Found+READ: As I have discovered in my years as an entrepreneur and during the past ten years leading TIBCO Software, scaling a company requires both the discipline to follow sound strategic processes and the courage to take bold, yet calculated, risks. If you are too aggressive, your company might make imprudent choices and go out of business. If you are too slow or cautious, you might miss an opportunity. Take, for example, a champion downhill skier: if he goes too fast down the slope, he risks crashing and burning. Too slow and he might lose the race. It’s all about striking the right balance. Following are four fundamentals that founders should consider in their quest to finish first:

1. Find, and foster, top talent. Mediocrity doesn’t win Olympic medals, nor will it result in a winning company. But while hiring outstanding, dedicated people should be a given for any company founder, it is equally important to create an open environment within the organization that allows top talent to flourish.

2. Wow the crowd. Never forget that happy customers are an asset far more valuable than simply the revenue they generate. Satisfied customers are your organization’s most credible supporters – more powerful influencers than any advertisement, white paper or marketing strategy alone will ever be.

3. Know when to take short cuts. Building a company with staying power is frequently sought after yet rarely achieved. Taking short cuts can be tempting, especially when the competition is fierce, but know that not all short cuts are created equal.

4. When you see your opening, move quickly. Great companies cannot be built on process alone. As we all know, antiquated, disconnected or bureaucratic organizational procedures can stifle innovation and slow progress to a crawl. If the right decision-making infrastructure is in place, your team should feel confident enough to move quickly – even in chaotic environments – and go out and dominate a market segment.

Talent, Wow!-factor, Speed & Short-Cuts [Found+READ]

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NFIB: On the Web, content is king--or it should be. If you want people to visit, stick around and come back to your small business' Web site, give them substance. The appearance of your Web site is still important in helping establish professionalism and credibility. But the information and other substantive material you provide matter most.

One study, from the Poynter Institute and Stanford University, showed that, unlike with newspapers and magazines, people who read Web news sites typically focus on the text first, looking at photos and graphics afterward. People on the Internet operate in "Internet time" or, in other words, fast. They don't linger over Web pages as they would a newspaper or magazine when drinking a cup of coffee.

People reading Web sites, for the most part, seek substance over style and usefulness over flash. They want to get what they want quickly. Here are some ways to make this happen:

-Readers should know immediately upon accessing your site why they should stick around and what's in it for them.

-Text should be accurate, complete and interesting.

Beefing Up Your Web Site Content [NFIB]

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Businessknowhow: Although your income statement might show a healthy profit, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you have no cash flow.

Cash flow represents the amount of money coming in to your business through services rendered and products sold, and money going out to cover expenses and production costs. Your primary responsibility as a home-based business owner is to ensure the flow is consistent with more money coming in than going out so a pool starts to form to hold the overflow.

Integrate these seven simple rules to your operating strategies and enjoy the benefits of a steadily growing cash pool.

1. Request payment prior to delivering your product or service.
2. Pay every bill on time to avoid late payment charges and earlier only if special payment discounts apply.
3. Deposit payments as soon as you receive them.
4. Use a business credit card whenever possible for travel, meals, and minor expenses.
5. Create continuity sales.

Build A Cash Pool For Your Home-Based Business [Businessknowhow]

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EdithYeung.com: The true definition of networking is building relationship & rapport with new friends while being yourself anywhere anytime. Here is my 7 Rules of Networking Made Easy:

1) Ask questions. The truth is everyone loves to talk about themselves. When I say ask questions, I don’t mean what is your name or what do you do for living types of questions. I meant real questions that bring up the past, the feeling, the experience and passion out of your new friends. Vice versa, when someone ask you: ‘How are you?’ Don’t just say I am fine then stop there. Speak with sincerity and put some context to your fineness. For Example: I am doing great because I just closed a BIG deal in San Francisco.

2) Offer help – You can always add values to someone’s life anytime anywhere. Offering help doesn’t mean you have to spend hours of research and work overnight to make things happen. Send your new friends a thank you note with information you think they might be interested such as an intriguing article, shocking news or fun facts that could benefit them.

3) Business Cards. Always bring and offer your business cards. This does show your professionalism and you always seem prepared. If those who work for yourself; design a unique business card that make you stand out.

4) Write things down. After a good conversation, ask for their business card immediately and jot down how you can help. If the person didn’t bring their business card, ask for their contact anyway and write things down on your notebook.

5) Set goal and practice. Set goal to meet someone new person every week. Networking does take work. The more you practice the more you will get better.

6) Follow Up – If you promise someone that you will send them info. Do it within the next 24 hours.

7) Be yourself at all time. You cannot pretend to be an angel at a cocktail party and become a bitch at Starbucks yelling at the barista. You never know who is behind you waiting in line.

The 7 Rules of Networking Made Easy [EdithYeung.com]

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EcommerceGuide: Widgets are generating a lot of buzz in the industry these days as more e-tailers begin to capitalize on how these snippets of code can expand the exposure of online businesses — and make them more money.

These mini-applications generally come packaged in a little window, can be dragged and dropped onto a Web page, and offer a scaled-down version of features you would ordinarily get at a full-fledged site.

For e-tailers, this means you can, for instance, showcase your eBay listings on your social networking page, bringing your merchandise to interested shoppers who might not have found your storefront. Those who like what you're selling can even pass your widget on to their friends. Another way e-biz owners can earn extra revenue is by using affiliate marketing widgets at their Web store sites or blogs.

In the latter case is an impressive new widget — officially launching July 23, called PopShops — that promises to make managing affiliate partnerships a snap. Simply put, you can build affiliate storefronts in three clicks: Pick from more than 15 million products from across the top four affiliate networks, click to customize the showcase of products for your site and "pop" the storefront application into your site or blog.

New Affiliate Tool Promises Pick, Click and Pop [EcommerceGuide]

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Influx Insights: One of the secrets behind the new premiums was that they didn’t rely on advertising, instead they found a way to get the bar staff and bar tenders on their side and used the power of recommendation.

Even though the brand's owner, the Swedish government is due to sell its prized asset, early in the year, Absolut broke a new ad global campaign and yesterday launched a fascinating new initiative.

Absolut is known for its bottle, but also its flavors, at one moment in the late 90s, it seemed like the brand was launching a new flavor a week. The brand is now taking its flavor story in a new direction by launching flavors named after locations with specific recipe designs.

The first one out of the gate is Absolut New Orleans- mango flavor with a black pepper kick. The new flavor will be limited to a run of 35,000 cases.

This is a very interesting development for a brand trying to escape from the tyranny of ubiquity by becoming more local and limited. It allows Absolut to be relevant to important drinks markets and gives them the opportunity to create a new conversation with bar tenders.

Absolut Local [Influx Insights]

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BusinessWeek: How can people distinguish between a great idea and a good idea? You make a list of all the things that have to work in order for the idea to be successful. That means focusing on the process rather than the product. For instance, distribution: Where is the product sold to the consumer, and are there middlemen? Who's selling it for you? What's the pricing model? Where do you get the raw materials? What's your marketing strategy, and how will it scale?

Then you give yourself an honest appraisal of whether it's going to work, recognizing that not one of the people whose help your success depends on cares about your idea unless it helps them make money. I can't tell you how many people I talk to think they have a brilliant idea and can't figure out why other people don't agree.

Vetting Your Idea [BusinessWeek]

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This Issue's Top Stories:

MARKETING
Reaching Her
We introduce you to SheSpeaks, a national network of smart and insightful women who have a special opportunity to test products and influence them. SheSpeaks gives you a forum to tell companies what you need, what you want, what you like and what you don’t. And, as the SheSpeaks network grows, so does the power of our collective voices.

NON-PROFIT & CHARITY
White Cane Label
Two Rochester Institute of Technology students, Jaimen Brill and Asmah Abushagur, are launching an online clothing site for the blind and visually impaired. The site, White Cane Label, is a non-profit effort to help blind people shop online and easily keep track of their wardrobe without the help of a sighted friend.

GADGETS
New MP3 Concept
Why is it that the best designs almost always seem to be just concepts? Oh right, they don't have to work. Still, that won't stop us from admiring this lighted, cylindrical MP3 player, which looks more like a Lightsaber than a music gadget. (There's no reason, of course, it can't be both.)

AUTOMOBILES
Easy Car Buying
Americans who are in the market for new automobiles, but don't want the headaches of searching or haggling for the best price, now have an alternative that can help them sidestep the usual dealership woes—No Haggles, a new car buying service that promises to save customers time and money by negotiating all of the details of the sale on their behalf.

CONSUMER GOODS
Chew For Babies
These pendants by Smart Mom Jewelry look good enough to eat, which is the whole idea. Colorful heart- or donut-shaped pendants of food-safe, phthalate-free, federally approved silicone adorn the mom and satisfy her teething baby at the same time.

FOOD & BEVERAGES
All-Natural Worcestershire Sauce
Enjoyed by the British since the reign of Queen Victoria, Worcestershire Sauce is surely one of our more versatile and well-loved “secret ingredients”. So when Geo Organics decided to produce a version that is not only organic but vegetarian and gluten-free, they knew they faced a challenge to meet the exacting standards of Worcestershire Sauce fans.

EDUCATION
Baby Jamz
Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment has partnered with Planet Toys to launch the first ever hip-hop/rhythm inspired preschool toy line promoting creativity, learning and movement through music. Mr. Knowles, who has made it a top priority to create and release "child-friendly" music content over the past year with his Kid's Rap Radio series, has brought to fruition this groundbreaking line of innovative, educational and musically stimulating toys.

GADGETS
Gamers' Chair
Lumisource presents BoomChair, a piece of multi- media furniture for the purpose of entertainment. They feature interior speakers and vibration motors that enhance video games, music and movies. You’ll actually feel a part of them. They are made out of different materials including, Microsaude, vinyl, and mesh.

TECHNOLOGY
Best Tech Help
Most small-business owners can't afford consultants or an IT staff. For tech support, they draw on other resources: neighbors, friends, relatives -- anyone they know who might have a handle on a tech issue they don't understand. But there are other sources that small businesses can turn to for reliable, inexpensive and even free tech support: online, government, and academics.

HOW-TO GUIDES
How To Get More Customers
The good news and bad news about marketing is that price and results are not necessarily connected. You can pay the same price for poor results as you would for great results. By planning your marketing well, you can put more quality into it and therefore, get better results out of it.

WORK LIFE
Time of Crisis
The everyday pressures of running our businesses may feel like life and death on a daily basis - collecting payment, running payroll and managing various personalities. These can lead to high pressure situations for even the most prepared entrepreneurs. When crises do happen, they put real life in perspective.

SALES & MARKETING
WOM Important For Business
With the increasing number of blogs and consumer review sites on the web many marketers are concentrating all of their efforts with these kinds of word-of-mouth efforts. And with 66 million adults sharing information online it is understandable why online may take precedence. However, marketers need to be just as aware of how their products and brands are faring offline.

PEOPLE & MANAGEMENT
Develop Profitable Relationships
No question about it; you provide one of the most valuable services imaginable. However, without an ongoing and ever-increasing number of new, quality prospects, you'll eventually run out of people with whom to share the benefits. Develop profitable, win/win relationships with practically every new person you meet - whether one on one or in a social setting.

ONLINE BUSINESS
Neighbour + Navigate
The search-engine leader in South Korea, with 77 percent of searches, is a home-grown site called Naver.com. Founded in 1999 by NHN, an online gaming company, Naver capitalizes on both the lack of Korean-language content online as well as the interest amongst Koreans to try to help each other out.

STARTING UP
Now Your Passionate Job
You've worked hard, you've invested well, and now you have the financial means to exit early. While others might be perplexed by the unscheduled blocks of time in retirement, you know exactly what you want to do. Now you'd like to turn that hobby or passion into your life's work.

View this issue of the BIZNESS! Newsletter by clicking here. Subscribe for free by clicking here

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BusinessWeek: When it comes to being an entrepreneur, is it simply a matter of physiological hard wiring? Or is the entrepreneurial spark something that can be lit? Clearly, qualities such as risk taking and determination, common traits in many entrepreneurs, are part of one's DNA. However, transforming inspiration into a business concept is one thing, and transforming a concept into an actual business is another. Can the characteristics often associated with entrepreneurs—drive, confidence, insight—be acquired? Can they be learned?

With more and more individuals eschewing the corporate ladder in order to start their own outfits at ever younger ages, BusinessWeek.com recently put the question to a cross-section of entrepreneurs and academics: Are entrepreneurs born or made?

Is There a Gene for Business? [BusinessWeek]

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Entrepreneurs: I've worked with entrepreneurs for more than 25 years, and most of the successful ones have created and developed their products on their own and love being independent. "Being my own boss" is the answer I usually get when I ask them what they like best about being an entrepreneur.

But in fact, successful entrepreneurs are not Lone Rangers -- which, for inexperienced entrepreneurs, should be regarded as a good thing. I've talked to more than 100 successful entrepreneurs over the past 10 years, and they frequently don't have a lot of business management experience, don't have any more money than the average person and typically have never tried to introduce a product before.

The key moment in their entrepreneurial process has been when they recognized their shortcomings and sought help from other people. That help is exactly what they need to succeed, and it can come in hundreds of forms, such as these:

A manufacturer willing to extend dating on orders
An industry connection who helps you fund your initial production run
A retailer who heavily promotes your product at its expense

You should think about the kind of help you will need right at the start, before you even begin to introduce a product to market. If you can prototype and make your product at home, you can probably survive on your own until you're ready to sell. But most entrepreneurs have products that require a little more investment upfront, and they could go broke if they wait too long to get experienced advice. Not only that, but getting help early will prevent a lot of mistakes in creating your product, and this will help you save money for the crucial tasks that lie ahead.

Teaming Up for Success [Entrepreneurs]

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Springwise: Umpqua, an Oregon-based bank, recently launched something similar. Their Lemonaire campaign is aimed at helping 'really small entrepreneurs' start their first business: a lemonade stand. After completing an application, children can pick up a free Umpqua Lemonade Starter Kit. The kits include cups, napkins, a sticker, table cover, small business guide ('How to Become a Lemonaire') and USD 10 start-up capital. No purchase necessary, but children must be under 13 to qualify.

Unlike Postbank's Bizznizz, Umpqua’s Lemonaire is a temporary campaign, and the marketing aspect is key here. As quoted in the New York Times, a spokesperson for Umpqua explained: "We look for ways to hit people with a different mindset, and the lemonade stand is a perfect metaphor for what small business is about." Time for other banks to follow Umpqua and Postbank's lead, offering junior entrepreneurs the tools they need to earn and save? As long as children aren’t forced into labour, it’s a great way to teach them about business and money.

Facilitating kidpreneurs [Springwise]

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CNNMoney: Three pairs of women's shoes. A box of record albums. Stereo equipment. A stovetop. A quill and ink bottle. A wicker basket. An acoustic guitar. A dehumidifier.

As I write, all those things and more are being offered for free on my local Freecycle Network. By the time you read this, they'll be taken. As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

With more than 4,000 Freecycle networks operating in 75 countries, and with more than 3.5 million members signed up to give things away and take them, that's lot of trash or treasure, all of it kept out of landfills.

The Freecycle Network is an amazing Internet phenomenon. In four years, it's become one of the most effective environmental groups around. It's also an example of how social networking - the connections between people made on such Web sites as MySpace and Facebook - can be used to address social and environmental problems.

The amazing Freecycle story [CNNMoney]

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BusinessKnowHow: The good news and bad news about marketing is that price and results are not necessarily connected. You can pay the same price for poor results as you would for great results.

The difference is based on what you put into your marketing before you implement.

By planning your marketing well, you can put more quality into it and therefore, get better results out of it. Here is an easy and effective method to plan your marketing so you can see better results from your marketing without spending more money.

1) Understand your strengths. People buy from you because you do something for them no one else does. Understand this and you've taken the first step to better marketing.

2) Identify your customers (your target market). To promote your business you should focus on people who value what you do. Your strengths (or competitive advantages) will help you focus on who will most value your service or product.

3) Create a meaningful message. The key in successful marketing is to deliver the right message to the right people as often as your budget will allow. So, you need a message that tells your target market why they should do business with you. Your message should reflect your strengths because those are what you do best. And, your message should be in terms that your target market is interested in.

4) Deliver your message as often as your budget allows. Now you have to find and purchase the appropriate delivery vehicles (or media) for your marketing messages. Unless your budget is unlimited, you need to choose delivery vehicles that focus your message.

Four Easy Steps to Getting More Customers [BusinessKnowHow]

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StartupJournal: Most small-business owners can't afford consultants or an IT staff. For tech support, they draw on other resources: neighbors, friends, relatives -- anyone they know who might have a handle on a tech issue they don't understand.

But there are other sources that small businesses can turn to for reliable, inexpensive and even free tech support: online, government, and academics.

We interviewed technology experts about where to find the best help. We also asked small-business owners where they go to find the latest and most comprehensive tech information. In the process, we discovered not only what some consider to be the most helpful Web sites on tech matters for small businesses, but also government services that offer free consultations, and a business school whose students give free support to local companies facing network-security issues.

Where You Can Find Good, Cheap Tech Help [StartupJournal]

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Small Business Trends: The latest installment of the Future of Small Business report is out. The Future of Small Business report outlines major trends affecting small businesses in the United States over the next ten years.

This latest installment of the report focuses on technology. It outlines three categories of technology trends that are shaping the face of small business.

On My Time, On My Terms — We will run our businesses increasingly “on my time” and “on my terms.” For instance, mobile devices will be used for more than just communications to let us talk and send text messages. Instead they will be tools that let us run our businesses at any hour, from anywhere. And we will also have access to a new wave of sophisticated analytic tools to help run our businesses — tools such as large corporations use today. The analytic tools will help us make decisions.

But instead of all this connectedness and technology meaning that we will be working around the clock, these tools put us more in control. We can leave the office at noon if we want to go play golf, and then put in two hours of work in the evening from home.

Global, Local, Virtual — The evolution of the Web makes it easier to start a business, operate it and innovate in it.

High-tech ceases being a hurdle, because it keeps getting cheaper and easier to use. In turn, that is spurring the formation of small and personal businesses.

At the same time, small business relationships will become increasingly virtual, as we develop relationships with customers, partners and suppliers beyond the local neighborhood to potentially anywhere in the world. Peer networks become more connected and become a much more important force in helping small business owners make decisions.

From “Push” to “Pull” — The small business marketing approach will shift from a “push” to “pull” mindset. In other words, customers take charge. Customers increasingly find the information they need to make buying decisions, rather than accepting what is pitched to them.

A Web presence will become the most important factor for small businesses to acquire customers. And a Web presence is not just a Web site but the totality of your online presence across a variety of places. And mobile phones will increasingly become an important part of marketing for small businesses.

Technology Trends and the Future of Small Business [Small Business Trends]

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CNNMoney.com: Web-enabled game consoles are giving marketers new ways to target those elusive young males with money to burn. Cadillac tried a novel approach last year to get young male car buyers excited about its tricked-out V-Series Collection luxury vehicles. Rather than make its pitch through magazines, TV commercials, or online display ads, the automaker took its campaign to the Xbox 360.

Through an arrangement with Xbox Live, gamers were invited to download and put through their paces three virtual V-Series cars in a popular high-speed driving game called Project Gotham Racing 3. In less than six months, more than 240,000 players snagged the game. All told, they raced the cars more than 1 million times.

At a time when advertisers are struggling to get the attention of the mass audiences they used to reach so dependably through broadcast and print media, successes like Cadillac's offer a beacon of hope.

Games advertisers love most [CNNMoney.com]

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Entrepreneur: Sometimes choosing the best marketing tactics is like going to a restaurant with an unlimited menu. Even entrepreneurs with tight budgets or small niche markets have dozens of options. And it can be hard to separate the best from the rest. A great tactic meets three criteria:

It reaches your most qualified prospects.
It puts your message in the right context.
It gives you enough space/time to tell prospects what to do.

A business that specializes in cabinet refacing, for example, could run local cable TV spots during home-remodeling programs, including kitchen design shows. The spots would reach a qualified target audience in the appropriate context--when they were in the right frame of mind and most likely to be receptive.

Every great marketing tactic allows space or time for a call to action. This can be as simple as a toll-free number on a billboard or as complex as a direct-mail package with multiple offers. But an effective tactic always tells prospects what to do next. Can't come up with a group of tactics?

Here's a virtual smorgasbord of ideas to get you started. Outdoor media, Online advertising, Direct marketing, Broadcast advertising, Print advertising. Low-Cost Marketing Tactics would be Local Search, Podcasts, Blogs, Online Advertising, Expanding to Global Markets.

Smart Marketing Tactics to Boost Sales [Entrepreneur]

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About Entrepreneurs: No question about it; you provide one of the most valuable services imaginable. However, without an ongoing and ever-increasing number of new, quality prospects, you'll eventually run out of people with whom to share the benefits. You might even end up asking yourself that most dreaded of questions in the world of sales, which is, "Who do I talk to next, now that my original list of names has run out?" That thought can be downright discouraging, can't it? Then again, it need not happen.

Develop profitable, win/win relationships with practically every new person you meet - whether one on one or in a social setting.

How to Cultivate A Network of Endless Referrals [About Entrepreneurs]

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Reveries: Google may be the world’s dominant search engine, but in South Korea it claims just 1.7 percent of all searches, reports Choe Sang-Hun. The search-engine leader in South Korea, with 77 percent of searches, is a home-grown site called Naver.com. Founded in 1999 by NHN, an online gaming company, Naver capitalizes on both the lack of Korean-language content online as well as the interest amongst Koreans to try to help each other out. In a nutshell, Naver is building its own database of information by letting its users answer each other’s questions.

So far, Naver has “accumulated a user-generated database of 70 million entries.” Cho In Joon, a dedicated user, explains the appeal: “When people I have never met thank me, I feel good … No one pays me for this. But helping other people on the internet is addictive.”

Neighbour + Navigate = Naver.com is what makes the online business tickes!

Naver.com [Reveries]

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BizReport: With the increasing number of blogs and consumer review sites on the web many marketers are concentrating all of their efforts with these kinds of word-of-mouth efforts. And with 66 million adults sharing information online it is understandable why online may take precedence. However, marketers need to be just as aware of how their products and brands are faring offline. Though the online influencers may seem to have cornered the market on advice, the report explains that traditional advertising can actually influence the influencers.

These influencers are 64% more likely to begin researching products online after hearing an ad on television or the radio. Compare that to the only 30% who begin researching products because of seeing online ads.

Offline as important as online WOM efforts [BizReport]

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Entrepreneur: There's a lot of press today about people in their prime career years being the sandwich generation--caught between aging parents and growing families. I'm here to tell you that there can be open-faced sandwiches (no kids), as well as club sandwiches, with businesses layered in between family obligations. These can lead to high pressure situations for even the most prepared and organized entrepreneurs.

If you have been blessed with good health and high energy, be grateful every day because you're already far ahead. No college or graduate school class can fully prepare you for juggling your business and life. This year my husband and I each had parents with health setbacks. Luckily because we both own businesses, we were able to take the time needed for extended visits and conference calls with doctors and family members.

The everyday pressures of running our businesses may feel like life and death on a daily basis--closing deals, collecting payment, running payroll and managing various personalities. When crises do happen, they put real life in perspective.

When Life Hands You Lemons [Entrepreneur]

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BusinessWeek: You've worked hard, you've invested well, and now you have the financial means to exit early. While others might be perplexed by the unscheduled blocks of time in retirement, you know exactly what you want to do. For years you squeezed it into the spare hours of your workweek or daydreamed about it at your desk. Now you'd like to turn that hobby or passion into your life's work.

What can go wrong? Just about anything that hampers a startup. Launching a business is never easy: Around half close within four years, according to the Small Business Administration. But it can be especially difficult for early retirees who allow emotions to trump smart decision-making.

Unlike younger entrepreneurs, retirees don't have a long time to recover from a failed business. A money-losing enterprise can eat up savings, force you into debt, and even send you back into the workforce. But intelligent planning can make all the difference between success and stress.

Here are stories of three people who looked at the numbers, planned their exits, and made the transition with ease. Look at THE WINEMAKER, THE BONSAI GROWER, THE BOOKSELLER, THE NOVELIST.

And Now For That Dream Job [BusinessWeek]

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BusinessWeek: Who are the greatest entrepreneurs of all time? We could spend a lifetime compiling a list without ever agreeing on who deserves a mention. From the pirates of Silicon Valley to the captains of industry, there are far too many figures to choose from to give anyone the final say.

In other words, we acknowledge our list's inherent subjectivity. To compile it, we picked the brains of professors, authors, and BusinessWeek staffers. Our criteria for entrepreneurs to be considered among the greatest was simple. If they had the vision to create new markets or tap into underserved markets, changing the way people lived in the process, then they were candidates on a list we whittled down to 30 players.

The Greatest Entrepreneurs of All Time [BusinessWeek]

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Blogtrepreneur: Everyone on the net is searching for that big idea, that one thought or brainwave that will transform their internet lives into being small and unknown to being an A-list celebrity (or bloglebrity) and mega-rich (having sold your site to Google of course).

But it’s easier said than done. With the multitude of blogs and websites out there, each and every niche is becoming saturated and full to the brim with the same clones of the original. First it was the pixel sites which tried to claw on the back of Alex Tew, then Digg clones and now Youtube clones - no-one these days seems to be taking the time to create that one big site that will dominate all.

Having just broken up for the summer holidays (or vacation for the Americans out there), I felt that I needed to get that one massive idea that would springboard me from being an average Joe blogger. These are the methods I used in attempting such a feat:

1. What have you achieved so far?
2. Stick to your comfort zone.
3. Research, research, research.
4. Plan to the final detail.

How You Can Find That One Big Idea [Blogtrepreneur]

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This Issue's Top Stories:

LIFESTYLE & LUXURY
Dating Cards
In a variation on online dating, two new concepts allow people to connect online after first meeting (briefly) in the physical world. Canadian Admit an Attraction prints Attraction Tickets for members. Members hand out a ticket to someone they meet in public. A ticket receiver can then go online to check out the member's profile using a unique access code, and get in touch if the attraction is mutual.

Sleep Music
If your mind wanders before three, try Bedtime Beats, a CD designed to help you snooze. Unlike your Ambien/Prosecco experiment, the sleep aid was mixed by real scientists. The smarty-pants at Case Western Reserve University discovered that classical music played at 60-80 beats per minute can improve your sleep.

Jetpack Flight
All those promises of a future with jetpacks getting you from here to there have finally come true. Before you start planning your trip to Miami, the amazing JetPack will only give you a 3 min thrill ride.

EDUCATION
Ace Test With Warcraft Manga
Good news for manga-loving teens: Reading Warcraft can help you pass the SATs. Kaplan Publishing has partnered with TokyoPop on a manga series designed to give kids a leg up on the verbal part of the dreaded test.

SERVICES
Hearts Truck
Already a hit in L.A. among the kind of crowd that populates the The Cobra Snake's website, Heartschallenger is kind of a gourmet hipster Good Humor truck. Often making appearances (for hire) at parties and festivals, Heartschallenger is stocked with a global buffet of frozen treats ranging from Japanese mochi and Italian…

AGRICULTURAL & ENVIRONMENTAL
Planters’ Buddy
The 7-in-one planters' buddy is an ingenious, trowel-like garden tool that truly multi-tasks. Why it's cool: You'll probably find way more than seven ways to use this slick new stainless steel tool (and the fact that it could double as a weapon of self-defense isn't even one of

SPECIAL FEATURE
MIT’s Annual InvenTeams
Evans was suffering a stroke that day five years ago. It robbed him of his ability to walk and speak. But a device developed by a team of high school students now allows Evans, of Los Altos Hills, Calif., to use a laser pointer to do basic tasks with a turn of his head.

HOW-TO-GUIDES
How To Build Positive Relationship
Positive relationships are the key to success in business. What if we've already burned bridges with the people we've done business with in the past? Is it too late to make peace? Or, how do we prevent burning bridges with the people we're doing business with now?

How To Start Or Grow Your Business
Are you an entrepreneur seeking to start or grow your existing business? Then you definitely want to take advantage of these exclusive training segments from educators like Brian Tracy, Dr. Joe Vitale, Dan Poynter and Bob Doyle; over 4 hours of detailed online video training. This is your "Business Success Scholarship", compliments of Northstar Thinktank.

WORK LIFE
Beating Startup Stress
If you burn out in a new business venture, it's the result of intense and arguably greater pressure built up over a shorter interval, and it's infinitely harder to walk away.

SALES AND MARKETING
Consumers Evangelist
Recently, my colleague Max Kalehoff and I put together a list of "Top Ten Principles of Consumer Consumer Generated Ad Campaigns." Max added a few additional thoughts on top of this list in his most recent MediaPost column. Key message: by all means test the waters, but keep a good check list in front of you!

CUSTOMER SERVICE
What Customers Want
JetBlue remains the best low-cost carrier for the third straight year, according to J.D. Power and Associates' 2007 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Linda Hirneise, executive director believes JetBlue kept its ranking because the airline commands a fiercely loyal customer following with its modern amenities.

BUSINESS IDEAS
Budding Business Ideas
Young British entrepreneurs are launching a new website to house spare business ideas that can be developed by anyone that finds them interesting. James Murray Wells, the twenty four-year-old multi-millionaire founder of www.glassesdirect.co.uk, and Oli Barrett, founder of new ideas company Connected Capital, are behind the venture. It will be launched this week and is called IdeaVolcano.com

STARTING UP
Beat The Rivals
Competition is as inevitable in business as death and taxes are in human existence. Even if your startup business has stolen a march on the rest of the world with your product, service, execution, distribution or customer service, somebody else will inevitably try to chase you down and beat you at your own game.

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Business Opportunities: Greg Ford, managing director, Sage accountants division comments, "The research confirms what we have believed for quite some time, in that accountants can't be bracketed into one stereotype. We are seeing the rise of a new breed of accountant, one for whom technology and an entrepreneurial spirit is extremely important in the running of the practice they work for or own. We feel that accountants should always be regarded in this manner, recognising that these new breed are looking for ways to help diversify their business."

Supporting the theory that accountants are aiming to diversify their business, a healthy proportion considered that technology is an important revenue opportunity. Nearly a third (28%) regard technology as a big source of potential income, whilst 52% acknowledge that it has certain benefits. Indeed 40% of accountants admitted that they regularly use online news sources and blogs for work purposes.

Zoe Walsh of TPH Accountants adds, "The accounting profession is becoming increasingly entrepreneurial, and the stereotype of an accountant is changing fast. Accountants are looking for more ways to diversify their offering, and are increasingly giving general business advice to those wanting to set-up in business as well as the traditional accounting services. As a result the skill-set of an accountant is changing, making them an important part of the business lifecycle."

There is a New Breed of Accountants [Business Opportunities]

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StartupNation: With over 2,500 franchise concepts in the US alone, business owners are finding ways to appeal to investors. And one major way to do that is offer them the benefits of working from home. Several of our clients have perfected the system, including:

At Matco Tools, franchise distributors of automotive tools and diagnostic and service equipment have utilized home based offices for 61 years. Their franchisees utilize a mobile distribution system that features weekly sales and service contacts with pre-identified potential customer in an exclusive area. I'd say Matco has perfected the work-from-home business model.

Another example is FocalPoint Business Coaching. The FocalPoint model requires no inventory and has low operational overhead, while obtaining premium margins for the service your franchise will provide to the clients. A quiet place to work, a computer and phone and you're set.

And there are dozens more. When you're considering owning your own business, don't forget about the franchise opportunities like these and many others that allow you the flexibility and benefit of owning your own business and working from the comfort of your home.

Home Based Franchising [StartupNation]

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BizReport: New data released by PayOffline, from market research conducted by Shape-the-Future, demonstrates just how many U.K. shoppers avoid online shopping for fear of identity theft and credit card fraud.

When told of a new offline payment system, PayOffline, that is soon to be introduced in the U.K., the interest from those surveyed was huge with 80 percent asking to be informed when the service was launched.

“PayOffline has mass market appeal; all our extensive research indicates that there is a huge pent up demand from all sections of the U.K. population,” said Steve Berry, Managing Director, PayOffline. “PayOffline will also make Internet prices available to everyone and provide a safe and secure payment option without the risk of fraud or identity theft."

The new service will allow those in the U.K. who have no bank account (c. 4 million) and the one-third of the population who have no credit card, to shop online. It is also an option for those worried about giving out their personal financial information on the Internet and the youth market that may not be eligible to use credit services.

The offline payment system is also an opportunity for online retailers to increase business from existing online shoppers, 65 percent of those surveyed claimed they would shop more online if an offline option was available.

Offline payment system for online purchases to launch in U.K. [BizReport]

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BizReport: The report, called “U.K. Online Advertising”, puts broadband penetration, mobile Internet access, ad-serving technology and a healthy U.K. economy as the key drivers fuelling the growth of online advertising.

Online ad spending in the U.K. is forecast to reach 18 percent of total advertising spend this year, over double the percentage in any other European country, or even the United States. In fact, the U.K will account for just over 50 percent of all European Internet advertising this year and that figure is expected to rise to 52.6 percent in 2011.

U.K. online ad spending on the rise [BizReport]

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About Entrepreneurs: Here's the thing about making money online..

Simply put, there's no magic bullet. The ways you can make "big money", i.e., more than, say, about $10-$15 an hour, typically require at least two of the following three things:

Investment - Free tools are typically advertiser supported, which means you can't run as much advertising yourself and can't make as much money. Or they're open source software (like the WordPress blogging tool I described in the article you referred to), which require some degree of skill to use. You could build your own full-fledged e-commerce site, selling affiliate products, running advertising, blogging, and so on, for just the cost of very cheap hosting (less than $20 a year). But if you want to do that with no technical knowledge, no HTML knowledge, you're going to spend more like $20-$30 a month or more.

Skill - If you know what you're doing, there are a lot of free tools available. There's also a whole genre of ways to make money by doing free trial offers and then canceling them. While that doesn't take a great deal of skill, you have to be extremely organized in order to stay on top of them and do all the steps required to get the prize. People aren't really going to give you a free XBox 360 or iPhone just for answering one little survey. Come on -- think about it -- the economics just don't work.

Risk - There's no absolutely sure, easy way to make money online at more than about $10-$12 an hour. To make more than that, you run the risk of making less than that, or even of losing money if you're investing in tools (remember - I said you need two of these three).

Making Money Online [About Entrepreneurs]

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Businessweek: Your public launch of a product or service should be designed to raise the profile of your company. Think of it as a marketing event—a kickoff party of sorts. What you need for a launch is a compelling product or service, plus a handful of early customers providing gushing testimonials.

Don't spend money on a flashy launch party when you have no accomplishments to show off. Spend your marketing budget on making the press and blogging community aware of your product and the companies that are using it, as well as the problems your product is solving and the specific benefits that have resulted from its use.

You should prepare for your launch by answering the following four questions. Which companies are using your product/service? What specific problems are being solved? What associated "pain" is your product/service removing? What have the tangible and quantifiable benefits been to your clients?

Preparing for a Successful Launch [Businessweek]

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PowerHomeBiz: Be careful of myths and misconceptions about home business management presented as gospel truth! Many of these myths are as widely held as they are wrong.

Many entrepreneurs, when they start out, are so full of confidence and positive energy that no problems can stand in the way. However, in the course of starting, running and selling small businesses, it is somehow inevitable that mistakes will be made.

Minimize your mistakes by looking at the knowing myths and misconceptions with healthy skepticism about home business management presented as gospel truth.

Myth 1: A home-based business has no overhead costs.

Myth 2: I will not need childcare if l work from home.

Myth 3: If I have a home business, I will have time to clean house, continue to volunteer at church and school, cook delectable meals, taxi the kids to all their activities, and have a meaningful, personal relationship with a "significant other."

Myth 4: I have a great idea that I know will make me lots of money, and I hope to start it next week.

Myth 5: If I work from home, I can be much more casual in both how I dress and how I treat my customers.

The Truths about Home-Based Businesses [PowerHomeBiz]

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BusinessWeek: Just because there is no one selling a particular product or service doesn't mean it's automatically a good idea to try. Conversely, a competitively crowded industry shows that demand exists, as well as a viable market. The key to business success isn't finding an empty field, but defining your company narrowly—no matter how crowded a marketplace you're entering.

There are many ways you can differentiate your company, says Reid Carr, president of Red Door Interactive, a small Web development firm based in San Diego. "You can choose to sell to different people, such as small businesses; you can find new distribution channels; you can stratify the industry's price points by introducing a luxury class; or, you can redefine your selling proposition," he says, noting how Starbucks (SBUX) revolutionized the coffee shop by selling an experience rather than just a beverage.

However you choose to be different, you must be great at the basics and exceptional at your defining factor, Carr says. "The key here is to know who you are and who you are not." Another way to get a toehold in a mature market is to watch for change or stagnation in that industry and capitalize on it. "Even in highly competitive industries—perhaps even more so than in noncompetitive markets—there are external and internal market forces that will create change in the dynamics," says Eric Basu, president and CEO of technology firm Sentek Consulting in Mission Hills, Calif. "Successful companies and entrepreneurs aspiring to enter a competitive market will observe the winds of change and seize opportunities arising from changes. A successful entrepreneur will often have prepared for entry into the industry by securing capital, establishing connections, possibly occupying a sentry position, and otherwise laying the groundwork for opportunity."

Starting a Business in a Crowded Market [BusinessWeek]

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StartupJournal: Bob McQuillan runs a tight ship at his Hollywood Tans franchise in Arlington, Va. He knows precisely when workers clock in and out, who each of his daily customers are and which employees are selling what products, at regular price, or discount. But there's a twist: He's doing all this micromanaging from home -- 133 miles away in Mullica Hill, N.J.

"We monitor the business remotely via the Internet," says Mr. McQuillan, who co-owns the store with his wife and another business partner.

While a manager handles the tanning salon's day-to-day affairs, he pulls up data from afar by computer. A fingerprint scanner monitors workers' arrivals and departures, while intricate software tallies sales data and pricing, almost in real time. "I'm down there once every three months," he says.

The franchising world is letting loose. Gone are the days of one owner being chained behind the counter of a single store day in, day out. Today, there are absentee owners who oversee their operations from laptops and Treos, and owners who maintain dual careers or run multiple franchises. At Hollywood Tanning Systems Inc., more than half of the 330 franchise owners have another job. The chief executive of Sport Clips Inc. hair salons estimates that 10 hours a week is a "generous allowance" for owners to physically be in stores. And franchisees for the Decor&You Inc. interior-design business can receive decorating and product training at home whenever they like via online video seminars.

Why Running a Franchise Is Easier Than Ever [StartupJournal]

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The Closet Entrepreneur: Identical twins Amal and Juan graduate with Bachelors degrees and receive the same job offer. Amal passes up the job offer to pursue a Masters degree while Juan takes the job offer and begins working. Two years pass and Amal graduates and begins working. By this time Juan has been promoted to a position that is comparable to Amal’s starting position, and Juan’s salary has increased to an amount that is comparable to Amal’s starting salary. So who made the better decision, Amal or Juan?

While the example of Amal and Juan is situational, opportunity costs definitely apply in the real world. Opportunity costs especially come into play when time is of the essence like starting a business, fixing and flipping an investment property, selling your home, et cetera.

In some cases, saving money by doing things yourself can be beneficial. Yet the benefit of saving money has to be weighed against the benefit of getting things done quickly and correctly by a professional. For example, anyone can learn how to build a website or remodel an investment property on their own, yet if doing so comes at a cost of several months of lost revenue or rent, then is it really worth it?

Opportunity costs even come into play in the pursuit of happiness. Which would you rather choose, lifelong happiness or a life of misery living out someone else’s dream?

Understanding Opportunity Costs = Better Decisions [The Closet Entrepreneur]

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StartupNation: Franchising is a wonderful way to go into business for yourself. So many things have already been established for your benefit: branding, marketing, processes, products, systems, etc.

Building a business through franchising has been so successful that franchised businesses generate jobs for more than 18 million Americans and account for 10 percent of the private-sector economic output, according to a study recently released by the International Franchise Association Educational Foundation.

If you’re convinced that you want to investigate franchising for your next career move, how do you go about finding just the right one?

Step 1 – Take Stock of Yourself
Before you start looking at franchises, take stock of that most important component of the equation – you. By starting with a list of what you have to offer and what you need from a business, you can create a strategy and model for your research.

Step 2 – Research, and Keep an Open Mind
Whether you use a resource like FranChoice or do your own research elsewhere online, keep all options open when considering a franchise. And don’t lock yourself into one or two concepts. If you think, “I’ll only look at ice cream and exercise franchises,” you could miss finding a gem that meshes perfectly with your needs.

Step 3 – First Contact
Let’s say you’ve found several promising franchises. What’s next? Contact the franchisors and ask for information about their concepts. You’ll probably get call from someone in their development department who will gauge your interest and tell you if the territory you want is available. Thoroughly review the franchisors’ Web site and any brochures and videos they send you.

Step 4 – Read the UFOC
Every franchise in the United States is required to provide a UFOC (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular). Read it thoroughly. You’ll learn the franchisor’s history, training and marketing programs, and what costs, royalties and fees you’ll have to pay.

Step 5 – Talk with Existing Franchisees
Getting feedback from existing franchisees is one of the most important steps you can take to judge how happy you’ll be with a particular franchise. They’re your best source of information about what really happens in the business day to day. Ask what they like and dislike, if they’re happy with corporate support, and even get a feel for their earnings.

Step 6 – Narrow the Field
It may not be easy, but it’s time to narrow down your choices. Hopefully you’ve now found one or more companies that fill your needs.

Step 7 – Making your Choice
As with any major decision, you’ll be filled with anticipation and anxiety, excitement and fear. Any or all of those are normal. But if you’ve done your homework and followed these steps, you’ll be fully prepared and can be comfortable with your decision.

7 Steps to Choosing the Franchise for You [StartupNation]

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