In my last post, How to Start a Business with Little or No Money, I told you about an inspiring book by Cameron Johnson called You Call The Shots.

I devoured the book in just one sitting and was inspired by the simple business and life wisdom that can only be shared by someone who became a millionaire by the time he graduated from high school and who, by age 21 (when he wrote the book in 2007), had already started 12 successful businesses.

In You Call the Shots, Johnson shares how to “Succeed your way – and live the life you want – with the 19 essential secrets of entrepreneurship.”

Here are 7 Simple Tips on How to Start a Small Business that I gleaned from You Call the Shots:

1. Put yourself out there – If you’ve dreamed of starting your own business, you have to believe in yourself (and in the product or service you’re selling), put yourself out there, and boldly take that first step. With the advent of the Internet, it’s never been easier to start your own business, either full or part-time.
2. Start small – Many dream of starting a business but don’t do it because they think they have to start big or spend a lot of money.  The good news is that you really don’t have to!  Start small and do what you know and are passionate about, with the tools you have readily available or can easily/cheaply get.  Johnson suggests,“Think of the ideas that will require the least cash investment up front and the least in advertising money, especially for your first venture.”
3. Make your money work for you – Money isn’t an end in itself; it’s a tool that will help you build your business, create more freedom in your life, make a difference in the lives of others, build financial security, and accomplish just about anything you want to to do.  But money can only do those things if you control it.  Johnson says, “If you take care of your money, your money will take care of you.  If you don’t, it will enslave you.”  To build and grow your own business, you need to have a firm grasp on basic money management skills. You need to know how to make your cash flow and grow.
4. Look close to home for great ideas – When starting a business, Johnson follows Warren Buffett’s investment advice, which is to “start with what you know.”  The benefits of this approach are that you’ll be passionate about your product or service, have a solid grasp of what your customers want and need, and know what they’re willing to pay.
5. Balance work with life – New start-ups typically require more energy and attention up front. But if you want to succeed in all areas of your life, not just your business, you need to pace yourself and make time for those other areas in order to maintain work-life balance.  Johnson cautions, “Running your business can really take over your life.  That may be fine for some people, but I’ve never wanted that to happen to me.”
6. Surround yourself with great people – When starting something new, including a business, it’s important to surround yourself with great people who can help you.  Maybe you’ll need to find a partner or hire an employee.  Perhaps you’d benefit from the help of a consultant or coach.  Maybe it would be beneficial to outsource certain aspects of your business to specialists.  A growing number of entrepreneurs are joining mastermind groups where other like-minded individuals, from various fields, meet together regularly to share their expertise for the benefit of all the other members. If you’re interested in starting an internet-based business, the mastermind group that I recommend (and participate in) is Lynn Terry’s Elite Forum.
7. Make yourself your brand – When starting a business, the first thing you need to sell, before you sell your product or service, is yourself.  You are your brand. So make sure that the business you build is one that you can personally be proud of, and is one that reflects the values you believe in and want to be known for.

What do you think about these tips on how to start a small business?  Is there anything else you’d add?

You might also like:

• Is now a good time to be your own boss?
• How to do the right things that lead to success
• The YES Movie

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to start a business with little or no money, you’ll want to read Cameron Johnson’s book entitled, You Call the Shots: Succeed Your Way – and Live the Life You Want – with the 19 Essential Secrets of Entrepreneurship.

It’s a very inspirational and motivational book that chronicles Cameron Johnson’s life as a teen entrepreneur, and identifies 19 key principles of success that helped him build a dozen successful businesses before age 21.

I first discovered Cameron Johnson in 2009 in The YES Movie (Young Entrepreneurs Society), where he was featured as one of America’s most successful young entrepreneurs. (Click to read my Review of The YES Movie.)

Johnson started his first business when he was nine with $50 and a home computer. He made his first million before graduating from high school. Before he turned twenty-one, he had started twelve successful businesses and was offered $10 million in venture capital to expand one of his online-based businesses.  But he turned it down because he’d lose his freedom to “call the shots.”

He wrote You Call the Shots at age 21 (in 2007) and at that time, already had enough money in the bank to comfortably retire.  But he’s having too much fun starting and building businesses to do that.  Johnson believes everyone can take control of their lives and find the work that will make them truly satisfied and happy.  From the book liner:

“Through the story of his own impressive career so far, in You Call the Shots, Johnson takes you behind the scenes of entrepreneurial success and empowers you to hit the ground running with your own great business idea, no matter how young you are or how little money you have to invest.”

Who You Call the Shots is For

You Call the Shots is for anyone that has dreamed of starting a small business either full or part time, whether you’re 14, 40 or 65.  Cameron’s point is that you’re never too young, too old, or too late to achieve your dreams and live the lifestyle you want. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down, it was that engaging for me.

If you have budding teen entrepreneurs at home, as I do, this would be a great book for them to read because Johnson shares so many lessons he learned as a teen that have made him the success he is today.  And it gives great insight for parents on how to nurture the entrepreneurial spark within our kids.

Warning:  Reading this book will make you question whether you are living up to your full potential! But I think that’s a good thing.  If Cameron can be a millionaire by the time he graduated from high school, and start 12 successful businesses by age 21…what’s your (and my) excuse?

I’ll be sharing some tips I gleaned from You Call The Shots over the next week or so, so be sure you’re subscribed to the Life Compass Blog RSS feed so you don’t miss anything.

One Regret

My only regret in reading the book is that I didn’t read it sooner.  What I mean is that I brought it along with me on a trip that took me to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.  I was in the Roanoke, Virginia area at the beginning of my trip, which is where Cameron lives and where most of his story is based, but I didn’t start to read the book until the latter part of my trip, after I left the area.

I kicked myself, because I would have enjoyed visiting some of the places he mentioned in the book, and maybe would have even tried to meet him.  Don’t think that’s possible?  You’d be surprised, because he gives an account in the book of how he had an amazing encounter with Donald Trump when he was 8 years old, just because he asked (page 10)!

And that’s the first major secret of success that Cameron Johnson shares in You Call the Shots: “Put yourself out there.”  Believe in yourself, believe in what you’re doing, be bold, and take action.

You might also like:

• Warren Buffett’s Best Investment Advice:  Invest in Yourself
• Think you’re too young, too old or too late to achieve your dreams?
• Taking action:  The miracle of the first step
  

What are the best jobs for teens and young adults these days?  Given the skyrocketing unemployment rates for young workers ages 16-24, the best career option for young adults may be self-employment…becoming a young business entrepreneur!

According to a new report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, entitled “Understanding the Economy: Unemployment Among Young Workers,”  one in five young workers was unemployed in April 2010, a significant increase from prior to the recession when one in eight young workers was jobless.

The 19.6 percent unemployment rate for young workers ages 16-24 in April 2010 is the highest unemployment rate for this age group since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking unemployment data in 1947.

The report also shows that:

• Young workers make up a disproportionate share of the unemployed.  While 16-24 year olds comprise 13 percent of the labor force, they account for 26 percent of the unemployed.
• The youngest workers, those ages 16-17, experience the highest rates of unemployment.  The unemployment rate for 16-17 year olds was 29 percent in April 2010.
• Education reduces the likelihood of being unemployed.  College graduates experience the lowest unemployment rate, 8.0 percent in April 2010, and those without a high school diploma the highest at 33 percent.
• The benefits of a college degree are not uniform among 16-24 year olds.  The unemployment rate for black college graduates was 15.8 percent in April 2010, nearly double the 8.0 percent unemployment rate for all college graduates.
• The recession will have long-lasting effects on younger workers.  At a hearing before the Joint Economic Commission in April, witnesses testified that recent college graduates are likely to see reduced earnings even 10 or 15 years from now.

Reading this report confirmed something for me that I’ve been thinking about for a while:  I need to equip my children to be entrepreneurs.

Long-term self-employment may not be for everyone. But I’m beginning to think more and more that everyone needs to learn how to make it on their own if they need to.

Learning how to be your own boss and run a profitable small business will give you great skills you can use in your main job, and it can provide for you in the event that you lose your main job.  And with the Internet, starting a business has never been easier.

Last fall, I discovered an inspiring documentary video called The YES Movie.  “YES” stands for Young Entrepreneurs Society…and the movie is about 35 young entrepreneurs who took a dream, an idea, and made it a reality, from start to profit.  I absolutely love this video and recommend it for anyone, at any age, who is contemplating starting their own business, either full or part-time.  It is available on DVD, and the run time is 80 minutes.  Click here to read my The Y.E.S. Movie review.

Am I right about equipping teens and young adults to be entrepreneurs today?  Please share your comments.

You might also like:

• Money making ideas for kids
• The Y.E.S. Movie (Young Entrepreneur Society)
• What is the best business to start?

Last time, in What is the Best Business to Start?, I shared some tips on how to identify the kind of business that is right for you. And I told you about some of the growth industries that are ideal for new business start-ups.

Today, I want to share a list of some of the best home-based business opportunities.

These small businesses require little start-up money, have few licensing requirements (in most cases), and can be done in your own home by yourself without having to hire additional help (unless you want to, of course):

• Internet Marketing – Selling products and services on the Internet via email, a blog, or web site.  Lynn Terry’s Self-Starters Weekly Tips is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to build an Internet-based business from start to profit.  For web domain name registration and web site hosting, we recommend Bluehost, GoDaddy, or Host Gator.
• Personal Organization – Helping others organize their personal and/or work life.
• Home Organization – Helping others organize their home.
• Lawn Care – Mowing, snow removal, leaf removal, landscaping, etc.
• Child Care – Caring for children in your home or the child’s.
• Elder Care – Caring for the elderly.
• Freelance Writer – Writing for the web, public relations, marketing, etc.
• Web Designer – As more information, products and services are made available online, the  need for talented and creative web designers continues to grow.
• Event Manager/Wedding Planner – Organizing special events, meetings, conventions, concerts, weddings, etc.
• Home Staging – Providing home furnishings for empty homes that are for sale.  Furnished homes sell better and faster than empty ones.  And with the skyrocketing number of foreclosures, there are a ton of empty homes for sale.
• Direct Sales or Home Parties – Amway, Melaleuca, Tupperware, Premier Designs, etc.
• Personal Coaching – Helping others achieve their goals and dreams.
• Consulting – Get paid to share the expertise you gained from your previous career experience.
• Personal Training – Help others achieve their health goals.
• Personal Shopping – Shop for groceries, clothes, home furnishings, gifts, etc. for the elderly, wealthy, or those who just don’t have the time to do it themselves.
• Dog Walking/Poop Patrol – Caring for dogs and cleaning up their mess in the yard. I’m amazed at how this “poop patrol” idea has taken off in my area.
• House cleaning – Cleaning for others.
• Recycling/Trash Hauling – One person’s trash can be your ticket to treasure!
• Freelance Guru – Chances are good that someone will pay you to do just about anything you know something about or enjoy doing.
• Photography – Engagements, weddings, parties, events, corporate, etc.
• Car Cleaning and Detailing – Thorough cleaning, waxing, and cosmetic repair of cars.
• Power Washing – Washing decks, homes, cars, trucks, buildings, equipment, etc.
• Massage Therapy – The more busy and stressed-out we get as a society, the more people will love, and need, the health benefits of massage.

Note:  Before starting a business, it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney to understand the financial and tax ramifications.  Depending on the circumstance, you may want to incorporate or form an LLC (Limited Liability Company).

What else would you add to this list of the best home-based business opportunities?  Which ones sound good to you?

You might also like:

• Is starting your own business the best way to financial success?
• Unemployed?  Start a business!
• Why now may be the best time to start your own business

In my last post, Is now a good time to be your own boss?, we explored the growing trend of laid-off workers in America, especially 40- to 60-year olds, who are giving up the job search and starting their own business.

If you’re unemployed, there are several good reasons why it may make sense for you to start a small business instead of finding another job:

1. The average job search lasts a year or more, so in the time it takes to find a job, you could get a great start on your own business.
2. If you do find a new job, you’re still at risk of another lay-off…maybe even more at risk because now you’re one of the newest employees.
3. Chances are good that your new job would likely pay less than you were making before.  By starting your own business, you’ll have more control over your earning potential and your financial future.

But even if you’re happily employed, or feel trapped in a job you hate, if you’ve ever wanted to strike out on your own, now may be a great time to start a business.

What is the best business to start in a down economy?

So, what is the best small business to start in a down economy? It really depends!  You probably figured I was going to say that.

There are several different kinds of businesses, and the one that’s right for you will depend on several factors, including your current financial situation, the economy or market in your area, and your personal passions and interests.

Here are some things to consider when thinking about starting a small business:

• Do you want to run a business in the area you live in right now, or should you move to another region where the business conditions are better?  Depending on the kind of business you choose, your local economy may or may not make a difference.
• Should you choose something that you know will make money, even though you’re not crazy about doing that kind of work, or should you stick with something you’re really passionate about?
• Some businesses require tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in start-up costs, others cost relatively nothing, and many can be started for under $500 or $1,000. Do you have money saved up? Can you get money from your retirement fund to cover your start-up costs?  Will you need to borrow money?  Or do you want to start something that requires little up-front capital?
• Do you want to buy a franchise where the business plan or system is laid out for you to follow, or do you want to create something from scratch?
• Are you open to buying into an existing business as a partner, or buying-out someone who is looking to sell or retire?
• Do you want to work in the business every day, or do you want something that is more passive?
• Do you want a business you can run from home, or do you want something that requires a separate office or shop?
• Do you want to manage employees, or would you prefer to keep it a one-person operation?
• Do you enjoy face-to-face interaction with customers, or would you prefer something that is phone-based or online?

Your answers to these questions will help you narrow down the kind of business that is right for you.

Growing Industries for New Business Start-Ups

• Online Business – There are many ways to make money on the Internet.  First, you can sell just about anything on e-Bay, or you could set up your own web site that sells products that you maintain an inventory on and need to ship when an order is placed.  A growing trend is affiliate marketing, where you sell other people’s products or services and receive a commission for each sale.  With affiliate marketing, you have nothing to ship because your vendor handles that.  You simply facilitate the sale and make a commission. Lynn Terry’s Self-Starters Weekly Tips is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to build an Internet-based business from start to profit.
• Green/Environmental – Anything having to do with the environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, alternative and renewable energy, and recycling, will be big in the coming years.
• Lifestyle – Anything that helps people live a better and healthier life, including organic, gourmet or natural foods and other products, personal fitness training, life coaching, etc.
• In-Home Care for the Elderly – The seniors population is exploding as the Baby Boomers hit retirement age, so anything related to care for the elderly is a great choice:  house keeping, shopping, personal care (bathing), or even elder day care.
• Health Care – Again, with the aging Boomer population, the need for just about any medical-related service will grow:  physical therapy, massage therapy, in-home medical equipment, etc.
• Discount/Bargain Stuff – Take any product or service, give it a value price, and target it for those who are out of work or on a budget.
• High End Stuff – Products or services for those who want “luxury” service at a premium price.  Even in today’s tough economy, there are still plenty of people who are doing well.
• Debt/Credit Help – Help for those who are struggling to make ends meet and pay the bills due to unemployment, and for those who haven’t adjusted their lifestyle to meet their budget reality.
• Property Maintenance/Management – Help for the do-it-your-selfer, retirees, and those who want the “condo” lifestyle (no outdoor maintenance) without actually moving into a condo.  Also, because of the growing number of foreclosures, a lot of people who have money (doctors, lawyers, etc.) are buying up cheap houses as investment rental properties.  They need someone to manage and maintain them.

Please Note: Before starting a business, it’s always a good idea to consult an attorney and accountant to understand the financial and tax ramifications.  Depending on the circumstance, you may want to incorporate or form an LLC (Limited Liability Company).

What else would you add to these lists?  Please add your thoughts and comments below.  And come back next time for a list of some of the best home-based business opportunities.

You might also like:

• Unemployed?  Start a business!
• Warren Buffett’s best investment advice
• How to make good decisions

]]> http://www.lifecompassblog.com/2010/05/what-is-the-best-business-to-start/feed/ 0 http://www.lifecompassblog.com/2010/05/is-now-a-good-time-to-be-your-own-boss/ http://www.lifecompassblog.com/2010/05/is-now-a-good-time-to-be-your-own-boss/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 04:06:16 +0000 Life Compass http://www.lifecompassblog.com/?p=3858

Is now a good time to be your own boss?  Apparently, it is for 40- to 60-somethings!  A recent story in my local newspaper reported that more 40- to 60-somethings who lost jobs in the recession are now working for themselves.

What’s interesting to me is that many of these folks, when they started their careers 20 or more years ago, figured they’d be financially set once they got into a good company.

Back in the “good old days,” many people basically worked for one place their entire lives.  Not so today!  These 40- to 60-somethings, who grew up under that old reality, have watched it quickly disappear.

More middle-aged and older men, who lost their jobs during the recession, are starting businesses than woman, or people in any other age category.  The reason is that about 80% of the jobs lost nationwide in recent years (in manufacturing, construction and other male-dominated industries) were held by men.

According to the Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College, workers 50 and older are more likely than younger workers to be independent, self-employed workers.  And amazingly, 23 percent of older workers laid off in the past year are considering their own business.

It’s easy to see why.  At this age and stage of your life, what are your choices?

• Go back to school?  Some may choose to do it, but it’s not for everyone.
• Send out stacks of resumes for jobs you’re not thrilled about that pay less than what you made before?
• Go through all of this again when the cycle repeats itself?

It’s no wonder that more middle-aged people, when their careers have been cut short, are choosing to go into business for themselves.  It’s an opportunity to take charge of their lives, control their own destiny, and (hopefully) enjoy a greater financial reward for all their hard work.

So, what are the best businesses to start in this down economy?  We’ll explore this in my next post.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section:

• Have you always wanted to start your own business, but haven’t yet?  What’s stopping you?
• Have you, or anyone you know, lost a job and decided to strike out on your own?  If so, how’s it going so far?  What wisdom would you share with others?

You might also like:

• Is starting your own business the best way to financial success?
• Unemployed?  Start a business!
• Why now may be the best time to start your own business

What’s the best way to build wealth?  Is it to work for a top company?  Own your own business? Or is it something else?

Success expert Brian Tracy, author of “Getting Rich Your Own Way”, says there are basically five ways that you can build wealth starting with nothing in America, based on over 25 years of research into American millionaires.

1. Inherit it – Less than 10 percent of wealthy Americans inherited any of their money, and it’s becoming less and less every single year.
2. Achieve it Professionally – You can become a doctor or a lawyer or an architect or an accountant. You can become extremely good at what you do, be paid very well, and hold on to the money.
3. Become a Senior Executive at Large Corporation – You can be highly paid; you can have stock options and bonuses. And if you stay with the company long enough, you can become wealthy.
4. Win it – But only a tiny fraction of one percent of wealthy Americans got that way by winning their money. As a matter of fact, the odds against you winning the lottery are the equivalent of lightning striking twice in the same place. They’re millions and millions to one.
5. Start Your Own Business – Starting your own business has been and will always be the high road to becoming wealthy for most self-made millionaires. 74% of all self-made millionaires in America own their own businesses. Entrepreneurship in America offers more opportunities and opens more doors than all other possibilities put together. This is why it has been said that if you have the ability to start your own business and you don’t do it, you are a fool. I’ll repeat that. If you have the ability to start your own business and you don’t do it, you’re a fool.

Where do you start? The very first thing you do is you make a decision to get your finances under control. Some years ago, a man named George Classon wrote a book called The Richest Man in Babylon. It’s a classic on financial success and what Classon said in that book was that the key to becoming wealthy is to pay yourself first. Take ten percent off your earnings, off your gross income every month and put it aside. Learn to live on ninety percent or less of your gross income. So the very first thing that you do is you begin to save your money.

Action Exercises Now, here are three things you can do immediately to put yourself onto the high road to personal wealth:

• First, resolve today to begin saving your money a “little bit at a time. Set a goal to save 10% of your earnings, to put it away and to never touch it. This will change your life.
• Second, immediately register your own business or sole proprietorship. Open a bank account, get business cards and letterhead and create the corporate entity under which you can do business. Your business opportunities will appear far sooner than you think. If you build it, they will come.
• Third, buy your copy of Brian Tracy’s new book entitled, “Getting Rich Your Own Way,” which will guide you step-by-step in how to make your own fortune.

Here’s a Special Offer From Brian Tracy…

Buy Brian’s new book, “Getting Rich Your Own Way“ today for just $33, and you’ll receive two great bonus resources to help you on your way to business and financial success (a $152 total value).  Here’s everything you get:

1. Getting Rich Your Own Way – This 371-page book is the result of over 40 years in business. It’s not some pie-in-the-sky information consisting of useless antidotes from some guy who never owned his own business. Some costly mistakes in Brian’s business have taught him this:  You need a plan and you need a systematic approach to get rich.

As you read your information-packed 371-page book, Brian reveal to you all of the sound knowledge I’ve learned over the last 4 decades.  You will discover…

• 5 major sources of self-made millionaires…use them wisely
• 18 ideas to program your mind for total success…unlock your inner power to succeed
• 5 rules for starting and building your own successful business…
• Revealed the rule of 100 for investing in real estate…you’ll love this one
• 10 rules for investing profitably…it’s not what you think
• How to use 10 types of leverage to get rich…discover the secret of safe leverage
• 16 Money-Getting tips…don’t leave home without them
• Eliminate the fear of failure…feel the fear and do it anyway
• Attract the right people into your life…this alone can catapult you to success literally overnight
• How to start with nothing…Takes a little longer but it worked for Brian
• 5 tested rules for Entrepreneurship…break these rules at your own peril
• 8 Qualities of a great business…you can get by with 5 but why take the chance?
• 7 steps to business success…an easy to follow plan
• Why 80-90% of businesses fail…this one is a shocker
• 7 questions you must ask to ensure your business success…you’ll be surprised by the answers

You will learn the tried and true methods that have been proven over and over again by people who have gone from rags to riches in one generation.  By learning how Brian Tracy and others have done it, you too will learn “How to get rich your own way.”

2. Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires ($90 value) – As a special bonus, you’ll get this best-selling video (available for immediate download) where Brian reveals the success secrets of other millionaires that he has studied.  Brian is a firm believer that success is NOT an accident. Success can be learned by anyone, even you!  In his Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires breakthrough video you’ll discover the special skills and qualities that will turn YOU into a millionaire. Do what these other successful, wealthy people do, over and over again, and you will eventually get the same results.

3. Financial Success Strategies ($29 value) – This bonus CD shows you the best strategies you need to do in order to succeed financially in this economy. You’ll discover how to…

• Become a millionaire in the years ahead
• Get out of debt once and for all
• Get paid more and promoted faster
• Buy real estate with no money down
• Reduce your taxes by thousands of dollars
• Develop the mindset of wealthy people
• Achieve financial independence years earlier than you thought possible
• Create multiple streams of passive income
• Enjoy complete peace of mind regarding money matters
• And much, much more

Learn how to increase your income, get out of debt, reduce your taxes and achieve financial independence-faster than you ever thought possible!

If you’ve ever wanted to build wealth by starting your own business, click now to get your copy of “Getting Rich Your Own Way”.

In my last post, I gave my review of The YES Movie, produced by Louis Lautman of the Young Entrepeneur Society.  The YES Movie DVD, which runs 80 minutes, features Lautman’s interviews with an impressive group of more than 35 successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, millionaires and mentors.

His goal:  To hunt down specific strategies of the super-successful that anyone – regardless of background, age, experience, or financial backing, can implement and start their own successful money-making enterprise.

Because of space limitations in my last post, I wasn’t able to list all the experts and entrepreneurs who are featured in the movie.  Here’s the complete list . . .

Jim Rohn – America’s foremost business philosopher.

Randy Gage – A former high school dropout who rose from a dishwasher in a pancake house to become a multi-millionaire.

T. Harv Eker – Using the principles he teaches, T. Harv Eker went from zero to millionaire in only 2 1/2 years!  He is the founder and president of Peak Potentials Training, the fastest growing personal development company in North America, and author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth.

Marshall Sylver – World-renown hypnotist, master of interpersonal communication, and “The Millionaire Maker”.

Niurka – A dynamic speaker and guide who inspires and empowers people to live powerfully, authentically and purposefully. By age 20, she was the #1 trainer for Anthony Robbins.

Christopher Howard – Internationally known lifestyle and wealth strategist.  He has researched the success strategies of the world’s greatest minds.

Les Brown – A top motivational speaker, speech coach, best selling author whose passion is empowering youth and helping them have a bigger vision for their lives.

Mark Victor Hansen – A renown speaker and success coach, he co-authored more than a dozen books, including Cash in a Flash: Fast Money in Slow Times and The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth.

Dr. Ellie Drake – Inspirational speaker, author and TV personality, and founder of BraveHeart Women Network, the largest online paid membership community for entrepreneurial women.

James Malinchak – Success teacher and author of From College to the Real World : Street-Smart Strategies for Landing Your Dream Job and Creating a Successful Future!

Brad Sugars – International entrepreneur, CEO of ActionCOACH business coaching, and best-selling author of The Business Coach and Billionaire In Training.

Shawn Nelson – Founder, and “Chief Sac” of LoveSac.

Joshua Newman – CEO of Cyan Pictures, and Indie film producer and distributor.

Shane & Shawn Ward – Fashion designers and founders of the Shane & Shawn (formerly DetNY) line of clothes, shoes, and accessories.

Andrea Lake – Founder of seven unique companies, including Anti-Establishment Clothing.

Mike Litman – Co-author of Conversations with Millionaires: What Millionaires Do to Get Rich, That You Never Learned About in School! At the age of 32 he built a multi-million dollar business.

Dan “Punk Ass” Caldwell – Cage fighter and co-founder of TapouT, a multi-million dollar business that includes a clothing line and magazine centered around Mixed Martial Arts.

Dr. Farrah Gray – Publisher of Prominent Magazine and author of Get Real, Get Rich: Conquer the 7 Lies Blocking You from Success, The Truth Shall Make You Rich: The New Road Map to Radical Prosperity and Reallionaire: Nine Steps to Becoming Rich from the Inside Out.  Growing up in the projects on the south side of Chicago, he made his first million at age 14.

Sean Belnick – At age 14 developed Bizchair.com.  At age 20 – had $38 million in sales from the Bizchair website.

Ephren Taylor II – Started his first venture at age 12, making homemade video games to sell to friends.  A millionaire by age 16.  He was the youngest black CEO of a publicly traded company.  His City Capital Corp oversees 250 million in assets.  Author of Creating Success from the Inside Out: Develop the Focus and Strategy to Uncover the Life You Want.

Adam Sites – President of Xtremez.com.  Launched first website in 1995 at age 15 he launched his first website.  Now the largest internet retailer of paintball supplies in the world.

Cameron Johnson – Best-selling author of You Call the Shots: Succeed Your Way– and Live the Life You Want– with the 19 Essential Secrets of Entrepreneurship, consultant and speaker.  At age 9, started his first business.  By 15, his internet business was generating $15,000 a day.  Now, at age 23, he has founded and sold more than a dozen successful companies.

J.T. Fox – Real estate investor and radio personality.  At age 28, closed over $40 million in real estate sales.

Michael Simmons and Sheena Lindahl – co-founders of the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, the only national collegiate entrepreneur tour.  Michael is the author of The Student Success Manifesto.

Delatorro McNeal II – Author of Caught Between A Dream and A Job, speaker and successful entrepreneur.

Mike Michalowicz – Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Started his first business, which grew into a multi-million dollar tech firm, at age 24.

Daniel Davidson – serial entrepreneur and author of The Entrepreneur’s Legal Companion.

Brett David – Became CEO of Lamborghini Miami, Lamborghini Palm Beach, Prestige Audi and Prestige Imports two years ago, at age 19, upon his father’s death.  Now 21, he has earned several number one rankings for his auto businesses, and his Palm Beach Lamborghini is now the flagship Lamborghini dealer in the United States.

Hezekiah Griggs III – America’s youngest media mogul, and CEO of HG3 Media.  Started first company at age 13.

Nick Vujicic – Born without arms and legs, he is a motivational speaker and the director of a nonprofit organization called Life Without Limbs.

As you can see from this impressive list of entrepreneurs and success mentors, The YES Movie is a great introduction to entrepreneurship.  In fact, it is kinda like having your own mini-MBA course!

In it, Lautman uncovers and shares specific strategies of the super-successful that anyone – regardless of background, age, experience, or financial backing, can implement in order to start their own business.

The YES Movie covers topics like:

Where do you get ideas, and how do you turn them into a money-making business?

How do you take action and turn your dream into reality?

How do you take risks and overcome failure?

How do you go from having a job (even a dead-end job) to running your own business?

How do you finance your enterprise, especially if you have no money yourself.

Where can you find mentors who can help?

By telling the stories of today’s successful young entrepreneurs, The YES Movie shows that truly anyone can be, do and have anything they want in life.  Click here to read my full review of The YES Movie.

Order the The YES Movie online (DVD format) here for only $29.97.