Entrepreneur:
Business and personal coaches start by getting professional coach training, says Karen Kimsey-House, co-author of Co-Active Coaching.
Find International Coach Federation-accredited training programs at coachfederation.com. Determine your niche by examining your background, your strengths and the kinds of people you’re drawn to helping.
Use your network to find your first clients as well. Says Kimsey-House, ‘It’s the personal relationships that you need to build a practice.’ Explore networking groups and your target industry trade shows, too.
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Try home parties: Do you have a product to sell? Throw a party. But before the fun begins, ask yourself some serious questions, such as what kind of hours you want to work and whether you plan on building a downline, says Anita DeFrank, co-owner of DirectSalesHelpers.com. Home parties are good for all products, but if your product’s good to eat or nice to touch, that’s even better. ‘Hands- and mouth-on parties,’ says DeFrank, ’seem to work the best.’
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Teach Kids: Diverse new educational programs for kids, from cooking schools to abacus learning programs, have experienced growing popularity since 2006, while the revenue for tutoring, test-preparation and supplemental content programs grew 6 percent to make child education a $21.9 billion industry in 2005, according to market research firm Eduventures LLC. As more kids start aiming for college, that elusive acceptance letter is becoming increasingly hard to snag - the younger generations will need all the help they can get to maintain a competitive edge.
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Market to Pet Lovers: With 64 million households owning a pet as of last year, according to Pet Age magazine, man’s best friend is quickly befriending the American economy. According to the National Pet Owners Survey, Americans spent $39 billion on their pets last year, and the numbers are increasing. Break into the industry by tapping into the luxury supplies segment (think upscale carriers, food and apparel) or high-end services such as day spas for the pampered pet. Or jump in with a franchise, and welcome new customers with open paws.
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