Entrepreneurialism And The Art Of Reimagination

Posted on March 31, 2008
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We’ve all seen the sad posters hung on telephone polls and in grocery stores alerting us to the fact that someone either lost or found a pet and would love to see some reuniting going on.

Chips have been developed that are placed under the skin of pets to help vets identify who the animal belongs to.

Well, one entrepreneur thought this wasn’t an option that was immediate enough. So a company based in Windsor, Colorado has developed a GPS collar for pets. This colorful collar makes it possible for pet owners to simply go to the website and draw coordinates to locate their lost pet.

The service comes with a monthly fee and offers pet owners up to 100 location points as part of the basic service. The configurations of the GPS device come in both a collar and a colorful harness.

If that sounded like an ad, I suppose I designed it that way. No, I don’t own one of these devices and, no, I don’t know the owner and have never tried the product. The truth is I presented the product this way to open your eyes to your own entrepreneurial dream.

The one thing that struck me as I researched this idea was that this was a concept that I can believe would be valuable to many pet owners. For many the family pet often becomes an extended member of their family. This in turn makes the care and protection of the pet through immediate location something many pet owners would find comforting.

This entrepreneur found something that no one else was doing and crafted the idea in such a way that pet owners would immediately see its value.

This is the essence of entrepreneurialism – find a problem people need an answer to and provide the solution.

This doesn’t have to be something that is associated with a pet. You can let your imagination run and find solutions to any number of issues from personal problems common to humanity to problems related to home repair. From lawn and garden issues to better ways to cook.

Once you find your best idea you need to carefully craft related marketing tools to capture not only the essence of the business, but also how to help others understand the unique potential of your idea.

Words are important so make sure you either craft your descriptions well or have someone help you.

The site I mentioned above is actually fairly simple, but the owner has done an admirable job in helping the visitors understand what the product is and how the device can provide them with peace of mind and a quick solution to finding a well-loved pet.

Your business site should answer most of the predominant questions and possibly include a FAQ section when customer questions begin pouring in. Your customers can provide a great springboard for helping to clear up any confusion future customers might have.

Entrepreneurialism is attainable. You just need to imagine what has yet to be considered. Many existing businesses fall behind when they refuse to reimagine their existing business.

If you’re starting a new business you can imagine all you want – just don’t stop dreaming.

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Home Business Entrepreneur. Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Home Business Entrepreneur?

Posted on March 26, 2008
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Home Business Entrepreneur. The Rewards Of Becoming A Home Business Entrepreneur.

Tribulations and hardships are what the undeveloped home business entrepreneur always expect to encounter. No entrepreneur actually anticipates to start out at the top.

Even those fortunate enough to be born rich face numerous challenges when they choose to become home based entrepreneurs, because being born rich does not actually equal being equipped with the talents of an entrepreneur.

How do home business entrepreneurs get started?

There are a number of ways that you are able to get a home based venture off the ground. There are plenty of opportunities out there for people to apply their entrepreneurial skills. people are discovering the market is genuinely arduous to penetrate if you are contending against major corporations.

However, have no fear. All you need is to contact the right people in order to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. Learning from other successful businesspeople is the real key to long term success.

More beginners to the internet are realizing that running a home based business is probably the best way for an entrepreneur to make a start. Financial backing is not genuinely a problem because lots of financing companies would be pleased to loan you the revenue you need in order to get your ideas started.

Exactly how do you get funding?

Going to financial companies or your bank is the obvious choice, and you may want to take a business plan and projected financial statements to show your new idea is worth investing in.

Home based businesses of entrepreneurs frequently attract financiers if they have a good solid business plan that can get them back their money rapidly. In that light, you can say that a solid plan is all you need to get your venture off the ground.

Understanding how successful entrepreneurs run a home based venture is crucial to your success. Most people research different ideas that will help them before they actually start a venture. Of course, new business ventures can face a lot of problems in the first twelve months, so it helps to be prepared.

Naturally, home based businesses of entrepreneurs have to face the problem of gaining customers, and quitting can be a very tempting option if you face problems. Rest assured, you will get through this stage if you find the will within yourself.

Most successful entrepreneurs agree that the first twelve months as an entrepreneur will be the true test of your skills and commitment. Time will come when you realize the hardest part of your home business in reality proved to be the most gratifying for you.

Understanding the way customers think is an essential part of business success.

Entrepreneurs succeed not just because of their products, but the way customers react to those promoting or selling the products. Study the market around you and understand what makes people tick. X-ray vision, of course, is not a skill you posses.

You need to put yourself in the customers place and see what they want. Calmness and confidence can definitely help when making important decision.

Another attribute you may want to think about is whether or not you can compete in the market. Basically, it is difficult to start a home based business if the entrepreneur has no connections. And competing with the big names in the market should not be your priority just yet.

Also remember; Do not take your defeats too hard. Far too many businesses have failed because the owner can not get back up when they fall down. Remember, Greatness comes from inside.

Home based businesses are favored by entrepreneurs because they require the least capital.

In most cases, you require very little capital as you do not generally have to rent office space, hire staff or buy equipment. Just think of all the money you will be able to save by running your business from home.

Copyright John Adams. Successful Home Business Entrepreneur Home Business Entrepreneur - The Key To Making Money Is Getting Help And Support.

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Do You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?

Posted on March 25, 2008
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Actually, most people do not. This is one of the reasons why many today are looking for the internet to build a solid business. It takes more time to develop in person entrepreneurial skills than online skills. Although, both skill sets are important working from behind a computer leaves more room to grow from your mistakes.

As a business owner you have to have a certain level of people skills in order to deal with customers as well as with affiliates. Too many times, people will put out there that they are entrepreneurs without having any skills or idea what that means. It is terminology often used in the desperate search for financial freedom, more free time and breaking away from the 9 to 5 routine. For those, who are already in the home based business industry they use the word entrepreneur when looking for quality prospects.

One of the first steps needed to be a true entrepreneur is the ability to understand people. You have to realize that each person has a different motive for setting out for free enterprise. The more you interact with your customers and potential prospects you will be able to determine what is they are hoping to achieve. It is important for entrepreneurs to develop relationships either online or offline with those they are interacting with. It is essential to show a genuine concern for them.

An advantage of being an online entrepreneur is that you can have in black and white what is you are trying to say. It can greatly diminish any misunderstandings. You have to know what your customers and prospects are looking for and then design your online marketing strategy to meet their needs. Implementing a well developed online marketing strategy is one key to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs should spend time researching the needs of their niche market and center their campaigns on those needs.

One of the biggest mistakes first time entrepreneurs make is not taking the time to ask for feedback from their customers. As an entrepreneur you have to develop your listening skills. Many are excited about being in control of their destiny and not being under the rule of someone else that they forget to listen. In affiliate marketing, you will always have someone over you and many fail when they do not listen to their uplines.

First time entrepreneurs should become an affiliate with an existing business. It is much easier to learn from someone else’s proven program than trying to establish your own from the ground floor. In today’s network marketing whether it is direct marketing or multilevel marketing, there is a lot of personal growth conferences and education about the online industry taking place. Network marketing today has become the number one growing industry in the world. It has evolved from group meetings, prospecting family and friends into a massive online presence that reaches millions of prospects everyday.

Entrepreneurs should look for companies who are concerned with their personal development and for those who can teach them online marketing strategies that can tap them into a trillion dollar a year industry in a matter of days.

Lakeycia Jefferson is the owner of http://WealthTransferNow.com and writes on a variety of home based business subjects. To learn more about this topic Lakeycia recommends you visit: http://www.WealthTransferNow.com and http://www.MasterWealthSystem.com .

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Starting Your Business and Living the American Dream - Have We Forgotten?

Posted on March 24, 2008
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Let me first say that America is an amazing country to live in. Further more, America has an enormous amount of opportunities available to it’s citizens. So why do so many people living in the United States of America spend their lives dreaming about fulfilling their dreams and starting a business, only find themselves in a state of regret many years down the road?

Perhaps the answer has something to do with taking things for granted. Or maybe it is just a case of forgetting what this beautiful country is all about! Could it be that those particular people just don’t want it bad enough? There could be a variety of reasons why a particular person has not lived their dreams. But I know one thing for sure. It is not because the U.S.A. does not offer the opportunities, freedoms, and the resources needed to “Live the American Dream.” In my experiences I have seen that it is quite the opposite. The United States of America offers many more resources and doorways to opportunity than most areas on this wonderful planet that we call Earth.

I have a home in the U.S.A. and I also have a home in China. Thus I have traveled to the other side of the world several times and have been to at least 5 very different countries. I am the owner of an import/export business which connects me with a variety of global locations. Through my travels and through the many friends, family, and the many business contacts I have made (many of whom have traveled all over the world), I have come to learn that “Opportunity” is what the world craves! What the human spirit needs is a dream. We also need the opportunity along with the resources and the freedom necessary to build that dream.

There are so many beautiful countries in this world. They all have their own virtues, strengths, and weaknesses. One country may have the opportunities, but not the freedom. Another country may have the freedom, but they don’t have the opportunity. Yet another country might have the freedoms and the opportunities, but they don’t provide the general public with the resources needed to bring it all together. But the United States provides all three! So why are there so many U.S. citizens complaining about their lives? Why do they think they have it so bad? Why have they stopped chasing their dreams? But a really good question is, why are there so many people that immigrate to the United States with very little money and eventually end up owning their own businesses?

I believe it is because when they first arrive in America, they notice that it is the first time they have ever had the real chance to fulfill their dreams and goals. They saw that with hard work, persistence, and dedication, their goals could be achieved. I think that many of us Americans have forgotten what we have. I think that many of us have forgotten that creativity and persistence is a large part of what built our fruitful economy. If more of us could visit different countries and experience different cultures, especially areas that do not cater to tourists, then we would have a much greater appreciation for what is available to us. And we might even get that spark of life and adventure back!

So the next time you think about living your dreams and starting a business from scratch and believe that it is impossible, … think again! I used to be a single parent with no visible chance at success. But I took another look at what this country has to offer, and now I have traveled to the other side of the world, and created an offline and an online business. Who knows what the future will bring to you, but If you don’t seek it, you definitely will not find it! If you live in the USA and you’re ready to work hard and put some dedication into it, then all you have to do is open your eyes to the amazing amount of opportunity surrounding you. And when you think you can’t do it, just remember one thing, … you’re an American! This is the Country of Big Business, and of Entrepreneurs! So get on the internet, get creative, and start searching for what it is that you need to get that business you’ve dreamed of started!

Thomas Barto, owner of GlobalQue, an import/export business that operates primarily offline. Helping manufacturers and distributors find each other from across the world. The website can be found online at http://www.globalque.com/

Globalque also has an online presence guiding people towards the best methods to start or grow a business online. Learn true and tried techniques to get real qualified visitors to your website, convert them into sales, and build a monthly recurring income online quickly. The web address is http://www.globalque.com/sellingonline

Sincerely, Thomas Barto http://www.thomasbarto.com/

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Three Business Tools Help Entrepreneurs Market Inexpensively

Posted on March 24, 2008
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If you are a new business owner, or an entrepreneur, marketing your business can drain your budget. If you are between jobs, you feel drained of time and money. However there are three tools that when used correctly can give you just the boost you need for a very minimal investment of time and money: Your handshake, your business card and your introduction.

Your handshake is one of your business tools when networking. A few weeks ago I met an interesting businesswoman who was new in town. When she shook my hand, it felt like she was competing for the strong man award. Her grip was so tight I winced. I’ve always hated a half-committed handshake but this was going a bit too far.

When you greet someone, look him or her in the eye and grasp their hand firmly web to web, then give a shake or two then disconnect. Don’t place your other hand on top, or put your free hand on their shoulder unless you are already close acquaintances.

Drop the philosophy that says if you want more power make sure you twist your hand to where your counterpart’s hand is facing the floor and yours is on top. Handshaking is not a platform to showcase your strength or play psychological games as to who is more worthy. You are there to build relationships, get acquainted and treat the other person as your equal.

Business Card

Many mistakes are made with business cards. The first rule is HAVE ONE.

Excuses range from “I’m just out of college” to “I just changed positions” to “I’m unemployed” to “I’ve just started my business so I haven’t had time.”

At the least, you can get a nice card stock card with you name, and phone number on it. Business card blunders include:

· Having flimsy cards that feel cheap,
· Homemade cards on a personal computer where the ink leaks (invest the fifty bucks to have real ones made) and
· Using a Glamour Shot instead of a business picture.

Of course, the worst mistake is leaving the card at home. Keep some handy in your glove compartment for those times when you forget to restock your wallet or purse. Make sure your information is current and leave off your e-mail if you don’t regularly check it.

If you are just starting out, in job transition, you can get creative and place one of your favorite quotes on the back or front of your card to be used as a conversation starter. For example, I was working with a young man who wanted to be an actor. I suggested he get a business card with his contact information and then have a quote that says, “Not really….just acting!” People will see the quote and inquire as to what it means. Then he can tell them that he is an actor working in Little Theatre, planning to go to Hollywood in a year. It is a good way for people to look for the connections. Perhaps he will meet someone who knows a producer or has connections in Hollywood. If you are just out of college or in job transition, having a simple business card makes you look professional and prepared.

Introduction

Your introduction is perhaps the best tool you have besides your business card. It is the way you publicize yourself, attract new opportunities, and inform people about your business. I have witnessed many mistakes at business round table events.

Introduction Errors

· Taking too long to introduce yourself therefore boring your audience
· Starting out by apologizing “I’m not very good at speaking in public.”
· Giving an advertisement and giving announcements
· Showing a lack of confidence
· Speaking too softly or too fast
· Having no organization

Marlene Chism is a professional speaker and author of the e-book Secrets of Strategic Networking: Market Yourself at Chambers, Associations and Clubs. To see more go to http://www.networkingbuilders.com

Your introduction at a business-to-business round table is essentially your way to describe yourself and your services in a short succinct way that is memorable. For example, mine is “My name is Marlene Chism, president of I Presentations. I work with companies that want to build strong business relationships and with people who want to be better communicators.” You can tweak your introduction for different audiences, for example, “I work with women who want to advance in their careers, and with people who want to learn how network strategically.” If you are unemployed then use the introduction as a way to gain employment leads. Instead of saying “I’m unemployed,” say instead, “I’m looking at several options right now and am extremely interested in…” then name your interest.

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10 Benefits Of Being An Entrepreneur

Posted on March 24, 2008
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1. Being in control:

The best thing about an entrepreneur is that he is in absolute control of his life. He does not have to report to anybody. He can take a vacation any time he feels he needs one. He gets to decide what can happen in his venture. Best of all, nobody can fire him. It totally rocks to be your own boss and to create your own destiny.

2. Work becomes Fun:

Now, most people who work in 9 to 5 jobs always get exhausted at the end of the day and they dread the morning of the next day. Especially, after the weekends. Some call them “Monday Morning Blues”. Now, an entrepreneur works 24/7 and thus puts all of his energy into his work. By working this hard, he enjoys whatever he does and because of this, whatever venture he puts his effort into, will eventually turn out to be a great success. Work is what one is obliged to do while fun consists of what one is not obliged to do. (From Tom Sawyer-Mark Twain.) So now the equation is WORK=FUN.

3. Free from Boredom:

Arthur Schopenhauer, the great German thinker and philosopher says that there are two kinds of misery. One is the misery of the working class another is the ennui of the born-rich, the fashionable society.

Misery of the working class: Because these people are busy generating wealth for others, the only thing they crave for everyday is REST. They wish to enjoy life to its limits but they can’t. They are constrained by their work.

Misery of the fashionable society: Now, these are the few individuals most people desire to become. It really is a wonderful thing to be rich and do all the things that a typical “working class” person dreams of doing. Now let us look from a celebrities’ perspective. Because these “filthy rich” people get to do any thing they desire, they actually come to a state where, nothing much else gives them a “high”. Parties sound like fun and having physical pleasures very tempting. Now imagine doing the same things over and over again in a dull monotony. Then you come to a state of “ennui”, a state of absolute boredom. The other end where the “pendulum” of life swings to, according to Schopenhauer. So, to stimulate their senses further than that which is natural, the typical celebrity resorts to drugs, which is just the beginning of a complete destruction for them.

Now, an entrepreneur, though gets to be really rich, is not in this primarily for enjoying the pleasures of the rich. Getting to execute his ideas is what satisfies him. For a true entrepreneur, work is not a means to an end. It is an end in itself. The process is as rewarding to him as is the end product. Because an entrepreneur is consumed by his desire to work hard, he gets really no time to engage in trivialities of everyday life. Now, how can he get bored?

4. Better relations with other people:

Because an entrepreneur is very busy, he will have very little time for others. Because of this, he will not become “Over Familiar” with others, which is the root cause for finding faults in others resulting in mischievous gossips. He will have only contact with people of his own caliber and usually this kind of friendship lasts for life.

For example, take George Washington Carver, the great American scientist. He was self educated and was the man behind peanut butter. It was he who discovered natures secrets by the hundreds. He singlehandedly changed the course of many agriculture based industries through his hard work and dedication. And the more familiar Henry Ford. These two great men who worked hard all their life, forged a great relationship and were there for each other till the end. Or take the case of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet. Bill Gates thought he had nothing in common with Warren Buffet who was an Investor.Bill Gates had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for Ten Hours! Such is the power of those who work hard on their own free sweet will!

5. Self Confidence:

Because an entrepreneur trusts in himself more than anything else, it unlocks the Giant that is present within himself. Coupled with the tremendous effort that goes with the task of getting an enterprise up and running, an entrepreneur is sure of success. This success breeds more success which in return instills greater faith in himself. After all, who does not wish to be self confident.

6. Giving back to the Society:

It is truly a great privilege to be given an opportunity to give back to the society. Entrepreneurs create wealth and job opportunities for others. This way, many lives are touched and changed for the better. By giving back to the society an entrepreneur experiences a sense of meaning and purpose in his life, which others, merely by accumulating wealth will never get to feel. Money to a real entrepreneur is merely a tool and never an end in itself.

7. Free from wants:

A passionate entrepreneur will not have the desire for any thing material because he has so little time for frivolities. Because he is completely immersed in his work, he is satisfied with whatever physical comforts he already has.

8. Being original and true to oneself:

Most people do things to please others. They do not have any thoughts of their own. Instead, they live the lives that others dream up for them. They want to please their children or friends or their parents and sincerely do what is expected of them to do. They live double lives all the time. Doing things they don’t want to do, talking stuff they don’t believe in just so as to fall in line with others. As the saying goes, “No man is an island unto himself”. Entrepreneurs however are a rare breed. They do exactly what they want and say precisely what they believe in. You may criticize them, show them their defects or mock at them, but the one thing you cannot do is influence them. Entrepreneurs are whole souled beings who think their own thoughts and live their own lives. Thus they are not split in their minds between their inner and outer lives.

9. Enjoying time-out:

An entrepreneur will in all likelihood enjoy every second of the time they spend outside of their work. Events like movies, trekking or simply chatting with friends become very special because of the little time they get. They understand that they might not get an opportunity for indulging in these activities frequently and so enjoy every moment of it.

10. The Exhilaration of Success:

Very few get to experience the sweet taste of success. An entrepreneur accepts the challenges, works hard to overcome them and when victory results, he savors the moment. Even when he fails in the beginning, he does not lower his head nor does he give up because he believes in the essence of what Theodore Roosevelt once quoted

“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”An Entrepreneur is, by his very innate constitution poised only for success.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider linking back!

Karthik, a final year undergrad student in Electrical Engineering is an owner of a Web 2.0 startup http://www.BharatEntrepreneurs.com Bharat Entrepreneurs is a collaboration of more than 40 individuals interested in writing content related to entrepreneurs. If you enjoyed this article, please consider linking back!

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