| BBC Radio Personality ??| ??Ambassador - The Burnt Chef Project??
3 年Absolutely love love love your article! Thank you! I am 100 percent with you on this one. I was never going to be shut in a box! There are multiple ways to solve problems, multiple ways to earn an income and these are all individual, making us the beautiful, creative beings that we are. The most important thing, as you've mentioned, is your core value. Mine is to help others realise their hopes and dreams. To be of service. To help women feel their value, know their worth. To reconnect to their true essence. I firmly believe in a world where we spread love and light. Where we show compassion and kindness to all humankind. At our very centre, we are all love, let us all remember this. I am a proud coach, chef, teacher, mum, auntie, sister, daughter, friend.
Employee Relations Specialist at TomTom
3 年I love this Michelle Minnikin! Thanks for sharing, it really gives others the confidence to let go of their own fear of not being niche. I’m excited to see where my OP journey goes as it’s multi faceted ?????
Specialist HR Officer @ NHS | OD Practitioner
3 年I'm really trying not to write war and peace here, however... I am so pleased to read this article! I know what my 'whys' are (SS is not my favourite), and they are different depending on the situation. In work, my 'why' is to help people be the best they can be in and feel welcomed, cared for and included in every way that it is possible for me to influence. Thanks to you, I know I'm not the only person who doesn't see a role, department, subject, skillset, or period of experience, as a career. I enjoy variety, and couldn't think of anything worse than doing same thing for the next 30 years or however long I've left in work. I dont want to retire, I want to keep helping people, and I know that how I help people now, and how I'm helping people in 20 years will likely look different. We do not need to fit in a box. I have never ever come across a Louise shaped box, ever. Shred all the boxes and recycle them into houses for the homeless. ?