Roombas and Small Business Owners - Are they really similar?
Ok, hold on for a minute … just don’t close this window thinking silly of me to compare Roombas, the robotic vacuum cleaners with small business owners. Even I was a bit amazed when came across an article by Anita Campbell but this unique analogy truly impressed me.
Just check this out; you will surely enjoy reading it.
- Determination:
- Finding a Substitute:
- Don’t complain:
- Fearlessly take risks:
- Trace your own path:
- Seek others help:
Small business owners work with all the dedication, no matter how demanding the work is, similarly Roombas go about doing their job quietly.
Being a self-starter, one holds the courage of encountering every obstacle and finding out a solution to it. These Roombas also know how to outwit obstacles and keep on working even after bumping into something.
Successful business owners don’t whine or complain while accepting challenges and achieve their goals boldly. Similarly, the Roombas quietly suck the chunky objects coming its way, without making any king of hoarse noise.
Successful business owners always take up new challenges fearlessly and confidently. Roombas also move smoothly in the dark nooks of a place regardless of what might be lurking in there.
Small business owners believe in self-motivation and do things single-handedly. Same way, Roombas are self propelled and don’t need anyone to tell them what to do next.
Although small business owners handle things independently but still it is impossible to work without coordinating with people, be it employees, partners or customers. Same way Roombas may be self-propelled and work independently, but they still depend on someone to turn them on, empty them, and recharge them.
So, for the next time whenever you see a Roomba on work, do relate it with the qualities of a small business owner, you will see both believe in the same strategy, that is “Work Smarter, Not Harder”.
Do write in to share your views over this unique comparison, will be looking forward to it.
7 Small Business Owners who turned into Billionaires – They did it!
While scanning the list of world’s richest people on Forbes, I was astonished to find a good number of entrepreneurs who started as small business owner but with their hard work and commitment, they managed to get to the top. None of them was born with a golden spoon, it was the sweat, savings, schmoozing, creativity and good luck, which have helped these moguls enjoy the positions they have today.
According to a 2002 U.S. Census Bureau survey representing some 16 million-business owners, which is a whopping 55%, were initially funded by personal and family capital, while 11.4% snagged bank loans and 8.8% got going on personal and business credit cards. These stats clearly prove that we can make big achievements on our own…am I right?
To keep your spirits high and motivated towards your small businesses, I bring you a list of seven world-beating entrepreneurs who turned their small business ventures into vast empires.
Let’s get inspired!
1: John Catsimatidis
Owner of the Red Apple Group and aspiring Mayor of New York City.
Age: 59
Net Worth: $2.1 billion
Industry: Supermarkets, Real Estate, Oil
Success Story: He was a son of a kitchen helper who entered the grocery industry in the summer of 1966 after graduating from a high school. Working for an owner of a Manhattan super market, he started taking on more responsibilities.
Four years later, the owner offered him a 50% stake in one of his forthcoming stores over the next 10 months at a rate of $1,000 per month. Within a few months, the store’s sales doubled, and Catsimatidis was earning a profit of $500 per week (not bad for a 20-year-old back then). By charming the vendors to let him buy on credit a year later he managed to launch the Red Apple Group, a chain of grocery stores that now includes Gristede’s, Sloan’s and Red Apple. By the age of 25, he owned 10 stores, all debt-free.
2: Harold Hamm
Chairman and chief executive officer Continental Resources & Hiland Holdings
Age: 62
Net Worth: $4.4 billion
Industry: Oil and Gas exploration
Success Story:Harold Hamm was youngest of 13 children to a couple of working as cotton pickers from Purcell, Okla. He worked school jobs as a gas station attendant to supplement his parents’ incomes. In 1966, two years after graduating from high school, for the first time Hamm stepped in a business deal. With a bank loan co-signed by a friend, he purchased a single truck, the main asset of a new oil-and-gas exploration-services business. Two years later, the company changed its name to Continental Resources. Hamm now owns 72% of the outstanding shares in the New York Stock Exchange.
3: Oprah Winfrey
A renowned producer, magazine owner and TV host
Age: 54
Net Worth: $2.5 billion
Industry: Media/Entertainment
Success Story:The accidental daughter of two Mississippi teenagers, Winfrey faced poverty and physical abuse from an early age. She won speech making and beauty contests and eventually earned a scholarship to Tennessee State University. She was the first black female news anchor at Nashville’s WLAC-TV and at 29, she was contracted to host a Chicago morning television show called AM Chicago, later re-named The Oprah Winfrey Show. This owner of Harpo Studios, producer of films and TV shows like Dr. Phil show and the Rachel Ray show was a millionaire by age 32. Other Oprah ventures include the cable television network Oxygen (purchased in 2007 by NBC for $925 million) and publications O, The Oprah Magazine and O at Home.
4: Sandy Weill
Owner of Citigroup
Age:75
Net Worth: $1.4 billion
Industry: Banking
Success Story:This creator of giant Citigroup, was born in Brooklyn - New York use to gather pennies to achieve his dream. After graduating from Cornell (on scholarship), Weill took a job as a runner for Bear Stearns and studied for his stockbrokers’ licensing exam at night. A few years later, in 1960, he and three friends pooled their savings (an estimated $200,000) to open their own brokerage firm, called “Carter Berlind and Weill.” Two decades of acquisitions later, their Travelers Group was the industry’s second-largest brokerage and in 1998, Travelers Group merged with Citicorp to make what is now known as Citigroup.
5: George Soros
Owner of Quantum Investment Fund
Age: 77
Net Worth: $9 billion
Industry: Finance
Success Story: Born in Hungary, Soros and his parents came to England in 1930. While working as a railway porter and waiter, he got himself through the London School of Economics. Like Sandy Weil, Soros also socked away a few pennies to jump-start his entrepreneurial career. Soros moved to the United States in 1956 and found work at several investment firms, including Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, where he worked his way up to vice-president of the company. After running several offshore investment funds, he launched his own investment firm with colleague Jim Rogers, which has it has grown into the multibillion-dollar Quantum Fund.
6: J.K. Rowling
Author of “Harry Potter”
Age: 42
Net Worth: $1 billion
Industry: Media/Entertainment
Success Story:Sometimes sheer talent and determination is enough to carve your path to success. As a single mother on welfare in Scotland, Rowling began writing the first Harry Potter novel in Edinburgh cafés whenever she could get her infant daughter to sleep. After being rejected by 12 publishing houses, Bloomsbury, a small publisher in London, offered an advance of 1,500 pounds (about $2,400) even one its editors, Barry Cunningham, advised Rowling to get a day job. The following year, U.S. publishing rights to the first Potter book sold for $105,000. Rowling has since sold nearly 400 million copies worldwide, and is the only author on the Forbes list of the richest people in the world.
7: Kirk Kerkorian
President/CEO of Tracinda Corporation
Age: 90
Net Worth: $16 billion
Industry: Investments
Success Story:Old-fashioned bartering helped put Kirk as the richest person in Los Angeles and rank 41 on the list of richest people of the world. This farmer’s son use to look after famous female aviator Pancho Barnes’ cattle in return for flying lessons in late 1930’s. During World War II, he took a job with the Royal Air Force transporting planes from their Canadian factory to England at $1,000 per month. This job was quiet risky as the planes weren’t designed to withstand the long trip or the harsh weather. With savings from his wartime job, Kerkorian purchased Trans International Airlines for $60,000 in 1947 (with some additional financing.) He later sold it to Transamerica for $104 million in stock and now his private investment firm, Tracinda, now owns 53% of MGM Mirage and is known as the richest person in the Los Angeles.
So guys, don’t give up and keep on working hard, who knows you might also outshine like these business tycoons who once were small business owners.
8 Amazing Small Business Ideas - Be Your Own Boss!
A growing number of Americans now want to enjoy the satisfaction of working for themselves. Increasingly flexible job markets have made people (especially young graduates) urge to start a small business of their own but fear about the wrong selection of the industry don’t let them progress. Actually, which small business idea is legit and which one can actually fill our pockets with money, is hard to find.
Below I bring you some start-up ideas to get you started and tailor to your interests.
Small Business Idea # 1 - Storage Business:
With 42 million people moving each year, it is a great time to start storage business. When people move temporarily or move to smaller homes, they often need a place to hold their extra belongings. You do not need specific skills or qualifications to get into this industry but with enough money and time to invest you can turn this small venture into a successful business.
Small Business Idea # 2 - Starting an Internet Business:
No one can ignore this fact that internet is one of the biggest developments in our modern world. It is a blessing for people who want to earn money while sitting at home, as internet can play a large role in your success.
Small Business Idea # 3 - Becoming a Graphic Designer:
The new technology has shown way to talented, youngsters to use their creativity to make money. This small business idea is a treat for many creative people as it is a chance to complete online graphic design degrees while still earning an income of $38,000 per year or more.
Small Business Idea # 4 - Freelance Database Administrator:
Nearly every business in America relies on a database, but very few companies can afford to hire a full time staff member with a technology degree. Therefore, the market for freelance database administrators has blossomed over the past ten years.
Small Business Idea # 5 - Catering Business:
Your talent of cooking good food and arranging for special occasions can earn you good money. If you have significant culinary skills then try your hand in catering business by arranging food for special occasions, such as home and office parties, corporate lunches, anniversaries and graduations.
Small Business Idea # 6 - Starting a Courier Business:
Even in this age of instant information and wireless technology, there is still a needed delivery niche in the business world. Special training regarding courier business can help you make a healthy profit.
Small Business Idea # 7 - Becoming a Travel Writer:
This business of being a travel writer can be explained as stuff of dreams, fun and inspiring. This business will be paying you for travelling to beautiful beaches and landscapes of the world. Therefore, who would like to miss the opportunity!
Small Business Idea # 8 - Tax Preparation Business:
It is easy to start a tax preparation business than many other small businesses as the start up costs are very low and the workload is more for 4to 6 months only. While the tax season is, only 4 months but there are opportunities to maintain clients throughout the year.
I hope, the small business ideas I offered to my young wannabe entrepreneurs’ friends, get your creative juices flowing. Above all these start-up ideas for your small business, I recommended you all to follow your heart. If your heart is not in your business concept, it cannot keep you motivated and successful. It is always better to work at something you enjoy!
Do share other ideas, you think can be profitable for starting a small business.
