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24 Replies Last post: Jan 30, 2009 9:51 PM by eJoS Mall

small business ideas

Jul 8, 2008 10:28 AM

Click to view dennisgates's profile Start-up dennisgates 2 posts since
Jul 8, 2008
Where do you go for inspiration for small business ideas? I come up with my best ideas from the local public library. I simply browse the shelves to see what books look interesting, check out a few and read them. Currently, I'm reading through the 'Rich Dad' series, tons of inspiration there.
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Click to view Iwrite's profile Mogul Iwrite 1,101 posts since
Dec 29, 2007
1. Re: small business ideas Jul 8, 2008 10:39 AM
in response to: dennisgates
Hanging out with my teenage sons is an eye opener - what they're wearing, the music they're listening to, the foods they're eating - it all tells you what is going on with them. I pay attention to what grown-ups are doing also. It is really interesting to be around more parents of teenagers and listen to the things they are involved with or doing.

I guess, my inspiration comes from observing people.
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Click to view TLRInsnAcc's profile Mogul TLRInsnAcc 15 posts since
Mar 15, 2008
2. Re: small business ideas Jul 8, 2008 10:44 AM
in response to: dennisgates
I know this may sound funny but King Solomon is know to be the wisest man the ever lived and he as a group of books known as "The Book of Proverbs". The book is mostly written by King Solomon and a few other wise people and has only about 31 small chapters. It's extremely practical and worth looking into!
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
3. Re: small business ideas Jul 8, 2008 11:49 AM
in response to: dennisgates
small business ideas, Welcome

For inspiration go to SCORE. SCORE is FREE
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit
association dedicated to educating
entrepreneurs and the formation,
growth and success of small business nationwide.
SCORE is a resource
partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
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Click to view rontowns25's profile Mogul rontowns25 76 posts since
Jun 24, 2008
4. Re: small business ideas Jul 9, 2008 3:17 PM
in response to: dennisgates
Inspirtaiton can come form many different things. The key is to expand the abilities of your current mindset. 90% of people only use their conscious mind only. The conscious mind is the thing thing that you use to observe, navigate your way around, communicate, etc. The nonconscious mind is much more powerful but can only be tapped into through meditation, neural reconditioning, self-affirmations, etc. By implanting information into your non-consious mind, you increase the amount of good and firepower your sub-conscious has to work with. The result of this are morer "Ah-ha!" moments. Read these two excerpts here...

www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
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Click to view Bluesuit's profile Mogul Bluesuit 136 posts since
Oct 23, 2007
5. Re: small business ideas Jul 9, 2008 3:30 PM
in response to: dennisgates
I get inspiration from traveling, esp. internationally. A different culture, a foreign land, always gives me new ideas and a fresh perspective. I just need to take the leap and finally start my own business.
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Click to view Iwrite's profile Mogul Iwrite 1,101 posts since
Dec 29, 2007
6. Re: small business ideas Jul 9, 2008 4:56 PM
in response to: Bluesuit
Bluesuit,

What type of business are you thinking about starting? Just wondering.
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Click to view richardthomas's profile Professional richardthomas 3 posts since
Jul 8, 2008
7. Re: small business ideas Jul 10, 2008 6:08 AM
in response to: dennisgates

Me, I get mostly my inspiration at Forbes magazine where they usually feature the top billionaires... You can get a lot of business ideas by joining business networking sites like www.schmoozii.com or linkedin
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Click to view MetroGal's profile Mogul MetroGal 101 posts since
Oct 20, 2007
8. Re: small business ideas Jul 10, 2008 8:44 AM
in response to: dennisgates

Great question. I would love to start my own business own day and I get my ideas from simply day to day living. I always see ways to improve things. Yes, I am a natural complainer.
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Click to view Bluesuit's profile Mogul Bluesuit 136 posts since
Oct 23, 2007
9. Re: small business ideas Jul 10, 2008 12:54 PM
in response to: Iwrite

this is a response to Iwrite's question. I am a self described foodie. Very interested in starting a food related business. I have friends (potential partners) who are already in the restaurant business and willing to partner with me. Just not sure if I'm ready to take the next step, not to mention the market I am in extremely saturated with many innovative food related concepts.
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Click to view Iwrite's profile Mogul Iwrite 1,101 posts since
Dec 29, 2007
10. Re: small business ideas Jul 10, 2008 1:12 PM
in response to: Bluesuit
Bluesuuit,

Thanks for the response.

Yes, you are SF is a true foodie town!! I'm a foodie, too. I worked 8 years for a major chain opening, closing and reorganizing under-performing units. Then once I got into advertising, I worked on advertising campaigns for two of the bigger food chains. If you ever need any advice on marketing for your business, just ask. Most of my friends are still in the businesses.

I say go with Gelato! Or a dessert place!! There used to be a dessert place in Atlanta that was great!!
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Click to view Carexpress's profile Professional Carexpress 4 posts since
Jul 8, 2008
11. Re: small business ideas Jul 10, 2008 1:32 PM
in response to: dennisgates
I'd say you start off with what you are interested in. Is it a clothing line, restaurant, corner store, advertising company, etc. When you've decided what you want to do, you will then have to advertise your business to bring in clientele. Once you get your busines started you should include an array of people with different views, backgrounds, and experiences so that you can always have someone to sort your ideas with, or come up with new ideas for your new business. Good luck!
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Click to view snipperred's profile Mogul snipperred 147 posts since
Jun 11, 2008
12. Re: small business ideas Jul 11, 2008 3:27 PM
in response to: dennisgates
Neat question. I get my inspiration by not finding what I want. It only makes sense not seeing what I want presented, and delivered to my individual preferences represents a market opportunity. Maybe only one out of a million people shares my interests- that's great. That means between the internet and my niche I have an opportunity to do business. More often than not, I think people accept what is available vs. what they really want. So I see plenty of opportunities within mass markets as well. It is the perfect storm for small businesses. Inspiration is easy find, in my view.
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Click to view puzzleman's profile Mogul puzzleman 293 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
13. Re: small business ideas Jul 16, 2008 4:32 PM
in response to: dennisgates
Like others here I get my ideas from talking to my customers, potential customers and non customers. Customers tell me what they like and are looking for. Potentials tell me what is in their mind about what they are searching for. Nons tell me about what I am not doing and what I could be doing as well as realize that there are some people who I will never serve.

all of these people give me starting ideas but where the figure it out and related ideas come from is from driving. I drive 4 to 12 hours at one time to go to do trade shows. I DO NOT have the radio or any other noise maker on. Just letting your mind wander for that many hours, ideas flow to the front as you have all of the other stuff blocking it out of the way.

works for me. Jim
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