Believe it or not, it’s a great time to start a business. Have you considered becoming an entrepreneur? Don’t let CNN or Fox News be your conscience. And don’t let them scare you. As a country we are living in challenging times, but we are still living in the land of opportunity. And becoming a business owner is still a viable option for anyone who has the courage to take an idea and create income for them self and their family.

As an entrepreneur, I can tell you that it is very rewarding. I don’t have the largest coaching practice and I don’t get to speak as often as I like right now, but through consistency, determination and hard work, my business is growing. It’s Saturday night. And as I think about the many job seekers I get the opportunity to help, for some, starting their own business is the solution. For others, finding a job is the right solution. I don’t attempt to make the decision for my clients or for you as a reader. But I do want to pose the option to you.

Think about this, there are entrepreneurs who start businesses from interesting ideas. Today, as I watched television, I saw Bobby Flay on the Food Channel do a Throwdown with a couple in New York who opened a restaurant around incredibly good pancakes (no I have not tried them, but I trust Bobby Flay). How many of you had pancakes this morning? Or maybe Sunday morning? My first thought was wow, these people took a food item that most of us take for granted, we enjoy them and we go on. This couple took blueberry pancakes and opened a restaurant/bakery with a simple, delicious breakfast food.

Jason Alba, author of “I’m on LinkedIn, Now What?” began his company JibberJobber out of frustration with his job search about three years ago. He used his strength and knowledge of computers and databases and created a tool for job seekers to track their job search. He started with a notebook and now he has a successful business, two books and speaking engagements. And he was looking for a job when he started.

A friend of mine started a painting business while he was in college. Why? Because he wanted to start a business. He knew nothing about painting when he began. He learned after he got his first contract, and now he makes over $100K per year in the painting business and that is not even his primary job.

I can go on. My point tonight is to challenge you to think about what you know how to do. What you have a passion for, and how can you take that knowledge, skill or ability and turn it into a profitable business? One of the first things that I learned from my painter friend, is to just get out there and do something. If you don’t know what you’re doing when you start, do it anyway and ask questions later. Just something for you to think about tonight.

Jhobbie: Something created when a Boomer turns his/her hobby into a job. The jhobbie brings in some supplementary income and gives the Boomer an excuse to follow his bliss. What hobbies do you have that you can turn into a business? Despite the economy people are starting businesses every day. As a Baby Boomer, you might want to consider becoming an entrepreneur if you can’t find a job in this market.

How do you take a hobby and turn it into a Jhobbie?
1. Do some research on your potential business

2. Identify potential customers

3. If startup cash is limited, Identify ways you can start your business on a shoestring budget - it can be done

4. Write a business plan so that you have clear vision for your business

5. Network, Network, Network with other entrepreneurs

6. Order business cards

7. Get your business incorporated

8. Start selling your product

9. Talk about your new business venture with others

10. Get creative and have fun!

These are 10 steps to help you get started and move from concept or hobby to generating an income. There are so many other things you need to take care of if you are serious about starting your own business. Don’t get hung up on the economy. You can make your business work if you make the commitment to go after your business. If you believe you cant’ you’re right. But the converse is equally correct. If you think you can, you’re right again. Go for it, and come back and share your Jhobbie with me and the others here at bizzia.com.

Note: Carol Perry, with AWA Wealth Management in Nevada, has compiled a number of neologisms (a newly invented word or phrase) for the Nevada Appeal, Jhobbie is one of those neologisms.

To be successful as a freelancer—or as an entrepreneur of any kind—you have to stand out from the pack. It takes ingenuity, creativity, dedication, and perseverance to turn the run-of-the-mill into a stand-out-in-a-crowd business.

Over the years, businesses along the “Mother Road,” also known as the old Route 66, have learned about flourishing in the good times and persevering through the bad.

Pops
Arcadia, Oklahoma

Whether they call it pop or soda or “coke,” the 66-foot-tall neon bottle makes Route 66 travelers call time out for a pit stop just northeast of Oklahoma City. Technically, Pops is a gas station with a restaurant in it. But there’s nothing ordinary about this place, from the futuristic gas pumps to the 500+ flavors of pop—including 60 varieties of root beer alone—displayed by the thousands on glass shelves. This place catches the traveler’s eye and turns a routine into a fun experience. In order to have a successful freelance career, you want to put 60 different skills on display in an eye-catching way to wow a variety of clients.
Cadillac Ranch
Amarillo, Texas

Ever since Texas millionaire Stanley Marsh 3 created this public art installation in the 1970s, travelers from all over the world have been stopping to spray a little paint on these decrepit old Caddies. And when development began competing for the land they were on, he just moved the cars to a better location. Now they’re right off the Interstate, perfect for an impromptu graffiti stop. You might have to change your approach, your thinking, and sometimes your location to catch the attention of potential onlookers, or clients.
Yellowhorse Trading Post
Lupton, Arizona, at the New Mexico State Line

Trading posts are advertised at many exits along this stretch of I-40. Frank Yellowhorse, a Navajo, made a name for himself many years ago with his interesting signage and his genuine passion for making sure vacationers enjoyed their stop. Yellowhorse was friendly, always put the customer first, and made sure their experience was good enough to make them come back again and again.

Frontier Motel and Restaurant
Truxton, Arizona

This mural, advertising the cafe at the Frontier Motel, is often photographed, but the town itself is one of the veritable ghost towns along the stretch of Route 66 that was bypassed by the construction of the Interstate (as depicted in the Disney/Pixar film Cars.) Be prepared to weather the tough times, and you might have to restore your sign along the way.

Jack Rabbit Trading Post
Joseph City, Arizona

After Jim Taylor started this place in 1949, he needed to differentiate himself from the other trading posts along the route. His trademark signs, featuring that alluring, iconic jackrabbit, were placed all the way to Missouri. Back then travelers spent days and days on that road, seeing those signs all along the way, without necessarily knowing what it even was. When they reached the sign that said “Here It Is,” guess what—they stopped to find out! Selling yourself, or your brand, is about generating buzz and making potential customers curious about exactly what it is you have to offer.
Snow Cap Drive-In
Seligman, Arizona

Juan Delgadillo’s sense of humor and crazy antics made his place famous worldwide. People from all over the world have traveled thousands of miles to open this door (which knob?) and get squirted with fake mustard before diving into a basket of fries or an ice cream cone. His son carries on the tradition today, and he’s good in his own right at making you feel like part of something special. Regardless of whether it’s about making hamburgers or serving ice cream—or providing a freelance service—the Delgadillos have understood for years that it’s the element of surprise, the unexpected touch of going well above and beyond, that makes a experience legendary.

All of these photographs were taken recently, and these businesses truly have stood the test of time—even after the Interstate system passed them by. To me, it’s a good metaphor for today’s times. Freelancers and entrepreneurs today definitely will need to stay on their toes to keep the Information Superhighway from passing them by.

What are your ideas for making sure the Information Superhighway doesn’t bypass you?

Photo credits: Shelley DeLuca

Thanks (again) to Joe Wikert and his link to an article at Entrepreneur.com called: How to ‘Invent’ Your Book. If you’re just starting to think about getting a book written, this is a great overview… in fact, it’s a good article for anyone involved in writing a book.

In the shameless self-promo department, I coach writers about books and am offering a Visioning to help you ground your book so it’s easier to write and will truly express what you want to say.

Feel free to contact me with any questions at all.

Write well and often,

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