Truth be told, teachers never earn their worth. Often, a teacher’s effort is translated into paltry income, barely able to support a mere subsistence level of living.  If he/she has no emotional blocks to earning an ample income, then each expenditure he makes in a sense further tests his reality function, measures his attitude towards himself and others, consequently leading to fluctuations in mood. To avoid regrets, teachers must find alternatives.

This can be a great time for teachers to think of ideas that can help them launch a side business — either to make some extra money or to enrich the classroom experience.

People worry about the time involved, but this is really just an excuse to do nothing. Do you think successful people say, "Waa…if I start earning money, I’ll have too much work, and I don’t know if I want that…”? Of course not. They know that the real problem is getting any money at all, not getting too much. Since you’ll be earning money on the side, you can control exactly how much time you put in.

The starting point is choosing a business that matches your passion. If you choose something you already enjoy doing, it won’t be a mental drain. While at it, you may also want to establish a personal brand. Whether you’re starting a landscaping business or a blog, a catering company or a motor-bike service, you need to build brand awareness. Similarly, manage your time. Time-management skills are crucial for juggling teaching and business responsibilities. It might also help to avoid using school equipment. For the most part, there’s nothing that precludes teachers from starting a business, but you don’t want to do it on school-owned computers. Finally, understand your value. Under-pricing your product or service means you’ll be working more to reach your income goals.

Some business ideas to try out

The number one barrier to earning more money is, by a huge margin, finding the right idea. If you’re like me, it can get frustrating to have zero ideas — or too many! — and not know where to start.

Why not give baking and decorating a try? If you love baking and are able to keep your hand out of the proverbial cookie jar, making gourmet cookies is a great side hustle with plenty of long-term potential. Start by learning how to execute unique and tasty gourmet cookie recipes, then seal the deal by creating or purchasing professional-looking packaging. Learn how to decorate cakes and make them for special events. Sell your creations online via Facebook page, or at local markets. Many people are willing to pay others to create custom cakes for birthday parties and special events.

Freelance writing is another venture you can take. If you’re good with words, you might be able to find some work as an online freelancer. A variety of publications need online content in the form of stories, product or service descriptions, and reports, and if you have the talent and skill, you could easily be the one to create them. Fortunately, all you need is a computer and Internet connection to get started. RealWritingJobs.com is a great place to start.

Speaking of internet, almost everyone uses Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest these days, but did you know that many companies will pay people to help them manage their social media accounts — sometimes even part-time from home? To find social media jobs, you can start by contacting businesses with a social media presence and scanning sites like Elance.com for opportunities.

You can be an event coordinator. Events like family reunions and large parties are often full of busywork that many people simply don’t want to tackle. That can be the perfect place for you to step in and take charge of the planning and coordination. And thanks to the Internet, it is now easier than ever to market your event planning services.

Interior decorating is another part time activity you can try. Have a huge collection of interior design materials around. Many people are quite happy to hire someone to help them decorate their home, and that’s especially true of those who want a magazine-calibre style yet don’t have an eye for design at all.

Another alternative is knitting, crocheting, or quilting. Skilled at creating blankets and sweaters? There’s a huge market for these types of items – even better, you can usually make them in your spare time whenever you have it. As always, local shops are great venues to sell such items.

Similarly, landscaping services are booming. Why not begin your own. Hire someone if you are not willing to mow lawn and trim bushes and trees. Many people are quite happy to pay for such services, and the demand is persistent: Nature just keeps growing… and growing… and growing. Not only is this a great side business for a fit adult, it’s also a great way for a teenager to get a small business started.

Here is a kicker: furniture making. If you’re adept at woodworking and have some basic equipment, it’s easy to get into business making deck furniture. It only requires a few items – a saw, a drill, a sander – and some creativity and passion for working with wood. If you have the tools or just want to turn your hobby into a business, this may be a great small business idea for you. In addition to creating new items, you could also focus on repairing existing wooden furniture or woodwork. Hire people to do it and be the boss.

Just like dating, it will probably take repeated failures to find a good match between your skills and what the market wants. However, giving up should not be an option.

The writer is a lecturer at The Adventist University of Central Africa