It’s tough out there. No doubt about it. Just when small business owners were starting to regain some hope that the economy might pick up before the end of the year, the bottom fell out from under us again. The stock market swings are as wild as a theme park roller-coaster ride. Consumer sentiment is down. And many experts predict that the remainder of the year could be even worse than expected.
Typically I use my blog to share my business experience and advice to help you grow your business, and I intend to continue doing that. But I am going to add a new twist going forward. I’m embarking on the journey of a lifetime and I want to take you along with me.
I travel every week, and I often schedule a car service to go to the airport. The last several times I’ve gotten the same older gentleman who is charming without being over-bearing with conversation. (I don’t like too much chit-chat.)
When we get to the airport, I ask “What do I owe you?” Each time I get the same response, “Pay me whatever you like.”
My motto has always been: ”Me too” business ideas rarely become great businesses. The businesses most likely to take off are created by entrepreneurs who see a need in the market that isn’t currently being met, and who figure out a way to meet that need. Now, that might mean inventing a new product, creating a new industry, or simply figuring out a better way to provide a service or bring a product to market. Think about these examples.
Apple’s recent announcement that it’s head is in the clouds with a service that makes personal documents accessible via any Apple device is one more sign that cloud computing is no longer the “wave of the future,” but instead now entering mainstream.