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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.

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).

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.

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

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.

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!

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