| The daily news of doom and gloom about the current | | | | on your top 5 business ideas. Also look for potential |
| recession and the financial challenges facing the world | | | | role models of women who have already built a |
| might convince you that now is not the best of times | | | | successful business in these areas. You might want |
| for a mom to start a business. But despite the hard | | | | contact them later to ask for an information interview |
| times, many moms are doing just that. | | | | to find out more about the ins and outs of a specific |
| After all, if you have been let go or can't find a job in | | | | business. |
| the current economy, what have you really got to lose | | | | 4. Now, based on the information you've collected, |
| by starting your own business now? Why not chase | | | | write a short summary of your business ideas and the |
| your own dreams, rather than be dependent on | | | | potential income for each. Be sure to include the links |
| another employer? Why not just take control of the | | | | to resource sites, books, and the role models you've |
| helm yourself? | | | | found. Think of these as a short pitch you might make |
| Because if you have a computer, a network of | | | | to an investor to get them interested in your idea. |
| contacts and some marketable skills, you can launch | | | | 5. Assemble a focus group: people you trust who will |
| your business from home with very little money and | | | | support you in your entrepreneurial efforts and who will |
| use your passion and sweat equity to make it a | | | | give you good feedback and advice. Do a |
| success. | | | | presentation of your business summaries to them and |
| But first, you need to do some planning and scheming | | | | ask for their input. Do not dismiss any of their ideas or |
| to find the best business for you. Here's some tips to | | | | comments. Just listen to what they say and write |
| get you started: | | | | everything down for further review later. |
| 1. Make a list of your current assets. Include equipment | | | | Note: It's best to select people who are already |
| like computers, printers, and cell phones; skills like writing, | | | | successfully self-employed themselves. You want a |
| editing, web design, organizing; expertise with software | | | | nurturing and informed group of people to help you |
| programs and computers; a list of your network of | | | | evaluate your ideas. People who have never been |
| personal and industry contacts; and the amount of | | | | self-employed often have negative and unfounded |
| capital you could invest in your business. | | | | ideas about starting a business and will project their |
| 2. Brainstorm ideas for the kind of business you want | | | | fears to you. |
| to start. Don't edit the ideas as you write them down, | | | | 6. Finally, review all the information and input you've |
| just keep going and list as many as you can. Then put | | | | selected and choose the business you want to start. |
| the list away for a day and come back to it and then | | | | The best business for you will usually be the one that |
| pick the top 5 ideas that excite you the most. | | | | intersects on your points of passion, skills, and |
| 3. Do some Internet research using Google and | | | | resources. |
| Amazon to find web sites, books, and blogs that focus | | | | |