I was busily working on my book revisions when a call came in on Skype from my daughter. \u00a0Jennie called to ask me to settle a mother\/daughter dispute. It seems that Jennie had told 4 1\/2 year old Zoe that when she was a little girl she\u2019d made books and went door to door selling them to our neighbors. Zoe loved the idea and promptly recognized a hot business opportunity right on her street. It was also a natural for this pint-sized artist. Jennie wasn\u2019t comfortable with the idea, being new in the neighborhood and all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I listened to both sides (although Zoe was more whiney than persuasive) of the story, then suggested to Zoe that she sell to people she already knew. \u201cI\u2019d buy one,\u201d I said. \u201cHow much is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zoe perked right up. \u201cZero dollars,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
I suggested she rethink her pricing. We finally decided that $3.00 would be the right price. \u201cI bet Margaret and Jim and Becky would each buy one, too,\u201d I said, committing my siblings who didn\u2019t even know about this fabulous product we were envisioning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then I asked Zoe if she took checks or credit cards, or if this was a cash only business. Jennie chimed in and said they weren\u2019t set up for credit card sales. I said\u00a0 that was not a problem and I\u2019d tuck $3.00 into Zoe\u2019s Valentine.<\/p>\n
Then Jennie asked, \u201cWould you like to have it mailed or would you prefer to wait and pick it up when you visit us in a couple of weeks?\u201d I said I\u2019d be happy to wait. \u201cOh, Zoe,\u201d she said, \u201cshe\u2019s saving you shipping and handling.\u201d Zoe broke into a big grin as if I\u2019d done her a huge favor. She went off to begin production.<\/p>\n
So here\u2019s what Zoe learned that timid people ten times her age haven\u2019t figured out yet. In order to start a business, all you need to do is:<\/p>\n
1) find a product\/service you love<\/p>\n
2) then find your first customer<\/p>\n
Now you\u2019re in business. Period. Begun. Open. Then just do it again. And again.<\/p>\n
*****************<\/p>\n
Zoe’s too young for teleclassses, of course, (and she gets free consulting from Grandma Vegas whenever she wants) but you’re probably just the right age. \u00a0Want to learn \u00a0how to generate a steady stream of good ideas? Join Alice Barry and me for Better Than Brainstorming<\/em> on Wednesday, February 18, 8-9:30 PM Eastern.\u00a0<\/p>\n The following week, I’m on my own for Outsmarting Resistance<\/em> (which Zoe wouldn’t need yet) on Monday, \u00a0February 23, followed by I Hate Marketing<\/em> on Wednesday, February 25. Both teleclasses are at 8-9:30 PM Eastern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was busily working on my book revisions when a call came in on Skype from my daughter. \u00a0Jennie called to ask me to settle a mother\/daughter dispute. It seems that Jennie had told 4 1\/2 year old Zoe that when she was a little girl she\u2019d made books and went door to door selling…<\/p>\n