So I took the opportunity and about 4 months later the tour was wrapping up. Keep in mind that I began this in the summer and it had led into the fall semester of school which I was not attending. What was I going to do  for the next few months before I would start back up in the spring. Needless to say I started my company called Lifetime Reel and grew the business over two years before again returning to school. I’ll have to write a post just on those two year “dreams” my business partner and I shared.

Was I playing it by the books. Heck no! I had professionals, professors, friends parents, and others telling me and my business partner not to do it. I don’t play by the books and I never plan on coloring between the lines. I won’t follow the rules because as soon as you begin, you’ll never see the opportunities anymore. I’m not saying that all opportunities are good ones, but being able to still chase some is where I get my adrenaline

Bill Bryan, a counselor with the Northern Illinois SCORE, gives some advice:

The ultimate key to small business success is finding a niche that is not covered. If you can identify your own niche, you’ll probably do well. We are all trying to do business in an overcrowded marketplace and soft economy. The consumer is inundated with commercial messages and often does not know which way to turn. Too many choices and too many sellers compete for a buyer’s attention. It’s enough to make some folks say, “To heck with it” and stay home with their consumer dollars.

Finding a market niche — which you must defend by operating superbly and providing customer service without peer — is the secret for financial success.

When a successful baseball player was asked for the secret to his constant batting success, he replied, “I hit ‘em where they ain’t.”

SCORE has a wonderful device for teaching small business owners, or potential small business owners, many of the lessons they must absorb if they are to be successful. SCORE calls these lessons “60-Second Guides.” They can be found at www.score.org/guides. html.

So I’m 22-years-old and I’ve launched four successful businesses and created a name for myself. Here’s my point, I’ve always known that if there is a goal set then you are able to accomplish it (keep in mind that failure is never a mistake). My first year in business was so awful that I can hardly even talk about it. My business partner and I never set goals, spent lots of money on item in which we never had fund in the first place to pay for and thus getting into debt right at first. Well this was my first lesson – -  I now had a company at 20-years-old, dropped out of college and on my own, and successfully pulled my company 5 figures in the hole….nice. I began brainstorming how we were going to get back into the black and this is where my story of my life begins.

Why are there people that focus so much on the future that they miss the opportunities that place themselves right in front of their face?  I find it difficult to talk with these individuals that keep telling me that they’ll catch a break at some point. Rich Dad Poor Dad anyone? The rat race analogy. When we are faced in tight situations it is a great time to begin brainstorming and creating those ideas into realities. It’s about seeing those opportunities like I did and run with them –

Remember that failing is taking one step down a road that you’ll never go down again! It’s going to happen; get used to it.

This recession is earning a pretty reputable name. Let’s not let it get too cocky.

Now I understand that this time in our lives is something to look back on and say, “Remember that time when we thought it would never get better?” It’s so easy to get discouraged in a time when no one wants to throw around money. Trust me, I know. My company sells a high-end product to families and I can guarantee we’ve had to adjust our business model for the economic situation.

How do we see those opportunities that I was talking about in my last past? I strongly believe that this is the best time to launch a business if you’ve got a solid business model. At this time, there are so many great opportunities around every corner that are waiting to get launched by people like us. There is no age limit for success to happen for someone. We’ve all heard those stories of comfortable businessmen that hold great positions with firms deciding that there might be something better out in the world for them. They see that light of hope and opportunity and grab control of life and jump into the great world of entrepreneurialism…not quite a word but lets roll with it for a bit.

There is a long list of businesses that were started during  a recession and among them include; IHOP, Jim Henson Company, FedEx, Microsoft, Sports Illustrated, MTV, CNN, GE, and Trader Joes.

A Belfast newspaper wrote, “One of the ironies of a recession is that it has proven over previous historical periods to be a good time to launch a new business – both Microsoft and Oracle were launched and excelled as the world was in the midst of significant economic downturns,” a statement from Belfast City Council said.

This is a worldwide occasion that is placed in front of us. I’m writing this blog to get some recent thoughts so let me get through these topics before thinking I challenging everyone to go out and do something about it because I’m not. I’ve recently written a paper for a class where I argue that the time is better than ever to launch into a new venture.