I want to put up a website. How do I start? First I have to ask myself some questions:

1) What do I like to do?

2) Do I have a hobby that I am interested in?

3) What subjects do I consider myself knowledgeable in?

4) Is there some job I have worked at for a long time that I enjoy?

5) Do I have a burning desire to help people? If so, what kind of people? In what area does my expertise lie?

6) Is there a subject that I'm interested in and would like to do research in to learn, then share information I have gathered?

7) What information do I have that I can share with other people? Is it information that people would find interesting & useful?

For example, janes-place was started because when I first came on internet, there were very few places to help newbies. I became so frustrated and felt so alone, that I didn't want other newbies to feel same way. I wanted to be there for them--to help them and guide them. I didn't want them to become so frustrated and discouraged that they 'gave up' on internet.

When I was trying to get my site up on internet, I would ask people questions, but I couldn't understand answer. It wasn't that I was dumb, it was because they were speaking a "language" that I didn't understand. It wasn't their fault either. They gave me a correct answer, I just didn't understand language.

I decided first thing I had to do was learn "language". That's why I wrote, "Newbie Handbook", to teach newbies language of web. It is essential that you know language, in order to communicate intelligently. Once you learn language, other functions become easier. That way, when someone talks about "A Drive", you don't wonder if it's a new form of driving. You can read about this ebook at: http://janes-place.com/handbook.htm

I am a teacher. I have always loved to teach. Who needs to learn more than a new person to internet? When you first sit down at a computer, you are entering a strange and foreign land. You not only have to learn language, but also customs [the way things are done]. Your computer has a set of rules for you to follow. You can learn customs & rules by 'trial & error', but it's much easier if someone acts as your guide.

"Business opportunities? What business opportunities?" you're probably thinking. "I just hung out with family and friends this year. There was no business to be had at Cousin Fred's." Wrong. The holidays are so hectic--places to go, people to see, things to do--that we sometimes overlook obvious. If you were caught up in whirlwind of December activities and failed to see potential of brief encounters you undoubtedly had, don't despair. There's still plenty of time to start turning those holiday contacts into contracts!

Start moving your business forward in new year by moving your thoughts backwards. Think about every interaction you had over holidays. Then with pen and paper in hand, ask yourself these important questions and write answers down:

--Who did I talk to? --Where were we? --What did we talk about? --What did I learn? --How can I help them? --Who might benefit from either an introduction to people I spoke with, or from my sharing my newfound knowledge with them?