Inspiration

[janullrich]

Folks. Is anybody in or has being in a similar situation beforehand. I have a safe job but would dearly like to start off my own tourism business. My problem is first of all getting my a**e in gear and getting my ideas and going to the next stage. I simply don't know where to go next or where to start, where to network, where to get funding, who to bounce off ideas etc. I would be interested to hear of anyone who has experienced a similar type of situation or anyone else for their thoughts

[FusionNet]

Hello,

I am part of the risky job people, the self employed... Can I ask you first up, is there any way you could persue your dream while retaining your secure position as this would be a huge competitve advantage? Can you explain deeper your actual work situation?

[conolan]

Obviously you can bounce ideas here and you'll get feedback.
Remember, most GOOD IDEAS aren't.
The best thing that can happen is that someone here finds a fatal flaw in your idea before you leave your secure job.
Also find some hard-nosed, once bitten twice shy individual with the diplomatic finesse of a steamroller, and put your idea to that person. Then try someone else, then someone else.
If it still flies, then maybe you have something.

[JohnThomas09]

Originally Posted by conolan

Also find some hard-nosed, once bitten twice shy individual with the diplomatic finesse of a steamroller, and put your idea to that person

i don't agree with this as a lot of people already in business shoot down ideas that make it in the business world.

Last year,Natalie Ellis brought her idea of a non spill Dog's bowl onto Dragons Den.The Dragons didn't take to her idea and didn't like her business plan of targeting the America market.James Cann told her:'Amercia is the graveyard for British business so I can't invest.'

She left the Den with no investment and went ahead with her idea.Her business has rocked ever since and she recently sold a Non spill Dog bowl to President Obama.Check out her website: http://www.roadrefresher.com/index.php

My advice is anything possible if you want it enough.Best of luck on your venture.

[Hammertime]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas09

i don't agree with this as a lot of people already in business shoot down ideas that make it in the business world.

Last year,Natalie Ellis brought her idea of a non spill Dog's bowl onto Dragons Den.The Dragons didn't take to her idea and didn't like her business plan of targeting the America market.James Cann told her:'Amercia is the graveyard for British business so I can't invest.'

She left the Den with no investment and went ahead with her idea.Her business has rocked ever since and she recently sold a Non spill Dog bowl to President Obama.Check out her website: http://www.roadrefresher.com/index.php

My advice is anything possible if you want it enough.Best of luck on your venture.

For every lottery winner there is a million others who bought tickets ........

[JohnThomas09]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

For every lottery winner there is a million others who bought tickets ........

she didn't win the lotto.

[Hammertime]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas09

she didn't win the lotto.

she did, she's the 1 in a million who make it

[JohnThomas09]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

she did, she's the 1 in a million who make it

theres a lot more than that made it.Did you ever hear the story of the Fermanagh man who started quarrying stone on his land and delivering it with a tractor&trailer,they all said he would never make a go of it but I think he has done ok for himself.You might know of him:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seán_Quinn

[Hammertime]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas09

theres a lot more than that made it.Did you ever hear the story of the Fermanagh man who started quarrying stone on his land and delivering it with a tractor&trailer,they all said he would never make a go of it but I think he has done ok for himself.You might know of him:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seán_Quinn

with respect, your completely missing the point here.

We can all talk about the one man who made it. Its the other 10,000 who didn't make it and lost everything in the process that no-one remembers.

And getrting back to the original point the dragins quite often don't invest as the business is not scaleable enough to justify them spending their time o it. Thats doesn't mean it won't make a million euro for the inventor. It just means that its not got enough positives going for it to justify spending the money and the time on the project.

You can have the best idea ever, but if your an idiot in business no amount of money invested in the product will change that.

[JohnThomas09]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

with respect, your completely missing the point here.

We can all talk about the one man who made it. Its the other 10,000 who didn't make it and lost everything in the process that no-one remembers.

And getrting back to the original point the dragins quite often don't invest as the business is not scaleable enough to justify them spending their time o it. Thats doesn't mean it won't make a million euro for the inventor. It just means that its not got enough positives going for it to justify spending the money and the time on the project.

You can have the best idea ever, but if your an idiot in business no amount of money invested in the product will change that.

ya i agree with you.I was simply using the Dragons Den story as a bit of inspiration for the OP.Negative thinking isn't a great way of starting out.as the saying goes 'Winners never quit and quitters never win'.I wouldn't want the OP to be put off by the current econmic climate.

[MOH]

Originally Posted by JohnThomas09

ya i agree with you.I was simply using the Dragons Den story as a bit of inspiration for the OP.Negative thinking isn't a great way of starting out.as the saying goes 'Winners never quit and quitters never win'.I wouldn't want the OP to be put off by the current econmic climate.

Negative thinking isn't great, realistic thinking is.
Just because you have a great idea for a new business/product, doesn't mean you should drop everything and run with it. People generally tend to see their own ideas through rose-tinted glasses, and sometimes don't like being told that their proposal isn't viable. By all means, if you're told it won't work, and you've done a rigorous analysis and looked at it objectively and still think it's a winner, go with it.
But sometimes you're better off passing, you could have an even better idea down the road that's a real opportunity, which you'd never have had if you'd thrown it all away on the first one.

[TheEntrepreneur]

As Duncan Bannatyne said "Ideas are a dime a dozen, most people have great ideas, but the effort it takes to put that idea into practice is what scares people off."

If you read his second book "Wake Up And Change Your Life", he basically reveals a few myths about new businesses and goes through the barriers why some people don't go for it. The stats are not as bad as people would have you believe. I firmly believe that "Anyone can do it" - some people just don't want it badly enough.

Relating to fitness again, (spot my hobby ? ) most people say "I'd love to be thin or I'd love to have that body" - then when they know the tools required to go and get it, they shy away from it. People like dreaming but they don't like the effort required. Anyone could be in great shape if they wanted to, but it required hard work and dedication that few people can match. The same goes for starting a business. Same work ethic is required in a different way and of course, the more contacts or financial clout you have, the easier it will be.

That's why weight watchers or pilates class for women are such a success; group of people in similar situation bonding like a team to strive for the common goal of looking better/losing weight/being healthier.

Anyone can start a business and anyone can learn what needs to be done in business just by reading and researching, you need to make sure you want it enough and it can provide for you the way you want it to. Successful people have told me that. I believe them.

[janullrich]

Interesting reading Entrepreneur. Thanks for that. I 100% agree with u. I am living in my comfort zone and need a kick up the behind to get me going.

[Sonnenblumen]

Originally Posted by TheEntrepreneur

Anyone can start a business and anyone can learn what needs to be done in business just by reading and researching, you need to make sure you want it enough and it can provide for you the way you want it to.

Forgetting about micro-lifestyle or Momma Poppa enterprises, this logic might be OK from a theoretical perspective perhaps, but in reality this is a gross oversimplification of what is involved. Why are more people employed than self employed? Is it (a) can't read (b) not interested (c) don't know (d) unsustainable?

The real success behind the many 'how to books....' is that it appeals to 'suckers' all the time, looking for an easy route to success and the value here is to author/publishers not the readers. Enterprise, dedication/Commitment but ultimately good Business acumen are what drives businesses forward. Know how, smart how and do how. But if you're not making margin no matter how much you might love it, well you're fooling yourself!

There are plenty of businesses busy doing nothing ie operating on acute margins, what's the point? Smart businesses are proactive not reactive, the books are full of reactive 'tips', but the horse is gone by then.

[TheEntrepreneur]

Originally Posted by Sonnenblumen

Forgetting about micro-lifestyle or Momma Poppa enterprises, this logic might be OK from a theoretical perspective perhaps, but in reality this is a gross oversimplification of what is involved. Why are more people employed than self employed? Is it (a) can't read (b) not interested (c) don't know (d) unsustainable?

The real success behind the many 'how to books....' is that it appeals to 'suckers' all the time, looking for an easy route to success and the value here is to author/publishers not the readers. Enterprise, dedication/Commitment but ultimately good Business acumen are what drives businesses forward. Know how, smart how and do how. But if you're not making margin no matter how much you might love it, well you're fooling yourself!

There are plenty of businesses busy doing nothing ie operating on acute margins, what's the point? Smart businesses are proactive not reactive, the books are full of reactive 'tips', but the horse is gone by then.

You're just being negative.

I know people who credit a lot of their business knowledge and business acumen as successful entrepreneurs to business books and self help books so I have no idea what you are talking about, yes the books may apply to suckers also but it's the people who take the advice on board and do something about it as opposed to just letting it go in one ear and out the other. Did you miss my point about fitness ? Most people want to look good or want to have a good body, but let's be honest here, most people are not bothered enough about what they want to go and do something about it. They are lazy/too busy with other stuff/happy the way they are/insert anything you like here because it makes no difference, the people that do things always do things and the people that don't always do things just do what suits them whether they want to do it or not. Apply the same logic to smokers, they know it's going to kill them but they put it off and smoke anyway, are you one of these individuals ? If you think about it, you can apply the same thought process to almost every aspect of human life, people know if they cheat, they'll feel bad and probably get caught, yet they go and do it. Am I over simplifying things ? Maybe I am but that is because a lot of it is common sense. But the whole point of business in the first place is to make a profit. Most people are just happy enough doing what they are doing and that is absolutely fine.

Plus, I said this:

you need to make sure you want it enough and it can provide for you the way you want it to.

So your ramblings about tight margins and struggling businesses does not apply to what I wrote.

I wouldn't be so quick to put down small businesses or mom and pop enterprises either as a successful business in my eyes is not solely defined by how much money the business provides or how big it is or how many people work there, there is a lot more to it than that. A successful business in my eyes is one that makes the owners happy, provides for them and allows them to have a life they want to live i.e. provides a successful, fruitful life in all respects not just by monetary gain or the watch on your wrist.

Plus everyone has to start somewhere. It's not like Microsoft just fell out of Bill Gates arse.