Comments on: Unconventional Business Ideas

By: Sarah Ray

Sarah Ray — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:02:56 +0000

Case in point – the fact that I can actually click on the title of the article of yours that I want to read and have access to the entirety makes me actually want to visit your store, sign up to receive more, etc…something I rarely do (the content helps!). I recently had a meeting with a very exciting NGO in Africa which developed curriculum to help locals develop good business strategies. I am in similar work and asked if I could use their curriculum to help train future entrepreneurs in the nations I work. Sure, for $12,000 a set. Might as well be a million for small farming communities in Uganda and India…I believe we have all been freely given gifts that are not meant to be kept to ourselves. To whom much has been given much is required. The world changes when we freely offer to others the gifts we ourselves have been blessed with. Reciprocally, we also are to be receivers of the gifts others have to offer us…

By: Jordan Bowman

Jordan Bowman — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 01:31:55 +0000

Love this “alternative” way to look at business. I think this is by far the best way to do business because it leads to success, stronger relationships, and the ability to actually make a difference! Thanks, Chris.

By: Trackback from Tanya Geisler

Trackback from Tanya Geisler — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:27:19 +0000

[...] Yes, it’s possible that your competition will beat you from time to time. You may lose that client, gig, or deal to someone else. Or to the market, the weather and a nasty bout of the flu. Worrying about any of that won’t do a single thing to stop it. The real enemy here is inertia, not your competition. [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:46:57 +0000

If more people understood the philosophy of the “giver’s gain” this world would be a much better place!

Great article – I again resonate with your approach to business and life in general.

Good stuff Chris!

By: nancy ingolia

nancy ingolia — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:46:56 +0000

I really needed a turn-around philosophy about business since my employees started their own door business while utilizing mycompany resources for two months including contacting my clients! This article really helps me to move on.

By: jaive

jaive — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:35:52 +0000

Hi Chris,

I like your blog. I subscribe to alot of online sites but these days they all go to the junk, except yours cause its not a sales gimmick like to other ones. I would like to add on my ideas to your list.

Idea: Simple

Change the way people do things through a simple idea:
For example Google, McDonalds, CNN, Seinfeild, AONC

Make it easier for people to adopt what you have done, for example Google – very easy to learn to use Google

Idea: Community Freindly Product – or service or in AONC case, a one man mission that a community will form around. Other examples include facebook, adobe photoshop.

Idea: Legacy; Something that leaves a legacy after you are no longer around.

By: emily-sarah

emily-sarah — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:47:11 +0000

I love the “centered around building relationships.” I realize that to some people/businesses they act as though this doesn’t matter, but I can’t NOT give my heart to a project — and it’s pretty tough to give my heart unless I feel that I’m in a “relationship” (business relationship, but still a valid and respectful reciprocal thing). There have been times in life when work has been, sigh, work (and a couple of projects have had some meanies attached), but when we start being authentic with ourselves I truly believe we’ll make our way to a better situation for ourselves. It certainly may not be automatic … and you’re so right that the results may not be stamped with typical *success* that fits the cookie-cutter mold. But a crazy-looking, good-tasting blob of a cookie that you baked from scratch and eat warm from the oven isn’t such a bad thing, right?

By: Mark Essel

Mark Essel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:01:42 +0000

Fantastic guidelines. The social change you strive for will come slowly. Just a few of us at a time will recognize the value in long term business strategies. Finding deals that fit you, and your goals feeds into building a life work that is fueled by passion. How can anyone compete with that?

At best we can all join in.

I’ve encountered some roadblocks though. Usually from good friends and associates that have fairly significant costs of living and family responsibilities. I’m putting together a solution for folks in that group that are willing but can’t find the means. The idea is a community of venture like investors, but instead of backing startups they back individual life goals. The payoffs are much smaller financially, but far greater socially. I’ll see if I can make it more appealing with some great ideas from readers (the blog post is coming, just gotta transcribe and edit the audio recording).

By: Vincent Leleux

Vincent Leleux — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:54:03 +0000

@Gennaro actually there is a part of Zenhabits translated into French with even the name litteraly translated : http://www.habitudes-zen.fr/ and I think it’s really very good. However and even if French is my mother language, I prefer much more to read the original site, at least for the so simple and really zen design…

By: A-ron

A-ron — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:36:58 +0000

I think a lot of folks are searching for the magic bullet that allows them to make all the money they want with very little effort. What else could explain the plethora of “the secret to making money online” programs?

Advice abounds, but no one is 100% right. They may be right for them, but attempting to exactly replicate someone else’s success seems stupid to me. No thought is involved. I think bits and pieces of advice that I believe is sound and a little bit of my own creativity is the best approach. We’ll see how this turns out.

I’ve just added you to my very small circle of influencers. You should feel proud