How to Start a Business

We’re often encouraged to think that the secret to starting is a business is to have a bold and entirely original idea. But the suggestion here is that all we really need is to LOVE something a little more than most other people do: that will be enough to help us stand out from the competition.

FURTHER READING

“Many of us want to start our own businesses. Public space is filled with reports of new ventures. But the reporting on entrepreneurship is heavily skewed in one particular direction: towards people who have started new kinds of businesses, pioneers who have pushed the boundaries of commerce by creating a wholly original offering, usually through the help of an innovative piece of technology...”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Alan Jennings

[avan]

I started and ran an aquarium service for 25 years, and I loved it. I retired when I was no longer physically able to do it. I passed my clients along to another young hobbyist who also loves aquariums. It never made me wealthy, but in all those years I never once dreaded going to work.

[fluorine]

I’m only 12 and I really want to have a business! Good luck to anyone who wants to start a business!!!

[DecodeChannel]

Great video! Here is summary:

1. Do not ignore "mature" business

2. Pick business of love instead of progmatic business

3. Commit to excellence of a given product

4. Reinvest profit and focus on the long-term

5. Find a niche you enjoy and would do almost for free

[Vaampz]

it was rather "What is Business".

[Belphoron]

The name of the video is "HOW" to start a business and not "WHY"
So instead of watching a video where I get some explanation about pragmatic and direct tips for starting a business I just hear some idealistic and philosophical oppinion about what should be the reasoning behind your own decision and motivation as to why to start a business.

[shubhankarsuley]

a popular Indian saying- a job is a business for 8 hrs., and a business is a job of 24 hrs.

[briantobias]

In the time we live now, it is so much easier to start a business! I suggest everyone follows their passion, double down on their strengths and get to work!

[bolivar]

1. Friends who want to get rich, here is an idea for you:

If you think that money and power alone would make you a happy person, you should first observe the people who already got there. You could start by watching the excellent movie " Wolf of Wall Street" by Martin Scorsese. It is based on a true story.

You can also watch " Citizen Kane" and the most depressing documentary I have ever seen in my life: " Born Rich".

Of course we need to make money in order to live a decent life. But it is really crucial to realise that the fancy house and the car and the rolex and whatever luxury we can imagine can only give us "comfort" but it is absolutely not enough to lead a " fulfilling life". We can only feel fulfilled when we lead a meaningful life. Making money alone, can never get us there.

2. For example take Maria Popova. She is the founder of the wonderful website Brainpickings. She used to have a steady, well paid job, but this is what she says about her decision to leave it:

“Do I want to bury myself in a corporate job that I’m going to spent 80% of my waking hours at, be miserable, and hope that the money it gives me will make the other 20% of my life better, even though I’m angry and tired and burned out? Or, do I want to do something that makes me happy to wake up to and happy to go to sleep having done and let the financial part figure itself out?"

Now she is reading and writing all day and bringing wisdom into people's lives through her website! And turns out that it became a huge success and she makes her living out of it!

3. Anyone who is willing to think deeply enough on this issue, before deciding what to do, must also read Alain's great book: " The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work". I have found so many things in it that I have never thought about before. And I can't recommend you enough the documentary " Status Anxiety", which you can find on youtube.

4. If you are not sure about where to find meaning for your life, Ken Robinson have wonderful speeches on this issue. Just search for his name on TED. He also gave a speech in TSOL which is on youtube. It is called " Ken Robinson on Passion".

5. I have a lawyer friend in Istanbul, she was also the chief editor of a Kurdish newspaper and that's why there are 142 lawsuits against her! For more than a year now, she is expecting to be taken to prison. I saw her last month again and instead of complaining about her situation she told me: can you believe that most lawyers don't attend torture victims who have no money? She can't believe that there are people who wouldn't help if they don't get paid for it.
She has a modest income because most of her clients can't pay her, but she is one of the strongest and most peaceful people I know.

Those who do a work of love don't expect external rewards. The real reward is in knowing that they are doing the right thing. They have a sense of dignity, a clarity of mind and an urge to lead a "meaningful" life and serve a noble cause. That's where their strength comes from.

Her example shows that yes, you can be "this idealistic" and still make enough money to live with dignity.

[nouadhiboufishingforce]

His voice make me feel thirsty and hungry

[Snow-voyi]

This video has helped me a lot. I want to start an automotive upholstery business making nice leather seats at a fraction of the cost that big companies do it for. Everyone that I've told this to sees it as stupid because "theres no money in that" and "people have already done that." Thanks for the advice! I feel a lot better about this idea now, I don't care about being rich, I just want to be happy.

[sylendraws]

Businesses of Love have good Products.
Pragmatic Businesses have good Marketing

[fatimaalmisfer]

i just turned 14 and hopefully i am starting my business next month i'll be selling delicious food i am grateful that my parents are giving me money to start preparing and buying stuff for my business wish me luck + good luck for anyone whose starting a new business :) i said business like a million time's lol :)

[michelekurlan]

Love is an action word so this is a how to. "Do what you love and the money will follow"

[nhiavue]

I think the book, Start With Why by Simon Sinek is a great book for anyone who want to start a business, organization, or just anything in general. It relates to the parts in the video about loving what you do and how businesses, that don't love what they do fail. It's a really great book and I can't emphasize how much this book really change my view on why you should always start with WHY in everything you do. Give it a read, you won't regret it.

[juliejackman]

My husband and I had a counseling business for many years. Didn't know anything about running a business but just did what occurred to us to do. We really liked it. We didn't like hiring counselors though, since we aren't counselors. But my favorite part was I loved being office manager of it though.

[ace-jbtk]

I really wanna start a small business in my townhome complex.

It’s focused around keeping our courtyard clean and encouraging residents to recycle and not litter.

I’m only 11 and i’m in this alone.

I’ll try my best though.

[BukanTed]

his voice is so soothing.came here to learn about business, leave with tears:')

[theaxisofinsight]

A good business is one that solves an existing problem or prevents the end of something good. It doesn’t necessary have to be a completely new idea!

[CourtneyChaal]

Yes! As long as there are people who have problems, want things, need things, there is plenty of room for more businesses. I used to think that I had to invent something world-changing to start a business.

[NinjaKuma]

Here I am thinking about what video to make next and I ended up here - thank you, empowered me greatly!