Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Rachel Rifat had global dreams. "I was going to be the divaof international trade between China and the United States,"the 29-year-old recalls. But after getting her degree ininternational relations from the University of Southern Californiain 1997, a round of job interviews with corporate America leftRifat feeling, well, uninspired. "I wasn't very thrilledwith the offers," she says.
In search of an alternative of the entrepreneurial variety,Rifat took cues from her dog, Miles. "I was in the kitchen oneday eating a fortune cookie, and Miles looked up at me like`Please, share the wealth,' " Rifat recalls.Considering her retired racing greyhound's sensitive stomach,she opted to read Miles the fortune instead of feeding him thetreat--and her business concept was born.
The beneficiaries of Rifat's quirky idea? The satisfiedhounds nationwide who feast on her Foo Man Chews, the fortunecookies for dogs. Among the fortunes composed by Rifat: "Youwill soon receive a scratch behind the ear," "When thecat's away, rejoice" and "Good things come to thosewho sit."
The rest of this article is locked.
Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.
Already have an account? Sign In