Watch the trends - Create Opportunities

Hands up if you already know that you want to start a business BUT you don't have an idea? Ah yes, at least a handful. I often meet young people through my seminars and workshops who already know that they want to have their own business ("someday") but they haven't yet found that idea to move ahead on. Well, here is some help - watch the trends. Start looking at the statistics about what is happening out there, because that is where opportunity lies. What do I mean? Well below is a statistic I read in BRW recently - benign enough yes, but for the entrepreneur it is a light bulb flashing PICK ME! Have a read.....

Financial Planners Wanted
Australia will need 3000 new financial planners in the next 12 months to cope with growing demands for financial advice, particularly from baby boomers heading for retirement, according to Brisbane’s Griffith University. BRW June 2007

So if you are any way financially inclined then perhaps start training yourself up, and start your own financial planning business. Just you first, and then because of your awesome service and results for your customers you will need to get more people involved as demand for your services grow. And before you know it this trend you noticed as turned into a full blown business. Just like you have always wanted!!!

So what trends have you noticed lately that is a flashing lightbulb to budding young entrepreneurs?

Innovation & Adoption

Ever wondered why some inventions and innovations are adopted or taken on by the mainstream quicker than others? Or perhaps you are working on an idea, prototype or service that is going to be brand new for the market, and you need to work out the best approach to get the market interested in the first place, and then of course getting it MAINSTREAM so everyone wants it! Well I have just come across this great doc that explains the ADOPTION process, or "model of diffusion" if you want the technical term!
http://www.enabling-change.com.au/Summary_Diffusion_Theory.pdf
This not only goes through the teory but gives some really great tips on marketing. For your early adopters, who you have to hook 1st, you need to:
- Get up close and personal with them, through face to face meetings and presentations
- Allow them to experiment and play with the innovation, or allow them to trial it or see it in action
- Get some exposure and attention for those that are adopting the new innovation, showing how "ahead of the pack" they are
- Get regular feedback from them and have them feel like they are part of the ongoing innovation process
- Make them feel very special, build that relationship, give them attention & soon they will start to be your advocates that mean your innovation is that much closer to mainstream adoption!

So all you have to do now is work out who are your early adopters? Find them, target them, hook them and then use them!