Start My Own Business Ideas

Back when I was young, degreed, and recovering from being fired by a horrible boss; I heard a story about an independent businessman named Arturo. Perhaps that was part of what changed my world view.

Arturo came into the dock early one morning with his small boat full of lovely fish; one for his family, others to sell. Bill, an Ivy League MBA on vacation, saw Arturo return while all the other fishermen were still out with almost empty boats.

Bill asked about Arturo, everyone agreed that Arturo was the best fisherman on the coast.

Bill walked down to Arturo and asked how he spent his days. Arturo said he fished a bit in the morning, went home to spend some time with his wife and play with his kids, then in the evening Arturo met his friends at a local restaurant for songs and games.

Bill got excited and proposed a partnership. Together they would build a fleet of ships that would benefit from Arturo's knowledge. They would move to a big city, and later run offices and fleets around the world.

Arturo asked about the future beyond the world wide ventures. Bill expounded on the glories of the great cities and high society, finishing with the statement that when Arturo decided he was ready to retire he could go anywhere and do anything he wanted. Bill asked what Arturo would do with such a fine retirement.

Arturo replied, "I would fish a bit in the morning, go home to spend time with my wife and play with the kids, then in the evening I would meet my friends at a local restaurant for songs and games."

And Arturo walked away.

Even if you already have a local business you need to be on the Internet.

* Your competition is getting on the net.

* Google maps now points out local businesses.

* All the search engines are starting to reference local business in a more logical manner.

* Your customers use the net to get information.

* Did I mention your competition is on the net or thinking about it?


There is a learning curve to getting effective net coverage. This is not like the business yellow pages - although for some of you it may be bigger. Web sites are not cures for a bad business mode. Mediocre doesn't build or inspire action: highlight what makes your business exceptional, or create a truly exceptional aspect; that is your story that will spread from mouse to mouth.

There is a value to having bought and used your online name in terms of how the search engines will treat you. Pick your name and get something up today, you can re-do it next year if you wish. Web names are like wine - a little age is a good thing.

No one will come to the door to sell you a quarter page internet business format. However, there are kids and professors at the local college that can get you started for little money - or you can build yourself a quality online presence for very little cash, just some time.

Perhaps you are already busy landscaping, drilling teeth, selling real estate, or doing lawyer stuff. There is a good do it for you option that will not cost too much and profit too little -- SiteSell Services may be for you. SiteSell services can also help if you already have a web site, but it is not bringing you clients.

If you use other Internet professionals - expect to pay what you would for any professional services. A great web master is part advertiser, copywriter, public relations agent, and web navigation specialist. If your site is done right - your customer will enjoy the site just as much as the search engines.


As in all ventures the key to natural enterprise success is to start doing it, keep doing it, and keep improving how you do it. If you want to do it yourself; either take the online business creation course, or click on one of these free internet business creation and training courses in pdf format:

* Professional Service Sellers Internet Course

* WAHM, Work At Home Moms, with case studies (ok for dads too, it is about starting an at home internet based business)

* Write For The Internet - tools, tricks, and techniques

As the Cluetrain Manifesto declared; your customers are human, to succeed you must deal with them as humans.

Think of it this way - when your client is on your site he has chosen you. You have his undivided attention to communicate with him.

Make that time valuable for your customer.

The key to success once your own business is started is to keep learning. Cultivate your natural abilities and grow with them.

The act of starting or growing a business is a valuable education. Using your own business idea to start your own business will be a less expensive education than attending a brick and mortar college - and you can learn more useful and actionable information.

You can also create an income using your entrepreneurial business idea, instead of deferring income while in school. "The hardest thing about getting started is getting started." - unknown

A person that graduates with a business degree and is hired by a corporation has not failed, they have completed a step toward their definition of success.

An entrepreneur that shuts down a failed business and then starts a new business has likewise completed a step toward becoming free to live life by their own rules. Their future success starts at the point many quit in failure and flee to the false safety of a job. That's persistence.

"The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those, which fail." - Napoleon Hill

Take your prototype on the road and sell it, if there is demand build a company to support it. You can learn or hire MBA methodologies later. The only types of business knowledge you can't delegate or outsource are (1) knowing your customers intimately, and (2) understanding how cash flows into and out of your business.

Your start-up business will have a steep learning curve. Start your first business small and manageable; making your mistakes as inexpensive as possible. Wait to "ramp up" your business until you are sure of your commitment. Then persist.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." -Thomas Edison

It will not be easy. This is not a get rich quick scheme, this is business!

Your business.

"We can not ensure success, but we can deserve it." - Joseph Addison

Your chances of success as an entrepreneur increase if the business idea you develop is based on passions that drive you. Create what is for you a natural enterprise and you can make a very good income - while enjoying the journey.

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100% of direct income from my lenses goes to micro-finance solutions for world poverty provided by the Grameen Foundation. The Grameen Foundation is creating a rising tide of positive influence upon our world. Help decrease poverty, by enabling the poor to support themselves.


Mists Of Ignorance.

"We are surrounded by easily perceived barriers that limit our achievement. Most such walls were erected using substantial appearing mists of ignorance. We need to discover and acknowledge these boundaries, and then run through them." - Allan R. Wallace