April 2012
Solving A Food Problem
Different Niches According to Associated Press food editor, J.M. Hirsch, he started a blog called Lunch Box Blues to help tackle the challenge of preparing daily lunches for his young son, and then other parents began asking for advice. On the other hand, The Lunch Tray has a primary goal of reforming the food served […]
Got Milk? You’d Better!
An Idea Consumers Could Not Refuse Rumor has it that gangster Al Capone created the idea of putting expiration dates on milk cartons. Forget about it! However, during the Prohibition era, the mob did have their fingers (udders?) in the dairy industry, and organized crime developed the concept of date-stamping the liquid to alert customers […]
The Postal Inspector
Fraud on the Internet Find out what kinds of ventures the postal inspector puts out of business. Free DVDs or printed material. Reference https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/FraudSchemes.aspx Visits: 62
Apprenticeship Search Quiz
Trade Skill Mini Tests Although this site is geared to Canadian apprenticeship programs, the trades listed for jobseekers at apprenticeshipsearch.com include brief self-assessment tools entitled Do you measure up? It’s useful starting point info for visitors outside Canada considering working with their hands in a startup. Reference http://www.apprenticesearch.com/Resources/Applicants Visits: 88
Apprenticeship
Learning by Doing The reality program The Apprentice has been on the air for seven years, but the concept is centuries old. Apprenticeship was an accepted method of learning a skill. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci apprenticed out at age 14 to a famous artist. An aspiring entrepreneur might consider the idea to learn about […]
TechShop San Francisco
Invention Workshop for Do-It-Yourselfers TechShop states that their program is for everyone, regardless of their skill level. I’m not so sure about that. If you’ve ever watched Tim Allen’s Home Improvement, or Bill Cosby’s character, Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, happily strap on a tool belt and create utter chaos, then you’ll know that some people should […]
The Business of Humor
Many Niches in the Laughter Industry Whether it’s marketing comedy sketches via podcasts, manufacturing or retailing gag gifts, or writing novelty humor books, the industry has countless niches. For instance, some comedians use their standup skills beyond the world of entertainment. Consider Australian funnyman, Dave Flanagan, conducts Standup with Confidence workshops for groups of long-term […]
Voice Work for Beginners
Technology Changes Industry Voiceover acting is now a tech-driven home-based free-lance business, in many cases. Several years ago, you would travel to a studio to record your auditions, but today you’re expected to have quality home equipment in order to create audio auditions for potential clients. Some agents will not represent you if you don’t […]
Nathaniel Hawthorne: Fame but No Fortune
Today, The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables are familiar to many students assigned to read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work. It was a different story during the author’s lifetime, in the 19th century. Although he was well-known, his books enjoyed only a measure of popularity at the time. Hawthorne’s works never sold as […]
Cereality
Breakfast on the Go Watching pedestrians during morning rush hour gave the founders of the Cereality Company the idea for a new concept, according to Jordan Levine, CEO. Mothers with children and executives all shared a common habit while rushing to their destinations: they were usually gobbling down dry cereal that they had grabbed on […]