Posts Tagged ‘business concept’

Think and Profit Outside the Box, but How?

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Don’t let the title fool you. I am desperately trying to think outside the box so I can profit online and off, especially nowadays with the future so uncertain. I always try to think in ways that may be somewhat unusual, but how to make it pay off is another matter. It’s a daunting challenge to try and develop a business concept these days and hope it will become a huge smash online. But, I will never quit trying. I have friends, one in particular, who has developed his great idea into a concrete business. It allows users to do what they already do everyday, and it even goes so far as to share a very generous portion of its profits, all with stunning simplicity. It has such a benevolent and generous mindset. But, here we go again: how do you convey this to the average struggling Joe and Josephine out there? Good question and then some.

I figure if I just vent, maybe the way will appear right in front of my eyes. You really never know. And, while so many business ventures, no matter how good they are on paper or in the source code, just never go anywhere, I do know that you can’t win if you don’t play (apologies to the lottery industry). And, if you are tenacious and refuse to give up, well, you just might have a shot. A long one, but a shot nonetheless.

Are the odds stacked against you making a decent monthly income online from the comfort of your own home? Maybe, because not only have the Internet business giants already pretty much swallowed everything whole, they were also the first movers, which is a distinct advantage that’s very hard to completely calculate. Once people’s habits are entrenched, it is very hard to change them, no matter how noble your new business concept is. Also, there are countless everyday folks trying to do the same thing my friends and I are trying to do. So, the paradox is simply that while the Net levels the playing field to a certain extent in that anyone can give any venture a go, that many more would-be entrepreneurs are in direct competition with each other. And, who has the advertising budget to compete with all of them, let alone the big boys? If you’re going to make it, you must carve out that elusive niche, give it all you’ve got, and hope like holy whatever that you get lucky.

But, you’ve got to dare to dream. If you don’t, will you just give up and go away? I’ve certainly thought about it a number of times, especially in the last 10 years, but I have to tell you, my dreams simply won’t die. I won’t let them.  I will keep being that irrepressible dreamer that’s haunted me since forever. I’ve been a huge long-time fan of James Thurber’s Walter Mitty and Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. These characters’ mantra was: “Dream till you puke!” That absolutely rings true with me. Just call me “Don Quixmitty,” if you please.

Grant Brad Gerver is a retired teacher and musician who writes on a variety of topics.  Have something to sell?  Get a free local classified ad listing at Filibi.com.  No extra charge for special features or popular categories.  Have more than one item to sell?  Get unlimited online classified advertising for one low price.  No final value fees.