Every time a new story about how some nobody from nowhere got rich producing some clever new product in his garage, you may think, “Why can’t I do that?” Well, anyone can—the trick is to take those good ideas and build them into great products that can succeed in the marketplace. In this book, you will get the 12-step plan you need to make your new product or service a profitable reality. You will learn important skills for success, including how to: Refine their idea to attract a target audience Research the competition Find the right manufacturer Create appropriate brand messaging Build buzz online and beyond Work trade shows and conventions Written by a woman with no formal business experience who turned her own idea into a million-dollar company, this book is the pragmatic yet inspiring guide every aspiring entrepreneur is looking for.
I ea,lnc. • � � SINESS your I ea,lnc. [...]... Business Administration, home-based busi nesses make up 53 percent of all small business So, as you clear that spot in your bedroom or your family room to set up your new venture, do it with pride You are taking action and following your dreams You are in your own office You are your own boss You are an entrepreneur T ake a Leap of Faith After years of working hard and watching higher-ups and big companies... Instead of checking out the sale rack at your favorite store, visit a local manufacturer to discuss packaging options Chunks of time like that add up to hours of productivity and to tangible momentum Step 1 Take the Leap to Becoming an Entrepreneur 13 Ask for Help When your family and close friends realize that you are working on something that you are so passionate about, they may want to pitch in and... firsthand about the "fire in the belly" feeling It's this adrenaline that keeps you taking step after step to make it happen, regardless of what your brain is saying in the background In order to silence the doubts the practical side of your brain may have, you'll need to maintain a healthy outlook Let's look at how to do that Try Visualiz ation A helpful way to think positively is to visualize your. .. relationship and grow your business as the economy improves • Companies across the board are offering better pricing to bring • in business You can take advantage of lower-than-usual pricing on everything from raw materials to office supplies • Talented people who were laid off from huge companies are now starting to consult on their own and charging a reasonable rate for their expertise Take advantage of this... shy about asking for some small favors so you can keep up momentum and make the most of each day For example, ask your kids to help prepare dinner and clear the table so you can get right to your work in the evening If your children are too young to help, think about asking your relative or neighbor to entertain them for an hour or two a couple of days a week When busy people who have a great idea actually... with a New Purpose Your idea falls into this category if you were using a tool or prod uct and realized that it would also work well in a completely dif ferent capacity In this case, the product needs to be re-marketed to a new audience in new packaging, usually with a few tweaks in design to make it appealing to the different demographic Write It Down, Make It Real Your idea has been swirling around... you to let the negative com ments roll right off your back and makes you want to prove yourself that much more It can be a "mantra" or perhaps that visualization discussed earlier A mantra is a positive repetition of words that helps you focus and has a calming effect It can be something as simple as a favorite quote or even a single energy-infusing word like 12 You r I d ea, Inc "persistence" or "action."... happen, of course You may need to con vince the practical side of your brain that is worried about bills, sta bility, and the future To overcome those doubts, allow yourself to believe that you really do need a change and that you are capable of implementing it, one step at a time Jess Weiner, author and motiva tional speaker, says, "Your body knows you have a great idea before your brain knows." This... in your journey, you may want to keep your idea yourself You have momentum and you don't want to be o cour�IC1"'C1 by someone who may not "get it " -your idea, ; your passion, your dream You also want to keep the idea confidential because you don't want someone to steal it! It may be tough, but mum's the word at this point Research Your Competition If you've made it this far, you probably know a little... list and e-mail someone you have only read about or someone whose product you like Virtually every product has a website and contact information-these days, finding who you want to talk to isn't too difficult Take my experience with Carol Green as an example Years ago, I watched an episode of The Oprah Win frey Show that featured a panel of four women entrepreneurs At this point, I had my idea but hadn't . � SINESS your I ea,lnc.