Have you always wanted to start a business? Ever have the nagging feeling that your hobby could be something more? Do you often wish you could quit your job and do your own thing? Have you always wondered if anything could come of that business idea that never seems to go away?
If you answered “YES!” to any of those questions, I invite you to enter the Your Dream Starts Now contest.
The truth is that now is probably the best time in the history of the world to start your own thing. If you’re ready, this prize package has the potential to tip you over the edge from dreaming to doing.
Here’s What You Win:
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
As an entrepreneur myself, I’ve read a TON of business books. But none like this. This one chronicles fifty case studies of people who’ve started a wide variety of successful businesses with very little capital. (Many began with under $100 in funding.) The stories deliver gobs of inspiration, but this book also gives you steps to take, and charts to follow, and solid real-world advice for making your little dream a big reality.
The Icarus Deception by Seth Godin
Seth Godin is one of my biggest heroes and this book may be his best. In it he makes a passionate argument for why you should be treating your work as art. But as he reminds us, “Art is not a gene or a specific talent. It’s an attitude, available to anyone who has a vision that others don’t, and the guts to do something about it. Steve Jobs was an artist. So were Henry Ford and Martin Luther King Jr.” Seth will convince you that it’s better to be sorry than safe and you’ll be inspired to fly higher than ever.
It’s Time To Dream Bigger print by Jason Kotecki
This is a not-yet-released 8×10 print of one of my favorite works so far. I’m hoping it will earn a special spot on your wall to encourage you to dream bigger than ever and serve as a reminder that 2013 will be your best year yet.
A Little Something Extra
This might be the coolest part of the prize, but we can’t tell you what it is, because it’s a secret.
Here’s How To Enter:
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below sharing your dream. You don’t have to leave a business plan or anything, but explain what kind of enterprise you’d like to launch. Why does it excite you? And why is 2013 the year you’re going to make it come true?
Deadline For Entries:
The deadline for entries is Thursday, January 24, 2013. We will be selecting TWO winners, so your chances of winning just doubled!
UPDATE:
We selected two random grand prize winners. They are: Debbie and Tiffani! Also, since we had a few extra copies of The Icarus Deception, we randomly selected three additional people to receive a copy of that book as well as the print by Jason. (Mel, Nicole, and Donna) Congrats to you guys, and thanks to everyone who shared their dream with us. Best wishes and mucho success!
I dream of combining the fun of beading with my sewing hobby.
I am a family child care provider. I love my job so I would never quit. I have been a presenter at child care conferences. I like sharing my marketing tips and my version of a parent orientation binder. I would like to expand my conference workshops by including time for the participants to work on their own orientation binder to take home. Or if I can start selling them online to providers.
I dream of moving my blog to the next level. I have a free wordpress blog on which I recently reached 75,000 views and I have purchased a domain name, but I have never taken the next step. 2013 is the year to refocus – transfer my blog to my own domain and figure out how to grow it, both to inspire more people and to generate some income.
I love my job as a preschool teacher. i love when I find a printable, sign, or activity idea that I know will spark my kid’s love for learning. I just know that I rarely have time to create these things from start to finish, and I’m sure there are others like me out in the world. To be able to make and sell the patterns or final products to help other teachers out is a dream of mine.
I am self employed currently but would love to combine my passion for Children and Travel…in 2013….
My best friend and I spend a lot of time crafting together. Not only is it fun, it’s awesome therapy for what ails ya! We sew, make cards, make jewelry, ornaments, bookmarks, whatever tickles our fancy! We would love to get some more info on how to make money from our crafts, and winning this prize would be just the sort of encouragement we need. Thanks for considering us!
My husband and I are working toward living completely off-the-grid and living sustainably. We recently purchased some acreage and are building a cob house. He is in the process of setting up a nano-brewery (wildernessbrewingco.com) as part of an artisan co-op venture. I would love to eventually take some of the produce from our homestead and build a business selling preserved/canned fruits and veggies. We have some cool farmer’s markets/CSAs/etc. in the area, but it is so hard to find good, fresh food in the winter. I would love to help fill that gap.
I plan to start my own professional organizing business. I love cleaning out closets, basements, drawers, etc. It’s what I do when I’m stressed out or overwhelmed. And I’d love to help others find more time to spend on what they love (or with whom they love) by helping them get organized.
I dream of continuing to expand my services to the level of virtual assistant, to the point that it pays my bills and lets me be settled enough to never worry about getting a ‘real’ job, so that I can have CHICKENS in my backyard.
I dream of sharing helpful parenting information I have found as well as our experience with our first born through my website http://www.motheringinfo.com. I’ve just started but I’m hoping for it to get much bigger very soon! Please check it out. I’m becoming an associate for products I personally use and endorse to hopefully monetize the website. I am currently working as a personal care provider yet our time is limited. 2013 is the year because our family is growing!!!
2013 is the year I’m finally going to get my game made. I love playing games with my kids and my friends, and just about anybody. Now’s the time because why not!
I work in the community recreation and summer camping industry. I LOVE summer camp and camp programming (theme weeks, specail events, etc.) but there was nowhere on the internet I could go to for ideas. So I started a camp programming blog and I share my thoughts and ideas there. My dream for 2013 is to grow my readership with more posts, adding a podcast, and creating videos – and to monetize it with a book series, and live and online trainings/retreats.
I just piloted an in-school program where we become gym class for a week. Our innovate and fun equipment makes even the most reluctant child LOVE gym class. In 2013, I need to turn this into a viable business. It’s so rewarding to see all of the kids moving and having fun. And it warms my heart to see children with special needs try something new and find something special that they love.
I have a friend who is older and single and no relatives that she trusts. She needs an Emergency Contact who has info that may be needed. I thought that this would be a good business or service. I have no idea how one could do this, and I can see all sorts of concerns – access, info security, legal issues . . . and so forth.
It’s been a dream of my for a few years now to open a business where people can come to enjoy healthy meals that provide super foods to their well being. In addition to serving up nutritious meals, this place will also offer seminars on nutrition, cleansing, healing through nutrition, bodywork, etc. Various activities will also be taking place -all activities to serve individuals higher good.
The purpose of this business is to help people become aware of how important and necessary it is for them to become self-sustaining in today’s world.
Creating and growing this type of business as an outreach to the world is my bliss. It is something I cannot not do.
I have too long succumbed to the adult words: security, stability, safety. Now is the time to live the life I dream about, not dream to get me through the life I have chosen. I want to start my blog, write my books, and go share with people wherever they want to learn about better relationships. It is where all my spare thoughts and energy go, why should my most important thoughts get what’s left of my energy and not the most of it? This is the year to yell back at the fear with the truth: I have something important to share and you can’t stop me!
I sew & make greeting cards. I would LOVE to be able to make enough money to survive doing these things. I love to create & am so happy when I am in my craft room.How wonderful it would be to have a job that I love that much!!
My dream is to combine sustainable farming/csa efforts with a child care/education program. Children would have hands on learning experiences through gardening/animal care and other hands-on activities and they would also be provided healthy, organic meals. All areas of development would be intertwined with hands-on learning, including the importance of healthy eating.
I started Sing & Discover llc in 2008. I’ve lead singing and movement programs at libraries, preschools, co-ops, summer camp and day cares. I play the guitar, share puppets, stories, and lead movement activities. Music and the creative arts are gifts that keep giving as they bring joy and help kids learn & develop. I’ve subbed at half a dozen pre-schools and even had the privelege of leading two teacher in- services. I’ve also given programs for children and adults on Burkina Faso Africa. (where my son served in the Peace Corps & I had the trip of a lifetime).
I enjoyed your keynote adress at a conference several years ago and find inspiration in your e-mails. My dream is to bump this fabulous hobby into a profitable retirement business. I was a stay at home mom/volunteer and I’m not yet strong on: sales, accounting,and time management business activities. Your prize reading material sounds facinating. Thanks for all you and Kim do. After reading why not me I decided to enter this contest:)
I dream of creating a place where the kid in all of us can play. A destination that promises fun; a place where you can get the wiggles and giggles out; a place where you can “make” and “do”; a “hot spot” for field trips, birthday parties, and staff development opportunities.
I’ve always helped others figure out things. How to repair something or the best way to accomplish something. I’ve always suggested the best business to go into a particular storefront & suggested the best location for someone’s store. I also come up with ideas about everything. I’ve been correct, with friends & family, about 95% of the time my advice was even considered. I would love to earn a living selling my ideas & suggestions.
My dream is to become a nutritionist. I have learned so much and have been helped (health-wise) so much just by learning how to properly feed my body that I want to be able to help other people too. I love figuring out what foods and nutrients help different things and in my community I really see a need for a healthier, alternative health care. I plan on making 2013 my year to do it because I have already started looking at schools and have talked to my current boss about career options.
I dream of starting an after school program for inner city youth. This is my dream because I know of too many children that go home after school to an empty house leaving them vulnerable and susceptible to becoming a victim of violence or a perpetrator of the like. My heart hurts to see and hear of children being at risk because of lack of supervision. I’d hate for a child to make a mistake while they are young that enters them in the criminal justice system for the rest of their lives. I want to create healthy successful paths for children. The idea of having this after school program excites me because I know I can help children and be there to give them the attention and care they deserve. 2013 will be the year I make this a reality because the sooner I am up and running the more children I can help! Children are my passion and surrounding myself and helping them helps me fight adultitis!
I want to help people stand out and say no to the status quo.
I am a EHS Teacher and would like to continue working with kids, but I have a passion for animals. I would like to start my own preschool/day care for children and pets. In the same building, but seperated of course. :)
UPDATE. We selected two random grand prize winners. They are: Debbie and Tiffani! Also, since we had a few extra copies of The Icarus Deception, we randomly selected three additional people to receive a copy of that book as well as the print by Jason. (Mel, Nicole, and Donna) Congrats to you guys, and thanks to everyone who share their dream with us. Best wishes and mucho success!