© 2008 by Peter Allan C. Mariano
http://links2prosperity.synthasite.com
No, this is not another reality game show. This is just my response to the ongoing economic crisis that the world is facing right now. With more and more people losing their jobs (and in the US – losing their homes to foreclosures) it would seem a wise decision to become an entrepreneur. I have made that decision a few months ago when I availed of the voluntary resignation program that my company was offering. The amount I got was not that much, but it was enough to sustain me for a while as I set-up my home business.
It was a struggle at the beginning and the returns were not that much compared to what I was getting when I was working. However, my corporate work was really taking a toll on me and my health, and I found myself drifting farther away from my family. Now that my home based business is starting to pick up, I was getting reassurances that I have made the right decision. I am using my passion for writing and arts in my business, and the time I spent with my family in their happy moments is priceless.
Browsing the internet, you can find stories of remarkable entrepreneurial spirit from simple folks and individuals. I am not talking about big-time business celebrities, but I’m referring to ordinary people like you and me who had nothing else but their drive to succeed. Take Jared Metz for example. He is young but he is making waves in New York helping businesses get the much needed financing to make their projects flourish. There are more stories out there and I will try to post them here as much as I can.
Now, if what I described above has got you thinking or contemplating of quitting your job and becoming an entrepreneur like Jared Metz, you should ask yourself the following questions first:
a) Are you ready for much bigger challenges than what corporate life is currently giving you?
Working for a company means responsibilities related to your job, but such responsibilities are limited to your job function – and your pay grade. As an entrepreneur, your scope of responsibilities widens and you have to get involved with all aspects of the job.
b) Do you feel that your life is unbalanced right now?
If you spend 12 or more hours at work, and then all your remaining time (and even weekends) is spent on commuting and trying to catch some sleep – then you definitely lack balance in your life. Take time to contemplate what your priorities in life are.
c) Do you feel that your current job is not your destiny, and that you have lost your passion in life?
You got the talent but you end up working in a call center. You feel that you have wasted that talent in a job that pays but lacks the fuel to drive your passion. It would probably be time to consider leaving that job and build a business based on your passion. This is what Jared Metz did when he used his drive and talent for deal making and negotiation.
My advice to you if you got that entrepreneurial itch is to sleep on it for a few days. It might go away after a few nights’ rest. But if the drive is still there, gnawing at your insides, then you have to stop and reconsider. Do your research and learn from people, and you might get your answers.
That’s better than entering a reality game show.
======================
Live well and prosper!
© 2008
Peter Allan Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWAD1098KHz 10-11am Every Tuesday
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity Marketing - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Virtual Assistant Philippines - A Community of Pinoy Virtual Assistants
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Developing Everyday Ideas into Innovative Breakthroughs
Since the dawn of the modern age, it has always been the belief of the masses that the economy of a country benefits only the wealthy, and the government should do something about this. Karl Marx embraced this idea in his teachings, and the people believed in these persistent ideas that power and wealth should be taken from the rich and given to the poor. We have seen how ineffective this ideology is. The Soviet Union is no more, China and Vietnam are opening their doors to capitalism, and the world is heading into a new era of innovative products and marketing methods.
Reading and studying about how the richest people in the world gained their wealth will reveal to us that only a fraction of these wealthy individuals and families got their riches through inheritance. Some had the advantage of education or influence but most started out from scratch and worked their way up to fortune. What was unique about these individuals was how they turned everyday experiences into innovative fortune-generating opportunities.
Mark Hughes devoted his life in the development of weight loss products. What spurned him on was the death of his mother, JoAnn Hughes who died through her disastrous experimentations to lose weight. Finding the right ideas and products, Mark founded Herbalife in 1980 and started selling weight loss and nutrition products right out of the trunk of his car. Now, the company he started has become a global entity growing exponentially every year with millions of satisfied customers worldwide.
In a similar manner, Richard DeVos and Jay van Andel started Amway in their basements after failures running a drive-in restaurant. Now, the influence of these billionaires has reached several countries worldwide through these innovative products. It would be a rarity indeed, if you do not know Bill Gates, a Harvard dropout who went on to co-find Microsoft Corporation. He earned billions developing products and technologies, some of which may be found right there in the personal computers of people reading this article.
These successes are not isolated to individuals but to remarkable families as well. In 1950, the Walton family lost a lease on a local dime store. This did not stop them from pursuing their dreams and establishing the multi-billion Wal-Mart chains. The Mars family where in financial trouble and was close to bankruptcy when they developed the recipe for the Milky Way chocolate bar. The rest is history (pardon the pause, as I take a bite out of my Milk… Ooops! Wife’s coming! Gotta hide these…..! )
Stories like these come to life because of the drive and creativity of these individuals in turning ideas into wonderful moneymaking innovations. Their success was based on serving the consumers and in finding solutions to problems of the community that existing products and services cannot provide.
How can we, as ordinary people, generate the same kind of ideas that these successful people had?
The key element is to learn how to listen and observe your surroundings. If you have transformed your psyche from a mindless drifter to an idea-hunting entrepreneurial mindset, tons of ideas can come your way – and some of this might be the next multi-billion dollar thing. Reading books and magazines on and off the net can take you places and feed your imagination. Browse through websites, news and forums and learn what the current needs of the community are. There are a lot of examples in the web that you can discover. Just like this website for swimming pools that I just came across. They call themselves Shasta Pools and Spas.
Everyone is going “GREEN” just like the Incredible Hulk. Kidding aside, people are looking for products and services that are more environmentally sensitive. Aside from their really cool designs I never imagined pools could have, Shasta Pools are also going green and has started use of the most energy efficient pool equipments for those who are environmentally conscious. Such innovations are a proactive response to the needs, and trends, the people want.
On my next article, I will discuss more regarding how to use insights, intelligent hunches, intuition and what-have-you in looking for that next big hit. So stay tuned!
======================
Live well and prosper!
© 2008
Peter Allan Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWAD1098KHz 10-11am Every Tuesday
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity Marketing - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Virtual Assistant Philippines - A Community of Pinoy Virtual Assistants
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Reading and studying about how the richest people in the world gained their wealth will reveal to us that only a fraction of these wealthy individuals and families got their riches through inheritance. Some had the advantage of education or influence but most started out from scratch and worked their way up to fortune. What was unique about these individuals was how they turned everyday experiences into innovative fortune-generating opportunities.
Mark Hughes devoted his life in the development of weight loss products. What spurned him on was the death of his mother, JoAnn Hughes who died through her disastrous experimentations to lose weight. Finding the right ideas and products, Mark founded Herbalife in 1980 and started selling weight loss and nutrition products right out of the trunk of his car. Now, the company he started has become a global entity growing exponentially every year with millions of satisfied customers worldwide.
In a similar manner, Richard DeVos and Jay van Andel started Amway in their basements after failures running a drive-in restaurant. Now, the influence of these billionaires has reached several countries worldwide through these innovative products. It would be a rarity indeed, if you do not know Bill Gates, a Harvard dropout who went on to co-find Microsoft Corporation. He earned billions developing products and technologies, some of which may be found right there in the personal computers of people reading this article.
These successes are not isolated to individuals but to remarkable families as well. In 1950, the Walton family lost a lease on a local dime store. This did not stop them from pursuing their dreams and establishing the multi-billion Wal-Mart chains. The Mars family where in financial trouble and was close to bankruptcy when they developed the recipe for the Milky Way chocolate bar. The rest is history (pardon the pause, as I take a bite out of my Milk… Ooops! Wife’s coming! Gotta hide these…..! )
Stories like these come to life because of the drive and creativity of these individuals in turning ideas into wonderful moneymaking innovations. Their success was based on serving the consumers and in finding solutions to problems of the community that existing products and services cannot provide.
How can we, as ordinary people, generate the same kind of ideas that these successful people had?
The key element is to learn how to listen and observe your surroundings. If you have transformed your psyche from a mindless drifter to an idea-hunting entrepreneurial mindset, tons of ideas can come your way – and some of this might be the next multi-billion dollar thing. Reading books and magazines on and off the net can take you places and feed your imagination. Browse through websites, news and forums and learn what the current needs of the community are. There are a lot of examples in the web that you can discover. Just like this website for swimming pools that I just came across. They call themselves Shasta Pools and Spas.
Everyone is going “GREEN” just like the Incredible Hulk. Kidding aside, people are looking for products and services that are more environmentally sensitive. Aside from their really cool designs I never imagined pools could have, Shasta Pools are also going green and has started use of the most energy efficient pool equipments for those who are environmentally conscious. Such innovations are a proactive response to the needs, and trends, the people want.
On my next article, I will discuss more regarding how to use insights, intelligent hunches, intuition and what-have-you in looking for that next big hit. So stay tuned!
======================
Live well and prosper!
© 2008
Peter Allan Mariano
Talakayan at Kalusugan - DWAD1098KHz 10-11am Every Tuesday
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
Links2Prosperity Marketing - Web Marketing : Web Content : Web Design
Virtual Assistant Philippines - A Community of Pinoy Virtual Assistants
Follow me on TWITTER:
Join my FACEBOOK Family:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)