Question "I'd love to start a new business, but I don't have a great idea. What kind of business should I start?"
You don't need a perfect innovative idea to start a business, but research has shown that most successful ventures come from gaps in the marketplace or from ideas that solve problems that people have personally encountered. Let me tell you a wonderfully true story about how a successful company got its start because one woman couldn't find the perfect Christmas gift for her niece. Not so long ago, there was a nice aunt named Pleasant, who searched all around the Midwest for a nice doll to give her young niece. All she found were Barbies and other commercial knock-off dolls, but none she felt were special enough for the child. Alas, finding a market niche that wasn't being filled, she created a company that made the kind of doll she envisioned for her niece. Not only does her company offer historical dolls with names like Kirsten, Samantha and Molly, but it also offers books, clothes, toy furniture, jewelry, computer software and magazines to go with them. That's right, this is the story about how the American Girls Collection was created. The nice aunt named Pleasant, is Pleasant Rowland, founder of the Pleasant Company. Her company supplies young girls age 7 to 12 not only with wonderful dolls, but with a whole mini-culture that teaches young girls about the lives of young American girls growing up in various eras of our country's past. We're at the start of a new year ... time to take stock and decide what you can do to make your life healthier, wealthier and wiser. Maybe starting your own business is what you need, so look around for opportunities or gaps in the marketplace that need to be filled. The second point I want to make is that people are successful if they are doing what they truly love. You also need to ask yourself what you want out of life and what type of business would satisfy your lifestyle. Is your goal to earn millions of dollars or is your goal to be able to pay the rent and have more flexibility in your life? These are two very different goals and require varying degrees of commitment and effort. When pondering your New Year's Resolutions, ask yourself some soul-searching questions from Courtney Price's book, Courtney Price Answers The Most Asked Questions From Entrepreneurs. - What do you like to do?
- What are your interests and hobbies?
- What are your areas of expertise?
- Do you have any special skills or talents?
- What industry interests you?
- What are your financial needs?
- How much financial risk are you willing to take?
- Would you be more comfortable with running a small business with few employees or a larger business with many employees?
- How many years do you want to work? Will your current physical condition withstand the pressures and stresses that come with starting a new business? Where do you want to live and work? How many hours are you willing to work?
Once you have assessed your strengths and interests, you'll be ready to narrow down the field of possible businesss opportunities and choose one that is a good match for you. > See also: Starting a Business | 
