Great Job,Coach!
I just read your recent article in this month's issue, "IDid It My Way" ("Success Coach," August). Veryinformative and interesting. I am 52 years young and have neverowned a business . . . yet. I have recently invented a piece oftraining equipment for football players. I am nervously workingtoward starting my own business that will manufacture and sell thisequipment directly to football teams.
Everyone around me, friends and family, looks at me with a lotof skepticism and little support. They don't come out and sayit, but I know they are thinking there's no way in hell I amgoing to pull this off. But I know I will. I am taking baby stepseach and every day. Each day I have a task to complete that adds tothe final goal.
I will buy Wolter's book and read it from cover to cover.Thanks for sharing his advice with us readers.
Larry Murphy
Via e-mail
I love Romanus Wolter's work. He really gets it, andhe's so inspiring. Thank you for sharing his passion with therest of us as we climb up that hill.
My [own] passions are leading me into my own cookbook and TVshow, Gourmates. I was feeling low after a long divorce, and I kindof lost my get-go, but after reading a few of Wolter's columns,I've been motivated again. Keep it coming!
Ava Ashley
www.avaashley.com
I [have just] read Romanus Wolter's fabulous "SuccessCoach" column in Entrepreneur. Well done! Where can Iget a copy of his book quickly?
Chris Cavanagh
Beverly Hills Television
Editor's note: Romanus Wolter's book, Kick StartYour Dream Business (Ten Speed Press), is available onAmazon.com.
Muzak to OurEars
It was refreshing to read your July "Marketing Buzz"column [on the use of music in retail environments]. We're arecord label that specializes in selling music to the gift industryin what we call the "play and sell" market.
The struggle we have in selling our music to wholesale buyers isthat many do not want slow music playing because they say it putsemployees to sleep! We politely inform them the CDs we offer thatfeature slow music are actually bestsellers at our consumerinteractive listening stations. These stations allow the consumerto sample the music directly and not just hear what is playingoverhead. We have released more up-tempo titles due to this"revolt" [against] slow music, and though we have successplacing these CDs in retail, reorders do not happen as quickly. Weare, however, finding much more success in the spa market, wherethe whole point is to slow down.
Your article is something we've known all along, butit's hard to convince store owners that the music they play isthere for more than just keeping their employees awake!
Christopher Peacock
President
Pure & Simple Music Inc.
Eastsound, Washington
I wanted to thank you for the article on "Mood Music"("Marketing Buzz," July). The company I work for, Muzak,invented the concept and is still going strong 80 years later asthe leading audio-branding company, with such high-profile clientsas Crate & Barrel, Gap and Peet's Coffee.
Check out www.muzak.com formore information. I can't wait to use this article when talkingto prospective clients! Thanks again.
Erin Coull
Account Executive
Muzak of Northern California
San Francisco
Hello, Hobby
I found the article "You Can Make Millions From Your Hobby(Fun Money)" in the April issue very interesting. My husbandand I were able to turn our hobby into our business about fiveyears ago. The best part is, we enjoy our work every day, and weare literally able to take our children to work with us.
Almost by accident, we started publishing a magazine called theGrand Scales Quarterly (www.grandscales.com), which reports on GrandScale (or riding) railways around the world. We have also purchaseda second magazine, the 7+RAILROADER (www.7plusrailroader.com). We have also produced twovideos dedicated to this niche, with more to come.
One of the most appealing aspects of our business is the annualtour we host. In 2002, we took U.S. rail fans on a 10-day tour ofthe Grand Scale railways in the United Kingdom. What a wonderfultime we had! This October, we will also be hosting our second GrandScale Convention. The convention is a great way for peopleinterested in the hobby to meet and visit with others. We havevendors and guest speakers available. Everyone has a great time ina relaxed atmosphere. And everyone gets to play trains.
So yes, one can make a living with their hobby. And, like us,you can make wonderful friends and have a great time. Plus, withour business, we spend much more time with our children, and theyare literally seeing the world with us. All in all, a great way oflife. I would recommend it to anyone!
Susan Robinson
Marketing director/Associate editor
Robinson & Associates
Red Bluff, California
Plenty to GoAround
I've just read the article "Idea Overload" in yourExpert Center (www.entrepreneur.com/experts).I, too, suffer from the same mental disease! My first thought wasmaybe to publish a book or Web site of all those crazy, butprobably viable, business ideas, and/or to consult with people tohelp them come up with a business idea that suits them. That way,we idea people can continue to use our abilities to do theopportunity-spotting we enjoy so much!
The problem is, when you keep getting ideas on top of ideas,every day, year after year, the thought of following just one ofthem is too much to bear. Even in the process of planning andresearching one idea, more ideas just keep on coming! Personally,I'd rather enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that my ideas havehelped someone else find purpose, fulfillment and success.
Leanne Bandte
Canberra, Australia
Keep onMovin'
Great article ("Bootstrapping Your Start-Up," October2002 Entrepreneur.com). I like to read articles like yours forreassurance, especially when I'm so tired, I can't seestraight. I found your words to be very energizing. I've beenon my own for over a year now, and no one could make me turn backnow! Keep up the good work!
Mimi Jackson
Owner
As You Wish Custom Clothing
New York City
Helping Hand
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the offline/online editionsof your magazine. I'd like to thank you and your staff forproviding information I've found useful in becoming asuccessful entrepreneur. Your magazine has played a large part inmy success throughout the years-in high school, I would read it atthe library in my free time while my friends were out having a goodtime. Now I'm going to be featured in a national onlinemagazine as an entrepreneur to watch. I'll be the firstminority, the youngest and the only person to sell a company underthe age of 25 that the magazine has ever spotlighted.
As a young and successful entrepreneur, I feel there are notenough quality resources on which people such as myself can dependto effectively start a business as well as continue to operate acompany through good and bad times. To build a strong foundation,you need the proper tools-the tools that allow you to make informeddecisions, the right decisions.
With the economy in a slump and many business owners struggling,now more than ever, we have to dig deep within ourselves andrediscover that inspiration that first motivated us to take therisk of owning a business. That is why many of us, includingmyself, are truly thankful for your magazine's contributions touplifting our spirits and allowing us [to get] a glimpse into otherpeople's lives as they reap success and also failure. Thisglimpse offers us a great opportunity to learn, react and adjust tothe ever-changing world of entrepreneurship. Thank you for yourguidance.
Allan Mooney
Founder and CEO
iHosting.com
Minneapolis
Correction: The phone number for Twice Is Nice Encore BridalCreations ("Smart Ideas," September) is (704)509-0702.
In "Where's Big Brother?"("Smarts," July), a quote attributed to Martin Froomkin,a law professor at the University of South Florida, should havebeen attributed to Michael Froomkin, a law professor at theUniversity of Miami School of Law.
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