Retirement has been a hot button topic in our country since the baby boomers took over in the eighties.  Never has it spouted more fevered debates than right now, with Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation.  In the past few years, a lot of famous names in world politics have chosen to step down from their public position, but it often begs the question- When SHOULD we retire or resign; be it from business or politics?  We wish it was a simple, straight answer but like all things in the corporate world, it’s not that easy.

Many are hailing the pope for leaving while still in good health and before having succumbed to the pains of old age. But are we, as the public, allowed to say when someone does or doesn’t retire? At what point are we overstepping our boundaries? To explore the topic further, take a look at some other high profile retirements in the last few years of world politics.

Recent High Profile Retirements

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is set to retire on April 30th of this year, ending her thirty-three year rule of Holland, and passing the throne to her son, who will be the first king in a line of one-hundred-twenty three years.  While many cried foul of the gender switch, there are some who see this shift in power as healthy with a successor coming from either side of the gender divide.  The way this will affect the Netherlands remains to be seen.

Another example is from 2008, when Fidel Castro stepped down  from his fifty year communist rule, citing medical problems that would inhibit his job performance abilities.  While this excited many who thought the communist rule over Cuba would shift with his departure, he temporarily gave his role to his brother, Raul Castro, opening the door down the road for someone potentially younger to take the throne.  But since Fidel remains a major voice in Cuba’s affairs, his retirement means little.  This, in turn, takes weight off the very concept of retirement in world politics.

All this all retirement talk opens the door for a question just as epic in scope, that has been floundering about message boards and news shows for some time now: Should Queen Elizabeth retire? She is old-school in her methodology, and represents a time that has long since passed for the UK. Prince Charles has been heir to the throne since he was three years old, and many have wondered at what point he will assume his duties. The general reaction from British press is that it won’t happen anytime soon. Queen Elizabeth is in perfect health, and let us not forget her Mother lived to be 101 years old.  Even though Queen Beatrix opened the door for this discussion, don’t expect her retirement to start a trend.

Finding a Retirement Formula

This takes us back to our first point, when SHOULD people retire, especially from a position of power or a family business?

That, for all intents and purposes, is up to the individual and those around him with the authority to make such decisions.  While it has been said that aging dulls response time and decision making, you also have to weigh the person’s experience and wisdom in the area of what he has been doing before you cast him aside.  Look at someone like Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman for the General Motors Company; he is a prime example of how each case is different.  The man is eighty years old, and even when he retires from one position, he often just moves into to another one.  This happens because Lutz is the best at what he does and still fully capable of doing it well at his age.

Business and politics coexist in the same breath because they function the same way.  So if someone is getting old enough that he is negatively impacting his job performance, companies tend to act quickly before any real damage is done.  When it comes to retirement, actual age means little.  It is how well you do your job that speaks volumes and keeps you around.

Coffee, hot dogs and ice cream are not the only things you can buy on the street anymore. Selling from a truck has branched out into many different genres including clothes, jewelry, gourmet food, flowers and even liquor. While brick and mortar mom-n-pop shops either shrink, turn into mega-stores or go completely digital, more people are realizing that it just may be worth going on the road and taking advantage of selling from a truck. Why pay a commercial landlord when you travel in your own office? In fact, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently predicted rising rents due to closing retail vacancies. There is also the convenience of not needing a huge staff. Selling from a truck can save you such costs as high payroll taxes, health care, utilities, phone and insurance. It is no wonder more businesses are sprouting up curbside.

Nothing New

For decades, many trades have ventured into the asphalt business sector hawking their wares via car, truck, bus or buggy and have been somewhat of an American staple throughout history. There was the traveling blacksmith, blade sharpener, farmer, salesman and even dentist that rolled right up to a residential front door or parked on a town or city corner to do business. So the resurgence of selling from a truck is not far off from the days of these nomadic entrepreneurs. One such example of a modern door to door salesman selling from a truck is the shady case. In this instance, an American neighborhood was visited by an eighteen wheeler roving their streets, knocking on their doors and offering to sell prime furniture right out of a truck. Although residents were more spooked than willing, it was a display of how selling from a truck has begun to enter our mainstream. Dealing in a shady scheme such as this is the low end of what this industry has emerged into; many others have become licensed to do legitimate business from their vehicle with customers to boot.

Street Success

Selling from a truck can be done with class, innovation and most of all, the ability to raise public intrigue to actually get a customer to step in and shell out cash. Social media has eliminated the need for expensive advertising and has instead offered the ability for potential customers to track a roving business via Twitter, Facebook or any other digital application available. Here are a few scenarios of those that have successful packaged their product into a four wheel mom-n-pop operation:

The Trunk – Hailing out of Nashville, Tennessee, Abigail Franklin and Kyah Hillis have created a mobile fashion unit called The Trunk. By combining their finances they were able to split the trucks interior to feature each of their saleable items. With only $25,000 to start up (all it took was purchasing an old Snap-on-Tools truck and retrofitting the inside), Franklin describes her very practical business model, “We can bring our products to you instead of waiting for you to come to us.” Places they open shop include restaurants, concerts and ball game parking lots.

Le Fashion – Rolling around Los Angeles is another wheeled clothing boutique called the Le Fashion Truck. This outfit gives an informal study result of rent comparison. They claim that their monthly outlay of insurance, generator, storage fees and cleaning costs are about fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars, which is a far cry from monthly retail space rent which can start at about seven thousand dollars [in Los Angeles].

Hairmobile – Selling from a truck has caught the eye of several investors including Michael Gomez who is in the planning stages of a line of hair salon mobiles. It would be a franchise business model offering a truck business for under two hundred thousand dollars that is ready to park, pluck and cut curbside walking traffic. Gomez foresees two thousand hairmobiles, nationwide, within the next ten years stating that, “Mobile sites are pretty much the way of the future to decrease overhead and increase profit for a small-business owner.”

Trend or Trade?

As small businesses emerge in the back of trucks, many claim it as a practical choice to save excessive overhead cost as well as maybe use as a springboard into storefront space. A few studies have compared the results to determine if it is a universal business shift or if it is a trend that will soon dissipate. Small Business Labs investigates geographic expansion and possible over-saturation. Creating a proper marketing analysis is recommended as more cities are offering such things as the Outdoor Vendors Handbook which guides beginners into the world of four wheel dealing. There is even an Idiots Guide page for those looking to drive their work to work.

Selling from a truck is not the perfect business model as many challenges still need to be met. Smart Money looks at ten pitfalls that could get in the way of getting on the road. However, as mom-n-pop shops absorb into corporate conglomerates, many people continue to stroll up to the many truck choices idling on their corners and parking lots across the U.S.

Even the richest of men die poor- except for high-profile icons.  From JFK to Marilyn, these dead icons continue to generate billions of dollars each year.  With an estimated 2.25 billion in North America alone, multiple branding companies vie for the rights to some of the most profitable names, while other well-known philanthropists manage to squeeze out profits by securing the rights to these well-known celebrities.  These dead icons may be resting in peace, but they’re also resting in riches.

What does it cost to own the exclusive image and name rights?  Who can own them?  Who rates among the most profitable?  Most importantly, why do millions go to protecting the name and memory of an icon?

Licensing These Names

There is money to be made securing the rights to these dead icons.  When attempting to purchase exclusive rights, a marketing company will typically approach the estate owners. The company and owners then come to terms, often allowing the branding firm to be the sole owner to the image and name of the deceased icon for a set period.  In turn, the branding company will provide the surviving estate owners with an annual percentage of the profits.

Most estate owners entrust their multi-million dollar enterprises to companies with known reputations for branding and selling the image of deceased celebrities.  Companies from Authentic Branding Group, owners of Marilyn Monroe’s estate, to Experience Hendrix, LLC, owners of Jimmie Hendrix’s estate, all make millions of dollars from music records, movies, and merchandize because of their marketing acumen.

If you’re trying to own the rights to these estates, all it’ll take is a few million dollars in capital, a reputable portfolio, and a myriad list of noteworthy contacts.  Despite the innumerable challenges required in owning the rights to dead icon, other, more well-known philanthropists, have made large profits by buying up some estate names.  While most know Bill Gates as a billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, arguably the largest computer company in the world, Mr. Gates is too an estate owner for some very profitable icons, including Einstein, Steve McQueen and Mae West.

Fight for Exclusive Rights

Locking up the exclusive rights ensures the highest profits.  Just think, for Einstein’s face alone, a marketing company can expect to see hundreds of millions of dollars, making exclusive rights a valuable opportunity.  Once the rights are secured, these companies have the ability to charge—and sue—anyone using the name of their icon.  Branding firms stem to make money from the sale of merchandize to the use of an icon’s name or image in a song or film, profitable avenues that can generate millions a year.

It’s A Number’s Game

Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe and John Lennon, each individual experienced an early death, and each loss sent throngs of fans to memorial services.  Today, these deceased icons remain eulogized and commemorated with memorabilia, songs and movies.  But the premature death of a celebrity leaves an untapped market of revenue, allowing branding firms to generate millions and the estate owners to heal their sorrows.  So who are the most profitable of these icons?  Here’s a quick round up of the top five-

1. Michael Jackson.  He died in a freak accident, but his image and musical influence remains immortalized in society.  Michael Jackson raked in 170 million in 2011.  From songs to videos games, his estate will continue to earn money well into the future.

2. Elvis Presley.  Walk down Las Vegas Blvd. and you are bound to spot an Elvis impersonator.  Elvis died in 1977, but years later his estate continues to earn millions.  In 2011, his estate produced 55 million in sales—thanks to album sales, memorabilia items and Graceland attendance.

3. Marilyn Monroe.  Hundreds of present-day celebrities continue to draw inspiration from this former sex symbol.  Posters, movies, even novels helped keep Marilyn’s estate among the top earners.  In 2011, her estate managed to generate over 27 million dollars in profit.  Sex really does sell—even after death.

4. Charles Schulz.  Known for his famous cartoon character, Charlie Brown, Schulz’s cartoon continues as a brand image for the likes of Met-Life, Hallmark and ABC.  These huge corporations shell out millions each year just to use the image of Snoopy or Charlie.  In 2011, Schulz’s estate earned roughly 25 million.

5. John Lennon.  Known for his boyish good looks and alluring voice, Lennon captivated the hearts of America and Britain’s youth as the lead singer of The Beatles.  Credited with creating some of the most iconic songs, Lennon was murdered in 1980, but after his death, his music and image continue to sell, helping his estate owners to rake in 12 million dollars in 2011.

Most average Americans will never own the rights to big celebrities or political figures, but it’s nice to know that corporate America can find many methods of making money off of a person—even after his or her death.  Death, in all its grief and melancholy emotions, will remain an invariable profit machine.

When the world thinks of successful businessmen, often the same names come to mind: Mark Cuban, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson.  While the common assumption may be that most of these men were born with silver spoons in their mouths, very few of them actually were.  Richard Branson’s story seems to really stand out in that pack though.  Facing many adversities and disbelievers who were convinced he would never amount to much, Branson never gave up, even when the odds were heavily stacked against him. Today we see the man he has become but it is important to look back and understand the hurdles he overcame.

Richard Branson’s Resume

For those not in the know, Richard Branson runs Virgin, which is a billion dollar business conglomerate with over 400 other companies under its name.  From being an inexpensive alternative to the smart phone market, to a rocket that can take you to space, Virgin never slights on delivering hugely ambitious ideas to the entire world.  Yet Richard Branson didn’t always have it so easy.  While his desire was in place very young, Branson figured out early that he needed to overcome some hardships before making any of this happen.  The first hardship was one many people still face to this day: Dyslexia.

Overcoming Dyslexia in Business

Dyslexia is a learning disability that impairs a person’s ability to read and comprehend.  Put in more simple terms, dyslexics often see words as jumbled, with letters out of place, making reading and learning an incredibly arduous undertaking.  It is a fact of life that those who have it need to learn to live with it, which is just what Richard Branson did.

Even in taking control and learning to manage dyslexia, Branson could have been dealt a potentially crippling setback in the world of business.  This is where trades are made and large sums and money changes hands regularly.  You get a number wrong, or switch a one with a zero by mistake, and you are talking about a mistake that could potentially cost billions. To think it didn’t affect Branson would be silly. Because of his reading difficulties, Branson dropped out of school at age sixteen.  On his last day of school, his headmaster walked up to him and said, “You will either wind up in jail, or you will become a millionaire.”  Those words ended up resonating deeply within young Branson as he walked away that day, and both predictions would prove to come true sooner than later.

Branson’s Early Career

The first thing Branson did when he left school was focus on making income.  He realized that he thought differently from everyone around him, and was trying to utilize that way of thinking to best benefit him.  He did this by slowly turning the student magazine (ironically called The Student) he had been working on at school, into a national magazine.  He then furthered its popularity by selling music within the magazine – and selling that music cheaper than his counterparts.  This got him an audience quickly and The Student took off dramatically enough to make other music makers and distributors in England take serious notice.

Richard Branson quickly branded the company Virgin on the suggestion from a friend because he knew so little about actual business.  They were virgins to the business world, and they thought that name would sum that up perfectly, as well as evoke the ideas of innocence and sexuality, which would bring Virgin some attention from the press as well.  He decided to make Virgin a brand that would eventually do everything, but he focused first on music.

The music thing was going well for him, so he opened a London based record shop.  Although the shop did well financially, it quickly caught heat for distributing what was considered “export stock” and not paying the domestic taxes.  Branson was arrested for this and spent a night in jail.  This led to a lawsuit that was paid by Branson’s mother (having to mortgage her home).  Though upsetting, this did not derail Richard Branson from his path; it had quite the opposite effect. It showed Branson that others were taking notice of him and Virgin, and that was the boost he needed to aim even higher.  Being arrested clearly did not scare Branson.  Failure scared him but sine failure was never an option, no matter how difficult the road, he ventured into uncharted territory.

Becoming an Industry Idol

Take a look at Virgin Bank.  The way he does business for the bank speaks for itself.  Branson refuses to use bank and industry jargon and just speaks in a language all can easily understand.  Virgin bank functions on a level simple enough that anyone can appreciate it, without having to wade through unintelligible bank-speak that most people do not understand.  On top of that, he is a major driver of innovation in industry right now.  From Virgin Fuels to Virgin Galactic, there is nothing the man hasn’t tackled, and tackled with passion and vigor.  Even his approach to the smart phone market was a game changer- he got rid of the contracts, got rid of the hidden monthly fees, and has one, low rate that almost anyone can afford.

Branson thinks so far outside of the box that he’s emulated by many who wish to have even a fraction of his success.  What other tycoon is willing to fly you into space for the right price? The truth is, it is very hard touch Virgin Galactic, and most people know that.

Branson’s Secret to Success

Overcoming the hurdle of dyslexia is still a challenge he faces every day and he factors this disability into his entire decision making process.  He makes sure all the company mottos are read aloud to him, and easily understood by all.  This simple procedure insures that Virgin is delivering an excellent quality product to customers.  Virgin’s operating philosophy is: Do not talk down to customers, speak in a language all can understand, and provide a service people would not be able to get elsewhere for a fair price.  The reality is, Virgin Enterprises succeeds because the man who runs it built it from the ground up and truly believes in letting no obstacle stand in his way.

Imagine attending an event with your women-owned startup product in hand and receiving a handful of contacts from high level media, connections to some of the most well known distributors and a chance to receive $5,000 in coaching and services for your business.

This is exactly what the Own It Ventures Conference and Pitching Expo is bringing to New York next month.  On March 20th, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York will literally become the business one-stop-shop of connections and lessons that can make any startup have an incredible launch into the public sector.  In addition to being educated on agendas such as crowdfunding, there will also be separate areas where their business can make separate but equally important steps toward success.

“Many (women entrepreneurs) express lack of time to meet and network with the people who can truly make a difference in the businesses; this day provides that;” Own It Ventures President and Co-Founder Melissa Gasnick Cloeter said.

Benefits are Instantly Evident

In addition to time, another big issue some of these types of events have is not delivering on their promise to deliver a solid business startup education.  Past participants of this particular event even highlighted complaints after experiencing similar forums but say there is a clear difference in this one.

Shan Massucco, owner of So Healthy and Natural said, “I have attended many events that promise to educate and be the answer to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs, but none have come close to comparing to the Entrepreneur Expose.  From the beginning of the day all the way to the end, the event is jam packed with resources and businesses to help you grow your business.” 

Numerous Streams of Support

In the main event, participants will hear from successful business leaders such as Jory Des Jardins of BlogHer for inspiration, support and advice on how to evolve their product and company.  There will also be three separate rooms with unique lessons which are each aimed at creating impact for the startups.

One room, termed the “Product Pitch Tank“, will allow participants to interact with and pitch representatives from media organizations such as Huffington Post, Forbes, BlogHer and TomorrowsTrends.com for possible articles and media coverage.

It was here that startup owners such as Bridget Graham of Sweetable Eatables got her greatest return.  A past conference gave her, “Much needed exposure for my business, as well as helping me to connecting with people that can take my business a greater level.”

The second room is set up so that participants can pitch the possibility of their product being available in retailers such as Whole Foods, Bloomingdales, QVC retailers, Telebrands and Wegmans.  Since it could take a startup months or even years to gain this type of audience on their own, it is a fantastic opportunity for female entrepreneurs to gain ample momentum.

The final room, coined the “Advisory Board Room”, will be filled with representatives from all walks of business life, from business coaches to Accounting Firm representatives.  Here the participants will get a full vetting on their pitch, their entire business idea, and connect with prospective connections who will be able to assist them in the future.

Daily Prizes & Mentorships Well

In addition, representatives and investors will be judging the participants in a “Sharkette Tank” where they will compete for interest as well as the grand prize of $5,000 in coaching and mentorship.  This is also where participants will gain valuable insight from investors as well as hear from the previous winner on how the win has affected her business and what she has learned from the experience.

“In my experience, I had never been around so many women, wanting to see other women do well.  You just walk away from the event feeling great!” -Past winner and Doggie Day Care Owner Jodi Brooks

Cloeter discussed these rooms in an interview stating, “For the entrepreneur who has a product or product line, getting distribution in retailers is critical for growth and success.  In one day, women can market their companies and products to investors, the media and retail buyers with the potential to walk away with funding, buzz and distribution.”

Studies show fewer than 2% of women-owned firms in the US reach $1M in revenue; with this and the even more heightened need for women-owned and managed startups, the women-focused venture company Own It Ventures created an event to respond to this call.

“I am so excited about this day, but more importantly, I can’t wait to hear the results six months from now,” added Cloeter.

If you are interested in helping others save money on their energy bills AND make a living with a work-from-home job, geothermal energy may be the niche to hop into. In our previous article from this series, we explained what geothermal energy is, the benefits of this renewable energy source, the return on investment, and incentives for people who elect to upgrade to geothermal heating and cooling systems in their homes and businesses.  In this edition, we will talk about how you can make a living in this business niche, as well as help people save money on their energy bills.

Geothermal energy trends are gaining increasing support from the U.S. government. According to The Green Economy Post, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “We have an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean energy technology like solar and geothermal energy.”

Job Opportunities in Geothermal Energy

Mark Schultz, the owner of a geothermal installation company in Annapolis, Maryland said that it is a challenge to own a geothermal business; however he also admitted that it was also “a lot of fun”.

The more obvious and lowest initial investment work-from-home career that is available in geothermal energy is the home installation technician. However, it is important not to overlook the many other opportunities that this up-and-coming heating and cooling option offers to people interested in making money from home. Fortunately, most of these opportunities do not require high overhead or a large initial investment to jump into.

On the lower end of the investment spectrum are consulting and installation training. This level of work requires extensive knowledge of geothermal energy systems and how to install them. Implementing geothermal plants of medium size or manufacturing plants that produce the accessories and components that are necessary for the geothermal industry would require a medium investment. Highest on the initial investment scale are the skills and requirements that are essential to implement manufacturing plants of a large scale that produce geothermal parts and components, or setting up centralized geothermal plants.

Another option for a work-at-home geothermal business is sales: the selling and distribution of parts and components, including geothermal heat pumps. The initial investment of this type of job would depend on whether the sales person keeps the parts and components in stock at their location, or decides to sell and ship for a third party. Obviously, keeping parts and components in stock, on site, would require accurate inventory procedures and space to store the items but it is also more profitable overall.

Starting Your Own Geothermal Installation Company

Probably the best part about starting your own geothermal installation company is the ability to help people save money on their electricity and heating and cooling bills. Besides the rebates and incentives that are offered by geothermal installation companies and the tax breaks that are provided by the government, the biggest selling point of these systems is the return on investment, which was discussed in Part 1 on this series.

Before striking out into the industry of geothermal installation, you would need to have a good understanding of HVAC.  While HVAC certification would be a plus, which is normally a two-year course and a $6,000 to $14,000 investment, it is not required in order to start your own geothermal installation company.  However, the knowledge that is acquired through these classes is vital for anyone who wants to own a geothermal installation company.  Mmany of the certifying institutions offer communities where certified people can market their skills, their knowledge, and their businesses as well.

On a more economical level, the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) offers a certification course where you will learn everything that you would possibly need to understand about the installation of geothermal heat pumps.  This course lasts merely 3 days, and costs only $550; however you will still need a general understanding about HVAC in order to get the most out of this course. In addition to the certification that you receive, the IGSHPA will also list you on their site as a geothermal heat pump professional, which gives you immediate exposure to potential consumers.

Remember, the higher the knowledge and skill level you achieve, the better your chances are of avoiding potential time consuming and costly pitfalls that may occur during the designing and development of a geothermal installation project.

Starting off, equipment can be rented for each individual job contract.  In the long run, however, it may be more cost-effective to purchase the equipment that is necessary to perform the work, rather than paying exorbitant rental costs every time you sign a contract for a job.  Or, you can simply hire an excavator to handle the digging. Once you add your rental or equipment costs and the time it takes to dig the trenches for the piping, you will find that hiring an excavator may be the best decision when first starting out.

The same is true for the duct work inside the building or the house; it may be more cost effective and beneficial for the success of the project to simply hire a professional to install it. Flushing and fusion, if you are not completely comfortable performing these vital aspects of geothermal installation, can also be outsourced.

When considering outsourcing these aspects of the project or hiring your own employees, remember that the overall performance of the entire geothermal system can be increased by ensuring that all working parts are designed and implemented by professionals with the highest level of knowledge and expertise. Also, consumers will spread the word to other potential consumers if they are satisfied with the work that you perform and the savings that they incur.

In order for homeowners to claim tax credits and rebates from utility companies, the proper permits will need to be obtained.  A contractor may need to be part of the installation process for these credits and rebates, as well. Therefore, the cost of a contractor’s license for home improvement, HVAC, or plumbing and the cost of permits will need to be factored in to assess the cost of each project.

Marketing Your Geothermal Company

Fliers and business cards are low-cost initial forms of advertising. Plus, if you did pursue the course offered by the IGSHPA, you would automatically be added to their geothermal heat pump professionals listing. Once you have installed a few systems and your customers receive their first heating and cooling bills, word of mouth about your services will start to circulate. As a “free” form of advertising, word of mouth probably outweighs most other types, because friends and family are recommending your services to people who they think would need or want to save money on their energy bills.

If the geothermal revolution is something that you find an interest in and you would like to start your own company, the marketing should be the easy part.  You can focus on the eco-friendly aspects and cost efficiency that geothermal energy offers when promoting your services.  It feels good to introduce potential customers to a system that will help them save money on their heating and cooling costs, and they will feel good about contributing to a cleaner environment.

Textile sensitivity, one of the many symptoms of autism, turned into a business opportunity for Jessica E. Ralli and Suzy Kogen Friedman.  Rather than watch children wrestle with clothing discomfort day after day, the women started SOFT Clothing.  They founded a business that both helps children and creates a profit.

The Birth of SOFT Clothing

SOFT, a clothing company that produces and sells autism-friendly children’s clothing.  Ralli, the Director of Soft, remembers what jumpstarted this business opportunity for her. “I was working as a special education teacher with children with sensory disorders.  I encountered a large community of parents sharing frustrations on the web that there were few clothing options for their sensory sensitive kids.  That sparked the initial idea!”

Her co-founder, Kogen Friedman, remembers that her autistic nephew would remove certain articles of clothing as soon as they were put on him.  She began to ask her nephew’s therapists why he might have this clothing aversion. She found out that many children “have a sensory processing disorder (SPD) which makes them extremely sensitive to smells, sounds, and textures.  It is just one of the many issues most children on the spectrum have to contend with.”

“Why isn’t someone making clothes that are more comfortable, not just for kids with sensory disorder, but for the mass market?”

While Ralli is a special educator and, by her own admission, “very passionate about inclusion and universal design (the practice of designing a product by which not only the special needs community but the entire community benefits)”  Friedman worked in her family’s construction business.  It helped her to see a correlation between the business of construction and the business of special needs:  “Just like there is a need and niche for housing, there is a need and niche for other products.  I did some research as I shopped for my nephew, and I could never find items that wouldn’t bother him.  The biggest offenders were tags on the back of shirts, buttons, zippers, and elastic waists.  I kept thinking, why isn’t someone making clothes that are more comfortable, not just for kids with sensory disorder, but for the mass market.”

The SOFT product line is a remarkable success for kids on the autism spectrum.  Ten-year old Darius has hypersensitivity to clothing.  He struggled with this issue his whole life and coped by wearing a “uniform” of women’s pajama pants and an old T-shirt every day. His mom was thrilled when she found the Soft Clothing solution for her son. With autism on the rise by 78% since 2002, the business opportunity to ease the everyday lives of children with autism grows every year.

Neither woman has a background in apparel so they conducted research, made mistakes, and learned as they went.

In spite of the great need for comfortable clothes for children with sensory processing disorder, Kogen Friedman and Ralli ran into a number of hurdles that had to be jumped in order to get their Brooklyn, New York company up and running.  Neither woman has a background in the apparel business, notes Ralli, so they learned a lot from their mistakes.  In fact, they researched the topic for a full two years before the business even started.

The research, adds Kogen Friendman, included “using surveys, talking to occupational therapists, parents, and the Internet.  People were googling and looking for clothing to help their sensory sensitive kids.”  Since then, SOFT Clothing has been featured in magazines such as Junior, New York Family, and Special Parent magazine.  Because of those parents, Kogen Friedman says, she and Ralli were able to create the specific design principles that have created the major success of this business opportunity. They have been working as a team since 2007.

“It is a combination of all my passions”

Both Ralli and Kogen Friedman are happy that they started the business and justifiably proud of its success.  “Glad couldn’t adequately define how we feel about making SOFT a reality,” says Kogen Friedman.  We get letters from moms and kids every day, saying what a difference our clothing has made for their child.”  Ralli adds, “It is a combination of all my passions.  It is so deeply satisfying when I hear from parents, and especially kids, that we make their lives easier in some way.”

It is a challenge for the particularly creative businessperson to create and launch a successful business that will make the lives of people struggling on a daily basis with a condition such as autism or diabetes.  If the business is not a success, it will not help anyone.  If, however the business is successful like SOFT Clothing, there are endless opportunities for it to help others.

Will investing in eco-friendly geothermal energy for your home lower energy bills?  Is this source of renewable energy a viable solution to your ever-increasing fuel bills?  Certainly, the benefits of swapping to a renewable energy source that is considered “green energy” is enough to entice consumers, but the lower energy bills and the many other benefits, including work-at-home career opportunities, are even more reasons for you to pay closer attention to the geothermal energy trend.

There are two important things that forward-thinking homeowners who are planning major improvements on their homes want to know:

1)      Will it be a worthwhile investment? Will there be a long wait for the return on investment or will the rewards be reaped immediately?

2)      Will this be the best choice for our future in this house, our children’s futures, and the future of our planet? Is it an eco-friendly choice?

What Exactly Is Geothermal Energy?

A concept that was born in the 1940’s, the geothermal energy trend is introduced to potential purchasers as a “green” home improvement, both in heating and in cooling. Currently, fossil fuels are burned for the majority of the world’s electricity generation. The word “geothermal” when broken down into the words “geo” and “therme” and then translated to Greek, means “earth” and “heat”, respectively.

In a nutshell, geothermal energy uses a tubing system that is usually installed in the backyard of the home. The installation of these systems is quite rigorous compared to conventional heating and cooling systems, hence the higher installation costs. Trenches are excavated to hold the piping, which leads from the home to a spot below the Earth’s surface. This piping is networked underground and transports a fluid that is either water or water and antifreeze mixed together. The geothermal heat pump, which is in charge of heating or cooling the fluid that circulates through the piping, needs to be installed as well. Duct work, which transports the cooled or heated air through the house, also needs to be created.

“To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy.” -President Barack Obama

Benefits of Geothermal Energy

The lower costs and the eco-friendliness of geothermal systems are enticing for many consumers. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the benefits.

Geothermal Energy:

-          Uses renewable & “clean” energy. No fossil fuels, no harmful gas emissions.

-          It’s cost effective.  Consider that $5 of geo thermal energy equals $1 of conventional electrical energy.

-          It’s quiet.  There are no loud AC units and furnaces.

-          Reduces heating/cooling bill. Heating, cooling, and water all together, should cost around $1000 annually.

-          Is comfy. Rather than a “dry” air from a furnace or woodstove, the heating and cooling is derived from the Earth’s ground that also has moisture in it, which dehumidifies the house.

-          Is reliable. These systems come with lifetime warranties, but are predicted to last hundreds of years.

-          May come with incentives. Some companies offer rebates to consumers who choose to install a new system.  Also, the government is offering incentives in the form of grants and tax breaks.

-          Reduces our dependence on oil importation.  By using geothermal techniques, the dependence on other countries for this type of oil is reduced.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s John Lund, who is the Principal Engineer of the Geothermal Program, uses a geothermal exchange pump in his home. FoxNews.com reported John Lunds’ statement about his home energy bills, “To heat my house, my hot water, my hot tub, everything, (for) ten dollars a month.”

Additionally, by replacing current systems with this type of energy source, we are preserving our natural resources while controlling climates. Furthermore, the refrigerant that is used for the heat pump for geo thermal energy has no known ozone layer depletion.

This eco-friendly heating and cooling system also brings with it several opportunities for work-at-home careers, a benefit that most people are not aware of yet. While the most obvious career opportunity that has been introduced is for installers, however there are many other career options related to this fossil-fuel free energy possibility. This information is further expanded upon in Geothermal Energy Trends, Part 2, so stay tuned for that update in about a week.

Return On Investment

With a cost of somewhere between $11,000 and $30,000 installed, consumers are surely going to be interested in how fast the benefits of this energy system are reaped.

AJ Manson, Geothermal Consultant and author of the study, “Are Geothermal Energy Returns on Investment High Enough?” concludes that this type of energy system outperforms conventional heating and cooling options.  Regarding cooling, geothermal pumps that worked on the cooling cycle offered 13 times the effectiveness of conventional systems, while the heat operation offered between 3.5 and 22 times more effectiveness than its traditional alternatives.

Essentially, the cost savings will immediately start happening once the system is completely installed. The very next cycle of energy bills should reflect a savings when compared to the prior month’s bill, and it should occur every month thereafter. For example, NPR highlighted a couple with a home that measured 1900 square feet. This couple spent about $20,000 on the installation of their geothermal system. To shave some of the cost of installation, they excavated the trench themselves with a rented backhoe. They said that their energy bills were reduced to $100 per month from a whopping $600 per month. Therefore, they calculated that it would take about seven years for their investment to pay off, which they agreed was not a long time since the savings would continue long after that.

Check Out Possible Incentives

Even President Obama has endorsed geothermal power with his speech that included his announcement about the $350M stimulus funding he approved for geothermal endeavors.

According to The Green Economy Post, President Obama said this during his speech: “We have a choice.  We can remain the world’s leading importer of oil, or we can become the world’s leading exporter of clean energy.  We can hand over the jobs of the future to our competitors, or we can confront what they have already recognized as the great opportunity of our time: the nation that leads the world in creating new sources of clean energy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy. That’s the nation I want America to be.”

Be sure to look into the available government grants and tax breaks, as well as possible rebates and other incentives, if you are considering upgrading to a geothermal energy system for your home or business.

If you are interested in the different types of work-at-home careers that the geothermal energy trends opens the doors to, continue to read Part 2, Geothermal Energy Trends: Help Others Save on Energy Bills AND Make a Living.  It will be posted on February 9th.

Social media guru Jeff Bullas reports that there are currently 42 million active online blogs with new blog post creation hitting the 500,000 a day mark. Blogs are on the rise and a group of entrepreneurs at the forefront of this charge are the “The Mom Bloggers.”

Many of these mom bloggers are savvy businesses women with strategies and marketing plans. They report on life, family, and business with an honest transparency that has a homegrown/organic feel.  Knowledgeable and fully-engaged with their ever-growing audience, mom bloggers are consistently on the hunt for products and services that they can review and share with their readers.

According to Technorati and other sources, Mom Bloggers range of from “Hobbyists” who engage for fun all the way up to what they classify as the “Corporates” who blog for 40 hours a week and report  annual incomes of up to $35,000 and more.

What Makes A Successful Mom Blogger?

Their cherished readership is active, vibrant and deeply involved in wanting to know everything from parenting issues to “which-brand-works-for-you?”

All of them share the major asset as well- one mom has credibility with another mom.  Why?  On a TV commercial, you know that professional actors are being paid to say nice things about Brand X.  However, a mom reporting on Brand X to another mom has the opportunity of saying that, “I tried it in my home and my kids reacted like this.”  In commercial terms, that mom to mom credibility is huge.

“These mom bloggers have tremendous personality and tremendous opinions.” -NYTimes

 

Why are Mom Blogs in Such Demand?

The rising popularity and effectiveness of these bloggers has not gone unnoticed by major brands that are looking to increasingly tap into the power this online presence.  Brands are taking note that Mom Bloggers have the ears and attention of their intended audiences.  Rule #1 of marketing- go where your audience is. Where are consumers these days?  Online. 

Blogging network BlogHer reports that brands have been sitting up and taking notice of the Mom Blogger “pull” for years.  In 2012, BlogHer polled 37 million unique readers and found that a whopping 61% of U.S. online consumers have made a purchase based on recommendations from a blog and 81% of U.S. online consumers trust information and advice from blogs.  EnageMoms shared that, according to research they conducted in September 2012, 92% of women who are active in social media indicate that they have made a purchase as a result of a social media recommendation, primarily via a blog.

Who Advertises with Mom Bloggers?

Brands like Seventh Generation, Huggies, Nick (TV) and Star-Kist have cultivated mom blogger relationships with great results as well.  Even companies like Mitsubishi and Chevy have gotten into the act; not by giving away a vehicle, but by allowing Mom Bloggers to drive their cars/SUVs for a week and then review it.

Truth-be-told, companies and businesses of every shape and size can tap into the clout of mom bloggers by sticking their hands in the air (virtually speaking of course) and exclaiming to the masses “Hey!  Don’t forget about us!”  Bloggers pitch and review products for everyone from solo Etsy entrepreneurs all the way up to heavy-hitters like Target.

Tips on Approaching Mommy Blogs

Mom Bloggers are a savvy lot.  Though hungry for great stories, products, and services to share with their readership, they would rather not work for free.  Many are perfectly satisfied with a product sample or a spin around the block in a new SUV, but for the most part Mom Bloggers know free samples don’t pay the bills.

“I wish brands knew how hard we worked and paid for reviews and giveaways,” shares Sara Coleman McFall from My Merry Messy Life.  “The standard needs to change and bloggers should be recognized, and compensated, for the value they provide to Brands.”  In other words, brands should not think they can get away with a freebee.

Mom Bloggers like to use, review, and blog about products that they can actually use and would use as a mom.  Not only does this appeal to their readership, but it also ensures they can be honest with their review and reporting.  If your company sells Ultimate Fighting apparel or Bow Hunting gear for men, chances are Mom Bloggers wouldn’t be a good fit for you.

Also take note that not all mom bloggers want to write about cooking/couponing.  Niche bloggers exist for topics such as travel, green living, and children’s literacy. The demographics of the readers can be as diverse as the topics.  On average, the dedicated, well-established Mom Blogger will have a monthly audience of 20,000 or more views.  That’s 20, 000 moms looking for good things for their families.

If you are looking for a quality blog, networks like The Blog Frog, CleverGirls, Izea and Linqia act as matchmakers between Communities & Brands and the mom bloggers.  Strict parameters are in place and bloggers are required to go through a thorough screening process.  To even qualify, bloggers need to prove consistent and vibrant readership via analytics and participate in “after” review process such as sharing stats and review performance.

The Future of Mom Bloggers

As brands, products and trends evolve and change, the nimbleness of these mom bloggers will change right alongside them.  Unencumbered by boardrooms and committees, these mom bloggers can adapt and change quickly with their readers’ needs and requests.  In the coming years, brands will continue to tap into this powerhouse of  product visibility because they know working with mom bloggers is their direct connection to their ideal client.

Very few schools teach kids how to balance a checkbook or anything remotely close to personal finance.  That’s why some parents are taking this into their own hands by encouraging their kids to become KidPreneurs.  It’s not only fun for the children but they also learn important lessons about personal finances along the way.  Here’s a few of the success stories that will inspire you to encourage your youngster’s creativity and business acumen.

Meet the Pencil Entrepreneur

After watching his mom create and sell crafts at local market, nine year old Jason O’Neill wanted to earn some money by helping her produce products.  Instead, his mother encouraged him to create something of his own.  He knew that he and his friends found school work tedious and thought that maybe he could find a way to make it more fun – That’s when he came up with Pencil Bugs!

The hand crafted pencil toppers came packaged with a Certificate of Authenticity, a pencil name and instructions on how to care for them.  They were sold in shops, at events and on his Pencil Bug website. Along the way, Jason says he has learned public speaking, how to balance a check book, how to make sales calls, and he even self-published a book!  Although the Pencil Bugs are now extinct, he carries a related line of pencil shirts, mouse pads, and other items.

Out of Necessity

We have all heard that “Necessity is the mother of invention” and that certainly held true for then eight year old Leanna Archer. She needed a hair product to keep her long and sometimes wild locks in check, so her grandmother made a concoction with all natural products.  The product worked so well, that her friends all commented how great her hair looked and wanted to know what she used.  Leanna thought maybe she could make some money with this and started packaging the hair gel in baby food jars and marketed it to her friends. Once the money started coming in, she researched business startups on the internet and obtained a Tax ID number and business license. With her parents help, Leanna’s Hair was born.  Now at the “old age” of fifteen, Leanna oversees an online business with revenues of greater than $100,000.00 a year.

“Your kid may become rich before he can even spell ‘millionaire’ correctly.”

All for a Cause

Eight year old Jessica Nedry wanted to help a family friend who was raising funds for her fight with cancer. After seeing some bracelets she liked that the kids in school were wearing, Jessica was inspired and began making her own bracelets out of rubber bands. They turned out to be a huge success so she decided to turn them into a real business.  She named them FriendlyBands and offers 28 different styles – each with their own name.  Many are created for charitable groups, such as the “Hero” line which was designed with fallen military in mind, – a portion of the sales is donated to Our Heroes Journey.  Jessica recently opened a website where her bracelets are sold.

What do these three budding business kids have in common? Creativity, drive and family encouragement.  They learned skills they would never learn in school – philanthropy, money management, sales skills, negotiation tactics, customer service and perseverance, just to name a few.

How Do You Start to Help Your Child Pursue a Business Venture?

You can find quite a bit of information on the internet about successful youngsters that are building a business brand.  Just search “kid entrepreneurs” or “children in business”; there is ample material available under both.  Here are a few sites to start you off:

• Clubkidpreneur.com
• TeachingKidsBusiness.com
• Kidpreneurs.org

As for which business opportunity to pursue, your child will probably have quite a few ideas. Trying something that comes naturally to him is a good start to explore.  Encourage him to develop these ideas on paper first – make a list and number the ideas in the order of most interest.  Is there a hobby that could turn into something?  To get him thinking, suggest some popular kid startups such as:

• Dog or cat walker/sitter services
• Lawn services
• Set up an eBay shop or post eBay items for other people
• Set up a shop on Etsy to sell handmade crafts
• T shirt design and sales on Café press
• Logo Design (if your child is artistic). Check out freelance sites like eLance to find jobs
• Errand service (grocery shop, dry cleaners, pharmacy)
• Lessons – does your child have a talent he can teach?
• Baking cupcakes or cookies for friends or family events
• Create websites for kids that sell products, stories or affiliate sales
• Computer related business – Does your child have great computer skills?  He could teach those or use those skills to fix or set up other people’s systems.
• Social media design – setting up or improving Facebook, my space sites
• Check out fivvr.com where all sorts of goods and services can be sold

For startup capital, make sure your child earns that money or if you fund the startup, set up a loan repayment system.  This is the main goal of the business is to teach your child money management.  For example, Jason’s mom matched Jason’s own $25.00 to give him the money he needed for supplies to start his Pencil Bug business.

Remember to keep it fun, and you may just have the next Steve Jobs on your hands!