Do you have an idea for a business that you think could
change the world? Join the club! Self-employment, entrepreneurship and social
enterprise are hugely popular these days – among recent college grads wanting to
make their mark, Baby Boomers looking for a more satisfying career change, moms
and dads who want to stay at home with their children, and all sorts of people
who want to deliver goods or services for a social purpose.
And most of these folks have an eye on doing something that’s
green – sustainability consulting, carbon offsets, home energy audits,
bio-fuels, wind power, organic food, natural baby products or a vegetarian
restaurant. No matter what sort of product or service you want to sell, and how
big or small your ambition is for your enterprise, some common principles apply.
Your unique business idea
What is your unique idea or unique twist on an existing idea? And what makes it
different from all the others? Is it better, cheaper, not available in your
area, more fun, more reliable?
The benefit to your customers
Forget about the benefit to you (which will, we hope, be fame and fortune, or at
least independence and satisfaction). Your eye should be on how other people or
businesses will benefit from your new enterprise...and if those prospective
customers will value what you are offering enough to pay what you have to
charge. That information will provide you with your marketing focus and a way to
measure your success.
Why you?
You will need some basic business skills (or the ability to pay others who have
them), money (at least enough to pay both your living and business expenses for
at least a year if you’re jumping in full-time), knowledge of and passion for
your business idea, some risk tolerance, the ability to sell (either yourself or
your product/service), good health and physical stamina, the ability to learn
quickly and on the fly, ability to deal with stress, determination...
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Wendy Priesnitz, is Natural Life’s
co-founder and editor. She helped pioneer the home business movement in the
1980s, taught and coached micro business owners for over 20 years, wrote a
weekly small business column for 10 years and is the author of
Bringing It Home: A Home Business Start-Up Guide for You
and Your Family. Read some of her
articles
about home-based, small and green businesses.