Since I have explained expressing oneself for a long time, let’s move on to another topic.
Recently, my parents received a sewing machine for free from one of their acquaintances. Although it was an entry-level model, it was better than a higher-class one from decades ago. That experience impressed me. Let’s talk about something related to it.
How to identify profitable fields
Sometimes, we want to build our businesses and make money based on our personality.
If we are empathic and logical, we want to avoid competition and show our creativity. That provides us with a peaceful and intellectually satisfying life.
In other words, we want to create our lives for ourselves, even if they are small and less luxurious.
However, we sometimes don’t know which places provide opportunities. We don’t like to compete with others by following trends. We want hidden opportunities that suit our personality. They are often in places that cannot be seen from a common perspective.
Although those opportunities are not visible through the mass media, we can predict them from their contradictions.
Today, I will introduce a perspective on how we can predict hidden gems. This perspective might help you identify preferable, profitable fields that suit your personality.
The contradictions of the mass media
We can predict opportunities by identifying contradictions in the mass media.
To make it easier to understand, let’s look at an example of agriculture.
Recently, we may often come across news like the following in the mass media:
- Many farmers are struggling with loss. Large-scale demonstrations are also taking place in many countries, regardless of whether they are developing or developed.
- The average annual income of farmers is lower than that of all other industries.
- Farming is aging, and there are fewer successors. (The media implies it is an inferior industry due to its low income.)
- Several farmers are making large profits, even if they are small- or middle-scale farmers. That number is increasing. (Interestingly, they are usually younger farmers, although the media don’t mention it.)
Although those news stories portray farmers miserably, they are contradictory if we look closely. There are small growing areas despite the overall decline.
The difference in trend cycles
If we want to identify an opportunity, it is necessary to pay attention to the cycle of trends, the whole, and the parts. At the end of a long-term trend, several rising places appear. That will show us the next long-term tendency.
Following a short-term trend means entering an industry that is already growing. Since many people in that industry make a profit, it looks like the chances of success are high. However, it is not accurate. People who entered a while ago are now making a profit. It doesn’t guarantee profits for those who enter now.
In popular fields, competition will continue to increase. That will lower the profit margin. That is why the trend will be less profitable gradually. When a boom occurs, it collapses at some point.
On the other hand, from the long-term perspective, we judge based on long-term cycles. Amid overall decline, we focus on the parts that have begun to rise.
Since the mass media loves to feature victims, they report on emotional people rather than calm ones. That gives the public the impression that engaging in agriculture is dangerous. That makes that field less competitive.
The reasons for growth within declining industries
Specific examples show us the reasons for growth within declining industries. When the scale of a business no longer affects profits, it indicates that it is time for an individual to enter that field. We can make a profit, especially for creative people.
For example, I recently watched an interview with a girl who engages in agriculture. She was around 20 years old. Although she has a delicate physique, it didn’t matter. It was because she was mostly operating drones or driving tractors and harvesters. Those machines changed the agricultural style. She enjoyed wearing cute, frilly clothes while doing large-scale farming.
Recent entry-level tools can sometimes surpass the higher-end models from decades ago. This often happens at the end of innovative periods.
In my case, I started to use a new sewing machine last week. It was an entry-level model that my parents received for free, as I mentioned at the top of this article.
That new sewing machine was surprisingly useful and accurate. I could sew straight easily. In addition, it automatically adjusted the thread tension. On top of that, it is equipped with multiple convenience features that my previous one didn’t have. Although my decades-old sewing machine was high-end, the new entry-level model was better.
Although it was not comparable to the industrial sewing machines that my parents used, if compared to the same home use, recent entry-level models were superior to the high-level models from decades ago.
The places that require creativity
That taught me the impact of adapting technology and sensibilities to the times.
In traditional industries, many producers cannot adapt to new things. They rely on outdated methods, equipment, and mindsets. Aging workforces are also accelerating this phenomenon. Less logical elderly people cannot change their styles. They don’t even know that drones can be used in agriculture.
That tells us that those industries are currently in a state where it is easy to generate profits with creativity. They are less competitive. Capital investment is also less expensive, since recent entry-level models perform better than the higher-end models from decades ago.
Even just bringing in a modern way of thinking and sensibility makes a difference.
Logical people tend to be good at strategic thinking and changing ways based on feedback. We can live peacefully even in a less competitive field.
That shows us invisible opportunities. This is a logical way for people who love a peaceful, intellectual life.
Conclusion
That is a perspective on how we can predict opportunities for us.
We can predict opportunities by identifying the contradictions of the mass media.
This might help you identify preferable, profitable fields that suit your personality.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
