Finding Your Niche

WhistleBlower

2012-02-14T13:00:00Z

No Fear Institute
The gripping graphic account of former EPA worker Dr. Maria Coleman-Adebayo, and her experience with the government agency in the 1990s after she uncovers reports of South African miners being poisoned to death by the metal they were excavating.

Dr. Coleman-Adebayo describes her work environment at the EPA as antidemocratic, stifling, racist, and sexist. It was an atmosphere similar to a 21st-century plantation, an intricate culture in which workers were controlled by a fear.

Eventually, Coleman-Adebayo sued the EPA, and she won. As a result, civil rights legislation was signed into law by the Bush administration.
And Coleman founded an organization for whistleblowers: No Fear Institute.

Lesson: Before entering an unfamiliar environment always investigate the hidden culture of that industry, company or organization.

References

http://www.booktv.org/Watch/12910/quotNo+Fear+A+Whistleblowers+Triumph+Over+Corruption+and+Retaliation+at+the+EPAquot.aspx

http://www.parentadvocates.org/nicecontent/dsp_printable.cfm?articleID=7044

http://thenofearinstitute.wordpress.com/about/dr-marsha-coleman-adebayo-biography/

Voice Work for Beginners

2012-02-09T13:00:00Z

Technology Changes Industry.
Voiceover acting is now a tech-driven home-based free-lance business, in many cases. Several years ago, you would travel to a studio to record your auditions, but today you're expected to have quality home equipment in order to create audio auditions for potential clients. Some agents will not represent you if you don't have the tools, says actor and teacher David Lawrence XVII.

Websites like Voices .com and Voices.com have sprung up offering online casting services for jobs that don't require an agent.

Tech-savvy beginners entering the field can get a USB mike for $100 or less on Amazon, but for the high-tech challenged there are costs involved in having a pro set up the software and equipment.

Lesson: When technology is introduced into an existing industry, unfamiliar or different work-related tasks, additional skills or aptitudes are normally required.

References
Vo2gogo.com

Wood, M. (2010, June 17-23). Art a la Tech: Why rehearsal cubes and a card table are no longer the only acting-class aids you'll need. Backstage.com, p. A1-A3.

Morgan Freeman

2012-02-07T13:00:00Z

Choosing Your Dream
When Morgan Freeman entered the performing arts, "movie star" was not the dream that he chose to pursue. Instead, Freeman defined his goal differently: he wanted to become a character actor.

As an African-American entering a highly competitive industry with few jobs for people of color, Morgan Freeman transformed a seemingly impossible dream into reality. How he defined his goal, becoming an award-winning actor in the process, is a teachable moment for many people searching for a niche, including potential entrepreneurs who focus their energy solely on finding a million-dollar idea.

Lesson: Combine your muse with a realistic and attainable goal to expand your opportunities.

Reference
http://www.oprah.com/own-master-class/master-class.html

Caribbean Craft

2012-02-02T13:00:00Z

Rebuilding a Niche After Disaster
Many people would probably not think of colorful paintings, exotic beads and intricate jewelry, or stylish papier-mâché giraffes, reindeer, rabbits, stylish bags or gift boxes, when they think of Haiti, but there is a thriving artistic community in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, and there always has been in one form or another.

In the 1990s, a company called Caribbean Craft was established to address the issue of high unemployment on the island. The firm exports handicrafts, made in Haiti, to stores around the globe.
Although the earthquake destroyed the factory, the founder of the company moved production into her home while the new headquarters were rebuilt. Today, some of the company's 349 artists are still living in tents, having lost their homes in the disaster, but they receive a living wage, and generous benefits including meals, medical care, and no-interest loans.

Lesson: Even in the midst of disaster and economic meltdown, using effective strategy, a business can survive and prosper.

Oprah's Next Chapter. (2012) Hope for Haiti. OWN Network

http://www.caribbean-craft.com/shop/auxpage_1/

Making Money in Hollywood

2012-01-31T13:00:00Z

Spotting a Unique Niche
In the 1970s, Rick Washburn wanted to be an actor and landed minor roles as a hitman and an FBI agent in several movies, according to business editor Paul Barrett. But Wasburn discovered that he could make a lot more money in Hollywood by using specialized knowledge from his childhood.

While growing up in Arkansas, he'd learned a lot about guns and Washburn noticed that many people on movie sets were ignorant about handling the weapons featured in movie scripts. He eventually began a service to advise directors about the proper use of firearms in films and television shows.

Lesson: Even in highly competitive industries like Hollywood, there are numerous problems waiting to be solved through the introduction of a new service or product.

References

http://thespecialistsltd.com/about-us

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/24/145640473/how-the-glock-became-americas-weapon-of-choice

RoadTrip Nation

2012-01-26T13:00:00Z

Avoiding Potholes in the Journey
Each season, the PBS program RoadTrip Nation features several college students who drive a green RV across the United States. The students visit successful people in different fields and listen to their stories of how they achieved their dreams and goals despite obstacles.

RoadTrip Nation helps students grappling with the issue of what career to choose. The program's website has an excellent array of informational interviews; including entrepreneurs. But it is clear from viewing several episodes that the concept of meeting and talking to people won't necessarily provide the answers that some students are seeking.

Consider Hannah Johnson, a participant in the eighth season, who at the end of the entire trip admits to still being unsure what career direction she should pursue. Johnson doesn't seem fully knowledgeable about all of her skills, a few of which she displayed during the season. For instance, during the first show, before meeting one of her fellow travelers and without seeing a picture of him, she's able to sketch a likeness that was stunningly accurate.

Later, during one of the stops, the students visited a woodworking shop where Johnson eagerly asks to craft an item. There is a reasonable probability that Johnson has the aptitude structural visualization, and mechanical, and creative ability, but she doesn't seem to be aware that these skills should be examined. Instead, her focus is broadcasting, a field in which she worked before being selected for the program.

A person with strong structural visualization skills needs to work in a field with tangible ideas in order to feel comfortable and excel in their activities. On the other hand, working in an occupation that's focused on less tangible concepts would not be as satisfying, and would tend to create restlessness, which Johnson exhibited after the program ended.

Lesson: Talking to people is a good way to gather ideas for a potential startup, but it's only one way. Gathering information using this method may not translate into usable ideas, especially if one isn't an auditory learner.

References
http://roadtripnation.com/watch/watch_episode.php?x=2676&s=10

http://www.jocrf.org/

Business Coaching

2012-01-24T13:00:00Z

Do's and Don'ts
Business or executive coaching is a popular solution for many aspiring entrepreneurs looking to improve their skills. However, it doesn't work for everyone.

Learning about the myths in the industry, and which people are considered poor candidates for coaching, can help create a good list of do's and don'ts before hiring a consultant.

References

The realities of executive coaching. (2009, January). See p. 4-5 . Retrieved from
http://www.instituteofcoaching.org/images/pdfs/hbr-report-executive-coaching.pdf

Myths about executive coaching.
Retrieved from http://www.leadershipconsulting.com/myths-about-executive-coaching-2.htm

The very real dangers of executive coaching. (2006). Harvard Business Review
Retrieved from http://hbr.org/2002/06/the-very-real-dangers-of-executive-coaching/ar/1

The Kindle Reader

2012-01-20T00:46:41Z

An Overlooked Market
Santa Cruz, California engineer Glenn Johnson spent several hundred dollars and countless hours before surprising his sister with a gift that would allow her to do what many other people take for granted: read. Johnson's sister has cerebral palsy and couldn't handle the buttons on a traditional Kindle. But now thanks to a determined brother the problem has been solved.

Lesson: Although the American with Disabilities act was passed in 1990, and they're almost 50 million people in the United States with disabilities, many popular services and products in the marketplace are not accessible to the disabled. This problem presents a lot of doable ideas for social businesses.

References
http://hackedgadgets.com/category/electronic-hacks/page/2/
Blog entry: January 7, 2012

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/index

http://www.infouse.com/disabilitydata/disability/1_1.php

Starting a Business

2012-01-17T13:00:00Z

Using Unemployment Benefits
Last year, President Obama included a provision in his American Jobs Act that would allow the long-term unemployed to keep their benefits and start a business. Finding Your Niche documents that a few states had this policy in place years ago, but now plans are to make the option available in every state.

Reference

http://www.microbiz.org/?s=jobs+act+for+the+unemployed

Solving A Food Problem

2012-01-14T02:24:57Z

Different Niches
According to Associated Press food editor, J.M. Hirsch, he started a blog called Lunch Box Blues to help tackle the challenge of preparing daily lunches for his young son, and then other parents began asking for advice. On the other hand, The Lunch Tray has a primary goal of reforming the food served in the Houston school system.

Lesson: Every industry has numerous problems that are experienced by different kinds of consumers, so there are many ways to create problem-solving solutions.

References

Martha Stewart. (2011, November 29). The stay-at-home dad's show.

http://www.jmhirsch.com/

www.lunchboxblues.com

http://www.thelunchtray.com/about-2/

The Business of Humor

2012-01-10T13:00:00Z

Many Niches
Whether it's marketing comedy sketches via podcasts, manufacturing or retailing gag gifts, or writing novelty humor books, the industry has countless niches. For instance, some comedians use their standup skills beyond the world of entertainment.

Consider Australian funnyman, Dave Flanagan, conducts Standup with Confidence workshops for groups of long-term unemployed in need of a boost of self-esteem. The program is offered through Australia's Service to Youth Council & the employment agency. Flanagan's program has won acclaim.

In the United States, Michael Pritchard, a former juvenile probation officer and California probation officer of the year, also won the San Francisco International Standup Comedy Competition in 1980. Pritchard went to Hollywood then eventually decided to develop videos for high school, elementary, and middle school students on the issues that impact their everyday lives. He believes that failure to address the issues that wound is at the cause of violence in our society. Pritchard speaks at colleges, schools, and conferences on a nationwide basis, using his talent for sound effects and impersonations to provoke laughter and initiate candid discussion and a message of hope.

Lesson: A seemingly simple talent, skill, or business idea can help solve complex social issues.

References

Goers, Peter. (2011, October 16). A comedian is involved in the serious business of helping the unemployed. Sunday Mail (South Australia).

Hukill, T. (2005, March). Common Ground. No child left unsmiling: comedian Michael Pritchard uses humor to teach kids about grief, pain, and how to take care of each other. p. 15-19.

http://www.michaelpritchard.com/

http://hlmedia.com/

http://www.prankpack.com/

http://www.betson.com/amusement/Novelty/

http://www.houstonclowns.com/clowns.html

http://www.dannabananas.com/

http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/def/d453220.htm

High Flying Ideas

2012-01-05T13:00:00Z

The Unexpected
Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, Rich Devos & Jay Van Andel started a number of businesses before finding their niche as the founders of Amway. Their first venture was in the aviation industry. The World War II veterans opened a flying school in Michigan, but after hiring instructors and signing up customers, they discovered there was a slight problem: the newly constructed airport had no runway, unless you counted the large mud puddles where the landing strip was supposed to be located. And contractors hadn't yet built their small office which was to be located nearby.

Lesson: Suppliers or service providers may not meet expected deadlines, so always have a backup plan.

Reference
Conn. C.P. (1978). The Possible Dream. P. 6.

Money Matters & Start-Up

2012-01-03T13:00:00Z

Potholes
Traveling salesman, Ray Albert Kroc, started the McDonald's empire after buying the name and concept from the McDonald brothers in the 1950s, but turning a profit proved to be a challenge, despite the popularity of the hamburgers.

Although Kroc sold 200 franchises within five years, and the unit's were grossing $37 million annually, his share after business expenses and licensing fees to the McDonald's was so small he had to earn money for his living expenses by selling milkshake mixers to restaurants.

Kroc had entered into a contract with the McDonald's that severely restricted how much he could charge for the hamburger franchises. Kroc eventually took on a partner with money savvy who found a way to restructure the business despite the original agreement. However, Kroc spent millions of dollars to buy his way out of the agreement with the McDonalds.

Lesson: A bad contract and a lack of business skill can ruin even a solid business idea.

Boas, M & Chain, S. (1976). Big Mac: the Unauthorized Story of McDonald's. P. 24.

Music Publishing

2011-12-29T13:00:00Z

Sweet & Sour Notes
The debut in 1999 of Napster, the file sharing website, proved disastrous for many in the music publishing business, says Peer Music executive, Kathy Spanberger, "I call it the crash."

Widespread use of file sharing websites caused record sales to drop and companies began firing workers and instituting hiring freezes. Ten years later, the whole industry is still undergoing a change in response. Before Napster debuted, artists and songwriters could get substantial advances for their work, but not today. "Many songwriters can't get deals... or [have] left the business," says Spanberger.

In the industry's heyday, releasing a debut song by a group like Nsync might sell 2.5million records, but today you would be lucky to sell 100,000 copies, according to an ABC news report.

Music publishers earn their profits in many ways. For instance, they grant licenses for the right to produce their compositions on CD, DVD, etc., a source of revenue that significantly dried up. Furthermore, film companies cut their budgets for music on films another revenue stream.

But some publishers have stayed in business despite challenging times by buying music catalogues from other companies and focusing on licensing their music for the TV industry and commercials.

Lesson: New ideas and technology will always change the nature of an industry in some shape or form. Sometimes the changes are severe, but companies that survive are those that can problem solve creatively and defensively.

References:

Butler, S. (2008, January 19). The Billboard Q & A. Billboard. p 21.

Music industry segment. ABC World News Now (2011, December 19).

Entertainment Law & New Media, Foothill College.

http://www.wordnik.com/words/music%20catalog

Apprenticeship

2011-12-27T13:00:00Z

Learning by Doing
The reality program The Apprentice has been on the air for seven years, but the concept is centuries old. Apprenticeship was an accepted method of learning a skill. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci apprenticed out at age 14 to a famous artist.

An aspiring entrepreneur might consider the idea to learn about an industry through personal observation and on-the-job training. There are many established apprenticeship programs, but independently finding a veteran business owner willing to teach an assistant is an idea worth serious consideration.

References
http://www.doleta.gov/oa/apprentices.cfm
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Employers/The-benefits.aspx

Seasons Greetings

2011-12-25T13:00:00Z

Happy Holidays!

Murphy's Law

2011-12-22T13:00:00Z

High Flying Plans
Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, Rich Devos & Jay Van Andel started diverse businesses before finding their niche as the founders of Amway. Their first venture was in the aviation industry. The World War II veterans opened a flying school in Michigan, but after hiring instructors and signing up customers, they discovered there was a slight problem: the newly constructed airport had no runway, unless you counted the large mud puddle where the landing strip was supposed to be located. And contractors hadn't yet built their small office which was to be located nearby.

Lesson: Suppliers or service providers may not meet deadlines as promised, regardless of the industry involved. Always have a backup plan.

Reference
Conn. C.P. (1978). The Possible Dream.

Elouise Cobell

2011-12-20T13:00:00Z

Social Activism
Elouise Cobell grew up hearing stories about how the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian affairs shortchanged property owners. Native Americans were not being paid for the use of their land as had been agreed upon under a trust agreement with the federal government. Meanwhile, non-Indians were leasing the land and profiting from oil, timber, and crop revenues.

Cobell eventually became an accountant and then a treasurer for the Blackfeet Nation. When she tried repeatedly but failed to get an explanation from the Bureau of Indian affairs regarding monies owed, she filed a federal class-action suit on behalf of more than 300,000 Indians who owned land but weren't being compensated for the use of the resources.

It took 15 years, but she eventually won a settlement of $3.4 billion.

Lesson: Using an ordinary skill to help correct an enormous wrong.

References:

http://www.reznetnews.org/article/cobell-settlement-notifications-begin-hundred-thousands-expected-benefit-0

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/us/elouise-cobell-65-dies-sued-us-over-indian-trust-funds.html

The Business of Books 2011

2011-12-15T13:00:00Z

The Pitfalls of Statistics
Editor Sarah Weinman of publishers marketplace discusses the industry's hits and misses for the year. It's an important overview for aspiring entrepreneurs who are considering entering the industry in one form or another. Weinman also explains why sales figures for traditional versus electronic books may be biased and inaccurate.

Lesson: Regardless of the industry, always double-check the source of the statistical information before making a decision using good or bad sales figures.

Reference
http://www.booktv.org/Program/13104/2011+Year+in+Books.aspx

Starting a Restaurant on a Shoestring

2011-12-13T13:00:00Z

The Great Food Truck Race
The second season of Food Network TVs program is inspiring many budding restaurant owners short of cash to ease into the industry by starting with a food truck. However, it's a crowded field, and unless a prospective entrepreneur has an angle or is planning to work for someone else who's already in the business, it's a highly competitive niche. Rules and regulations vary depending on the state involved.

References

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2011/08/12/tyler-florence-dishes-on-the-new-season-of-food-trucks/

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-18/strategy/30292697_1_food-truck-mobile-eateries-perfect-lobster-roll

http://www.dc.gov/DC/DCRA/For+Business/Apply+for+a+Business+License/How+to+Start+a+Mobile+Food+Truck+Business