Some people are very lucky and know from a very early age what their passion is and where their talents lie.  Most of us get to our 20s, 30s, 40s and older and are still trying to work out what we want to do when we grow up.

There are many different reasons why people end up in the jobs they do - most of them unplanned!  You may be living out the dreams of your parents, following family tradition, working for a large paycheque rather than the love of the job.  It is all too easy to suddenly find yourself saddled with a mortgage and financial responsibilities which rely heavily on your job.  The thought of giving it all up to risk setting up your own business may seem terrifying and financially foolish.  This is where smart planning comes in. 

Once you have an idea of what you want to do, you should be able to start researching the market whilst still in full time employment.  The majority of small business owners start off setting up their business alongside working in a permanent job.  Do as much planning and research as you can even if this means working weekends and evenings to see if your dream is feasible.  Once you are confident enough to launch, see if you can cut your job down to 3 or 4 days a week - this means that you will still have a regular income whilst having time to test your idea out.

A recent survey by Mastercard Worldwide revealed that online shoppers in Australia tended to be young and well educated.  76% of Australian online shoppers bought on impulse when they realised they were getting a bargain, regardless of whether they needed the goods.  By contract the results also showed that most online shopping was planned, with 83% surveyed stating that they researched and compared costs before making their purchases.

The most popular goods bought online were music downloads, followed by books, DVDs, clothes, accessories and home appliances and electronics.  The most enthusiastic online shoppers were from Korea, China and Japan, with the most important issue with online shopping being security followed by value for money, the website's reputation, free delivery, user friendliness and speed of transaction.

All very interesting to know if you are thinking about opening an online shop!