I have an addiction to non-fiction books on business. I have hundreds of hardback, paperback and ebooks on topics ranging from funding a business startup, to finance, marketing, social marketing, etc. I cross reference them, I store key topics and outlines in a database and I try to find the key ideas and consistent thoughts in all of them.

It is amazing how many books have been been written, and “new” Gurus who have surfaced that try to emulate the thoughts and principles Napoleon Hill published more than 70 years ago.

Without a doubt, Mr. Hill was one of the most influential “thinkers” on entrepenurial topics to have ever lived. He was a journalist, a fantastic student of successful business people and an insightful analyst of how people became successful. Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” was first published in 1937 and is on the bookshelf of almost every entreprenuer that I know. So to say I highly recommend his book is a massive understatement. But I recently stumbled across an even better book.

“What Would Napoleon Hill Do?” was written/edited by Bill and Ann Hartley (who are scholars of Mr. Hill) and is a fantastic discussion on the thoughts found in books written by Napoleon Hill. The Hartleys discuss each of Napoleons 16 Principles and have actually developed a very critical 17th Principle.

This is not WOO WOO, New Agey crap. The principles discussed in this book have proven to be sound, they make absolute sense and they do work for anyone who applies them properly. But as discussed in the book, it is not up to somebody else to make you successful, the only person on the face of the earth who can make you successful…is you, and “What Would Napoleon Hill Do” provides the specific guidelines on how to do it.

The chapters found in this great book are titled:

• THE NEWLY DISCOVERED SEVENTEENTH PRINCIPLE
• YOUR DEFINITE CHIEF AIM
• SELF-CONFIDENCE AND FAITH IN YOUR ABILITIES
• CONCENTRATION, AFFIRMATION,AND VISUALIZATION
• ACCURATE THINKING AND INFINITE INTELLIGENCE
• IMAGINATION AND INFINITE INTELLIGENCE
• THE MASTER MIND ALLIANCE AND INFINITE INTELLIGENCE
• A PLEASING PERSONALITY AND CREATING CHARISMA
• ENTHUSIASM AND SUCCESS-CONSCIOUSNESS
• SELF-CONTROL IS THOUGHT CONTROL
• COOPERATION, TEAMWORK,AND ORGANIZED EFFORT
• INITIATIVE, LEADERSHIP, AND SELF-RELIANCE
• PROFITING BY FAILURE
• DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR
• THE HABIT OF SAVING:MASTERING FEAR OF POVERTY
• TOLERANCE AND INTOLERANCE
• THE GOLDEN RULE

Give yourself (or your favorite young entrepreneur) the best gift available for Christmas/birthday/New Years/Valentines Day/Mothers Day/etc….buy a copy of “What Would Napoleon Hill Do“. RIGHT NOW!

Then sit down and read it..but more importantly..turn off the TV/Computer/Video Games and take the time to follow the recommendations.

You absolutely will not be sorry!

A podcast is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds (RSS) for playback on portable media players (such as an Ipod) and personal computers. The term “podcasting”, like “radio”, can refer either to the content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

Can you actually make money Podcasting? Certainly! Thousands of people are doing exactly that right now!

There are a number of ways to cash in on this relatively new communications tool and with the phenomenal success of the Ipod, more and more opportunities are being created every day.

Podcasts are basically a verbal broadcast tool, just as if you had your own radio show… but with the current technology you can now record a quality podcast at your computer without the need for an elaborate recording studio. There are a number of software tools and certainly a few insider techniques required to make a podcast into a professional product and we have listed links at the bottom of this article to some of the best how-to guides available.

If you’re an expert on a particular topic or industry, your target market is probably already defined and you will just need to spend some time identifying how best to get your podcast noticed. Perhaps you have an online auction success story or you may be a motivational speaker looking to reach an online audience, or maybe you recently wrote a book and need to promote it online. Podcasting can be a useful tool for driving traffic to purchase products, or you can sell the podcast itself as a product.

A few more ideas on what you might be able to record and sell….

* Make the podcast a tool in selling your e-book or book

* Interview people in a specific industry with applicable knowledge to your topic, sell these as part of a newsletter

* After you have become a recognized authority on a topic, sell the Podcast itself

* Use podcasts as a way to create value added tutorials for your products or services

* Create lecture style podcasts that “students” would pay for

* Read and record books,articles or class notes that busy commuters could listen to (be aware of copyright restrictions)

* This is a great method for Coaches, motivational speakers, psychologists,internet marketers and other people who are able to provide hints, advice,techniques, and how-to information

* Use old radio formats and re-create them for todays market

* Create podcasts of walking tours or scenic drives for tourists or vistors to the area

* Record sporting team reviews or player reports for sporting events

* Sell reviews,tips and advice on how to play a particular golf course

* Restaraunt reviews or shopping advice to sell to subscribers

As you can see, the list of possible marketable topics is almost endless. Once you have a subscriber list you can update your podcast on a regular basis on send it to them automatically through an RSS feed.

Listed below are links to Amazon.com for articles and books that can help you set up your recording office, market your podcast and more importantly How to make money in Podcasting.

Podcasting books at Amazon.com

Welcome to Minipreneur Network, the web’s preeminent site for networking resources for small and microbusinesses, freelancers, side-businesses, weekend entrepreneurs, web-driven entrepreneurs, part-timers, free agents, cottage businesses, seniorpreneurs, co-creators, mompreneurs, pro-ams, solopreneurs, eBay traders, advertising-sponsored bloggers and all other classifications of the new wave of “mini-entrepreneurs”.

A recent study sponsored by Mastercard and Warillow International estimates that there are as many as 5 million of these micro businesses in the United States, representing almost 25% of all small businesses.

These entrepreneurs generally are seeking to accomplish one or more of the following:

• Switch careers or make some other major life change.
• Do something similar to their current work, yet be their own boss.
• Make extra cash, perhaps for just a few hours a week, and gain a feeling of empowerment from working for themselves.

To minimize risk, they typically keep their regular jobs — at least at first.

So if this description describes your current status or if you have not yet made the transition but want to network with some of today’s best small business owners, come on in!

As with most dynamic functions or components, the drivers of capitalism continue to evolve. At the turn of the last century we had giants of smoke-stack industry like Carnegie, Hilton, Ford and Mellon. These heavily capital intensive enterprises pulled us from the mercantilism of the 1700′s into Capitalism of the 20th Century. Millions of dollars of equipment and hundreds of laborers were required to convert material into consumer goods.

But now, with the advent of the internet, globalization has impacted every aspect of our economy. We no longer need to depend upon one small manufacturer in Godknowswhere New Jersey to provide a part for a widget. Today we can design, model, source and produce product from a tiny town in New Hampshire as easily as it was done from New York, Chicago or Detroit 50 years ago.

The leading edge of advertising and marketing is no longer “interruption” marketing such as radio and television ads, but now “Permission” marketing where consumers respond to websites or email by “Opting-in” for more information. Product that is in the Long Tail of the demand curve is no longer relegated to the dusty storage bins of the backroom, but now have search engines and websites pointing to where they are best available.

Folks, we are in the perfect storm for these consumer/entrepreneurs that Trendwatching.com has dubbed Minipreneurs. These (often single person) enterprises are set to become the new drivers of the next wave of Capitalism. Although there is nothing easy and there is certainly the need to be a “sharp” business person, virtually anyone in any location can now become a successful entrepreneur marketing to consumers anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately, one of the advantages to the new Minipreneurism is also a disadvantage. The isolation of a Minipreneur can be both a blessing and a curse. With no departmental interaction, and perhaps an isolated viewpoint of markets or marketing, a Minipreneur must develop a network to bounce ideas around, to look to for advice, to help identify trends, and to provide general feedback on a regular basis. There are two solutions to this problem, one is to form a MasterMind group and the second is to browse over to www. MinipreneurNetwork.com

In many books (as well as articles posted on the internet), Napoleon Hill is credited with creating the concept of MasterMinds. But in reality, the concept of a MasterMind group is not something new and actually predates Napoleon Hill by centuries. Masterminds have been around since the dawn of time, but in 1727 Benjamin Franklin formed a small club made up of enterprising artisans and tradesmen that he dubbed the Junto. They met one night a week with everyone in it helping each other succeed by recommending books, shopkeepers, and friends to each other. The group lasted 40 years and has been credited with creating the thoughts and ideas for the first public hospital, our first library, police departments, volunteer fire departments, paved streets, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Today’s MasterMind groups are not so different from Benjamin Franklin’s group. The basic premise is that more can be accomplished in less time by working together in a small group of supportive colleagues. The collective wisdom of the group – often called “the third mind” or synergy moves you beyond your individual perspectives to create ideas and “Aha!” moments that often leapfrog your business to new heights of success. But how do you find “supportive colleagues” to participate in your MasterMind group?

Minpreneur Network has been developed specifically to address this problem. Utilizing Web 2 technology, members of Minipreneur Network are able to network with other individuals via forums, online chat, classified ads, creation of personal networks and by creating their own on-line MasterMind groups. The site contains forums pertinent to Minipreneurs as well as collaborative articles on marketing, running a business, identifying trends and potential business ideas. MPN members may utilize the drill-down capabilites of our database to identify potential MasterMind participants and also may create their own “mini-site” to promote their business.

With the non-stop and often short-lived evolution of business opportunities, now is the time to jump in.

How to Start a Children’s Clothing Business | eHow.co.uk eHow Blog:Travel Tips for Freeways ArticlesVideosMembersWebArticles HOME HOW TOs VIDEOS COMMUNITY Home » Business » Running a Business » Starting a Business » How to Start a Children’s Clothing Business More Articles Like This How to Start a Kid’s Clothing StoreHow to Start a Children’s Clothing StoreHow to Open a Children’s Clothing StoreHow to Open a Clothing BusinessHow to Start a Kids’ Clothing Line How ToHow to Start a Children’s Clothing BusinessContributorBy Lashon Fryer, eHow Contributing WriterArticle Rating: (1 Ratings) Email Facebook Twitter StumbleUponAdd to Favorites Print ShareYour desire to start a children’s clothing business or store may be the result of your love for fashion, or it could be a childhood dream. Still, starting a business takes more than aspiration and admiration; you will also need to work hard to turn your business venture into a success. However, if you couple your passion with the hard work, you will eventually open the doors to your children’s clothing store.

Difficulty: ModerateInstructionsThings You’ll Need:ComputerInternetTelephoneStarting a Children’s Clothing StoreStep 1

Create the vision for your store. To help your children’s clothing store become successful, you need to create a vision by writing a business plan. If you will need to apply for a loan, you will definitely need a business plan to provide to potential investors. Even if you plan to fund the business venture with your own capital, you still need a business plan. The plan will need to include enough information to identify the mission and the purpose of your business, your plans for operation, and how you intend to fund your business. The Small Business Administration, an online resource for small businesses, provides a sample template that you can view for free on its website.

Step 2

Secure a location for your children’s clothing business. You need to determine if you will have a brick and mortar storefront, an online storefront, or both. If you plan to have a physical location, you need to pay attention to the accessibility of the location, and also the flow of business in the immediate and surrounding areas. If you opt to have an online storefront, you need to determine if you will host your own store on the web, or if you will have an online merchant such as eBay or Pro Stores host it for you.

Step 3

Obtain an employment identification number, or EIN. An employment identification number is how the Internal Revenue Service will identify your business. An EIN can also be referred to as a tax identification number, and it can be obtained on the Internal Revenue Service website.

Step 4

Obtain a business license in your state. Some states require that you have a business license in addition to your EIN. To find out the other licenses you need to operate your business, contact your local city hall.

Step 5

Find wholesale distributors. Now that you have your vision, your location, and the licenses, you need to buy the children’s clothing to supply your store. There are numerous wholesale distributors online where you can buy children’s clothing in bulk lots. You can also check for wholesale merchants in your city.

Step 6

Market your business. You already know your target market, so that portion of your marketing job is done. Still, you will need to advertise to get those customers into your store. There are countless ways to market a physical or an online store front. However, if you can afford to hire a marketing professional, it will allow you more time to focus on other areas of your business. If money is an issue, you might consider cheaper options like email marketing, social networking sites, the newspaper, word of mouth, and you can also have a big grand opening to attract business.

Tips & WarningsProviding outstanding customer service will also attract business.After you build a customer base, you may need to hire one or two employees to help with the business; you should include employment wages in your business plan, and don’t forget to pay yourself.

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