Learning to fly

One of the most fun and fulfilling times I have had was raising peacocks, ornamental pheasants, and quail along with the chickens and ducks who were the basics of my beginning small business. 

It started when I went to visit my brother more than 30 years prior at a place he lived in Oregon.  He had built his own cabin in the woods, bought a truck, and gotten a horse.  He lived among the timbers.  One of the most memorable sights of the trip was that he had gotten a peacock who roamed freely.  Never had I been so close to one and I was amazed at their beauty.

Little by little my love for birds grew and was kicked into high gear after a visit to small zoo in Honolulu and the museum that contained items from Princess Kaiulani who was  referred to as the Peacock Princess.  So much was her fascination with the birds that they roamed freely throughout the palace grounds and one of  her own dresses was designed and made from royal blue velvet with a bodice of feathers.  In line for the throne her story ended sadly when she died at age 23 of pneumonia.

My own dream continued to grow with first a few chicks, there a chick, and everywhere a chick chick...

The population grew to between 200 - 500 birds and among them was more than a dozen peacocks who once decided to walk down the highway by our home raising the attention of all in the area. The housing was three buildings, brooders, a small incubator and then the leap to my 200 egg incubator.

The overall experience was definately one of the most fun and an opportunity to learn, meet people, be creative, plan, be adventurous, and finally after many mistakes actually begin to make a little money.

The beauty of small business is that it can be custom designed to the one running it and in line with their values, talents, and interests.  Resources abound for learning as long as one does not go faster than their own well rounded knowledge.  Whether one wants to indulge in a hobby or make some extra money the opportunities are as limitless as ones creativity.

Below are photos of some of the varieties I raised.  The males are shown as they are typically the more colorful:

Peacock



Golden Pheasant

Lady Amhurst Pheasant

Yellow Golden Pheasant

Ringneck Pheasant

 

Bobwhite Quail

Muscovy Duck

White Peacock

 

Photos courtesy of google.

Gold man

Riding the bus provides an almost daily element of interest and stories of the people in the city.  Last week was no exception.  I looked up from my book and noticed a man farther toward the front wearing a straw hat that had been spray painted gold.  Interesting but a little tacky for my tastes I thought.  As my stop came up I walked toward the front and noticed with interest that his clothes were also spray painted gold.  Hmmm.. Of course I wanted to unabashedly check him out but good manners prevented me from a full stare.  In walking past I couldn't help but glance down because I wanted to see his face.  What kind of person would wear painted clothes.  And, there it was...his face was painted gold also!

I continued to work and mentioned it to my coworkers.  "Oh yes, we have seen him downtown" they all replied.  Completely baffled I asked why would a person do such a thing?  They responded that people give him money.  Totally perplexed I had to affirm, "you mean people give him money for spray painting himself gold?"  My past 20 years in a rural area had not prepared me to even contemplate this possibility.  They assured me it was true.

I was totally impressed.  How much creativity did it take to come up with this idea?  Does one just wake up one morning and decide they want to be a gold man?  Or, was it one of those In The Trenches decisions made out of desperation of being down to ones last dollar?  Either way I had to give him credit for his ingenuity.

So are you low on money?  Get out your tablet and make a list of all the ideas that pop into your mind for making some extra money.  (Legal and moral of course)  Let gold man inspire you to new levels of creativity.  You may just come up with something brilliant.

As they grow...

Word reached me about this event and though our readers probably do not live in the area where it was held I thought the concept was so interesting that it was worth sharing for all the creative, industrious people out there. 

As they Grow was started by three women and the events are held twice a year.  Their website gives all the information and it looks like they have done an exceptional job in organizing. 

Everyone wins with this business model:

• The community has reasonably prices items,
• the consignors get rid of their stuff and make some money,
• the hosts make money,
• the consignors may elect to give all unsold items to local charities,
• and, of course, the children get new clothes.

Seems like the concept could work with other interests such a fishing supplies, holiday crafts and gifts, or even swap meet variety.

Hope you enjoy browsing through their website to come up with some of your own innovative ideas.

Get free advertising with VISTAPRINT

With the change of economic circumstances many have turned toward side jobs to supplement or replace their income.  But the big question arises about how to get the word out about your business or service without spending a lot of money.

The readers of In The Trenches know that I do not have advertising as part of the blog format because why would I encourage cutting back and at the same time placing ads to encourage one to buy?  I discovered Vistaprint from a recommendation from my son to help provide the tools for promoting the book.  I have had so much fun and am so pleased with the company that I wanted to pass on the information to you so that it might help promote your business, community work, or blog.

Here are some of the things I have ordered for FREE:

Business Cards

T-shirt

Keychain

Pens

Poster

Vistaprint has brochures, stationary, hats, rubber stamps, preprinted checks, and there are hundreds of styles to choose from or use your own logos and photos. So far I have been very pleased at their selection and service. Of course they are in this to make money but they have a generous free and sample program to get you started. As your needs and business grow they can be a helpful resource. They also do web hosting and mailing services. I spent and enjoyed an entire afternoon just browsing through their products and designs and tonight found that you can also make caricatures....sounds fun.

Next on In The Trenches...When will this economic crisis be over?

Small Business Roundup 3

With over 2 million still receiving extensions on unemployment the need to consider alternatives to the 9 to 5 work week is not only an option but a necessity.  Just because a person does not have a job does not mean that they do not have marketable skills.  In an on-going effort to provide information about home-based business and self-employment here is the third roundup of articles from some really great blogs.  Success is not usually achieved through luck but through hard work, innovation, and creativity.  If you have come across a helpful small business post please feel free to email me for inclusion in the next roundup or put the link in the comments. 

Kernel Season's

Have you heard of Kernel Season's?  It's a line of seasonings that was developed by a college student who was looking for ways to spice up his popcorn.  Soon friends wanted to try his flavors and the company was born.  His line of seasonings is now sold to movie theaters, on-line and in big name stores like Walmart.  They can also be found in some discount stores as we recently found a gift pack at Big Lots.

Book Review Weekend Entrepreneur 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Money

The first step to any new venture is to have a good idea.  Weekend Entrepreneur - 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash is an excellent place to start if you are contemplating where you can make some extra cash or start your own business.  The authors are Michelle Anton and Jennifer Basye Sander.

There are two things I really like about this book:
1.  The emphasis is on building an extra cash source that is compatible with your family structure and your interests.  This may seem like a small thing but most careers and businesses tend to put children and family on the back burner.  This book puts family first and the business works around that.
2.  The business ideas are based on a start slowly, start small basis so that you can learn and pay as you go.  This obviously is different than the dream big, borrow big, and hope you don't go bankrupt approach that is very popular.  Many of the ideas in the book require zero to $500 to begin. 

Johnny Appleseed

John Chapman was not yet 2 years old when his mother died during childbirth with her third child.  His father remarried and he and his second wife had 10 more children.  This family of fourteen lived in a poor small home.  His father worked three jobs to support them all.  John spent much time outdoors exploring the country just to get away from the too crowded home.

Book Review - Business for Beginners - Frances McGuckin

"More than 100,000 entrepreneurs
have used Business for Beginners to successfully
launch their business!

Making Money From A Home-based Beginning

When we think of earning extra money or a small business often our ideas start big and we think we need a building, office, staff, and a big loan to finance it all. Then when we hear that 80% of small businesses fail we wonder if the risk is really worth it. Recently I posted a small business roundup with some good tips on how to start small and build. Starting small minimizes the risk and allows you to learn by trial and error without risking a major investment. There are many excellent books and on-line articles about small business ideas to stimulate the creativity to find one that is right for you.

Here's a list of ideas that I have come up with that can be started from home. Once you come up with something you would like to try be sure and check with your local business offices to make sure you are able to comply with their regulations.

Small Business Roundup #2

I've been keeping my eye out for posts on small business that might provide beneficial information and those listed below are excellent.  Remember, the first part is the blog name that published the article and then the title of the article. 

I have been working on a business plan of my own and it's much harder than I would have expected but I can see that it is forcing me to ask all the right questions, think things through, and think like a business instead of a hobbiest.  Therefore, it is well worth the time and effort as I research and ponder all the questions along the way. 

Whether you are interested in having a little extra spending money or having a full fledge enterprise these articles will help turn your ideas into cash.

Support your local businesses

It's wonderful to talk about starting a small business but the other side of the coin is that we need to support them by shopping there.  It has become so easy to shop the import businesses like Walmart where we can find everything we need under one roof at low prices.  As we try to save money it's a logical choice.  So the dilemma begins.  Shop the small businesses that support our economy or choose immediate convenience at the cost of long term decline.  After all, Walmart is a very large employer. Sigh.  Nothing seems easy does it? 

Small Business Round-up

Maybe you have thought about starting your own business or need some extra pocket money but just don't know where to start.  Over the coming months I will be doing research and posting about Small Business Opportunities and information.  I have often suggested that you check out other blogs and this time is no exception.  A number of prominent bloggers have participated in an effort to put together information to get you started.  The links will take you directly to their sites and you will find additional areas of interest and assistance.  The link also shows the title of the article.  I want to thank each of those who have submitted articles and hope that our readers will find new ideas to assist in building their financial future. 

JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON

Each of us as bloggers has our unique perspective that we attempt to convey to our readers. The current buzz phrase for this is niche. It is no different in the personal finance blog world and is why I am always encouraging readers to check out multiple blogs, books, and resources before coming to conclusions. This is the best way to reach your own personalized solutions.

It’s like walking through the whole buffet line before filling your plate. When you know what’s available it is easier to pick and choose the best. Contrary to this is the person who starts filling their plate with salad not knowing that there is prime rib down the line. (Excuse me vegetarians out there.) In terms of blogs one might focus on coupon clipping, another on expense reduction ideas, and another on retirement planning and investment. All are good and worthwhile.

The American Dream - one step at a time.

I love to dream big. I love to take a small idea and figure out how to turn it into a winning enterprise. I am an American. That's what we do.

Sometimes I have been successful and sometimes I fail. I am learning what makes the difference and a big part of it is taking things one step at a time.

Paintbrush on America

Jobs are one of the hottest topics. Paintbrush on America is my job creation idea and could be reviewed for a federal, state, local, or personal jobs program. Feel free to use it or pass it on. Here's the idea:

Paintbrush on America

Nothing improves the look of a home faster than a fresh coat of paint. Paint can raise the appraised value of the home and neighborhood, increase the life of the home, and improve the pride of living in a community.

Painting can benefit every community in America from the urban areas to the small rural towns throughout the nation. The work would be distributed by population area so all Americans could benefit.

The program, if managed properly, can be economical by the purchase of paint in bulk and workers would be paid minimum wage while they obtain a valuable skill that can be used to open their own business or for personal use after the program is completed, and keep them off unemployment for the duration of the project. Training required is minimal. Availability and cost of the program could be supplemented by the private sector by charging on a scale based on income. This would enable the low income people to have the service for free or in trade for their own labor. Current businesses could avail themselves of the business if they are willing to comply with the guidelines of the program. (Such as when a doctor agrees to take what Medicare pays). Habitat for humanity would be an excellent resource to manage the project.

The program would compliment other programs currently under consideration such as the weatherization and plumbing projects. Another program that could fall into the same category is roofing. Although the idea does benefit the individual it also creates jobs, boosts the real estate market, and improves the communities in which we live.

If you have ideas that would generate jobs contact your city council, representatives, or whitehouse.gov. Creation of jobs is an American problem and we need to have an American solution in every community across the nation.