| It has been a year since Wall Street collapsed, sending | | | | are saying no to the cubicle and saying yes to their |
| the world into arguably the worst economic recession | | | | own small businesses where they run the show and |
| ever. Yet despite the doom and gloom headlines we | | | | call the shots. Because the New Economy is a |
| see and hear every day, there has never been a | | | | welcoming place in which to do this, more and more |
| better time for people with entrepreneurial spirits to get | | | | people are choosing to start their own small business |
| out there and make their mark. Why is that? The truth | | | | rather than go to work for some big corporation. |
| is, no matter how bad or good an economy is, people | | | | Marketing futurist Faith Popcorn predicted over a |
| are always earning money. Good opportunities persist | | | | decade ago that one of the biggest future trends |
| in any economy because good people persist with | | | | would entail questioning and rejecting the pillars of |
| businesses that cater to what consumers want to buy. | | | | society in an attempt to regain control of individual |
| And intelligent people will see that the New Economy | | | | choice and direction. Never has that trend been more |
| presents a wealth of opportunities for all ranges of | | | | apparent as it is in the New Economy, with more and |
| people who have a dream and a solid work ethic. | | | | more people breaking free from the shackles of |
| One of the largest factors making the New Economy | | | | corporate America pursue their dreams. Small |
| so ripe for small business success is the Baby Boomer | | | | businesses evolve out of these dreams, creating |
| generation. Millions of articles have been written about | | | | abundance and opportunity for more people than ever |
| this group of people who were born between 1948 | | | | before. |
| and 1964, and for good reason. There are a lot of | | | | Starting a small business in the New Economy is not |
| them, which translates into a lot of money being spent | | | | only wise, it is essential for long-term financial stability, |
| each year by this group. As they have gotten older, | | | | personal fulfillment, and self-control. The world is |
| their needs and desires have changed, opening up | | | | changing and it is changing fast, and many experts |
| new markets for small businesses to give them what | | | | now agree that the next widespread business phase |
| they want. Smart entrepreneurs starting a small | | | | will be massive numbers of people starting small |
| business will position themselves in front of this | | | | businesses of their own. The direction a person |
| enormous consumer group and capitalize handsomely | | | | chooses to go in will be dependent on a number of |
| on providing their clients exactly what they want. | | | | factors, including but not limited to the individual's |
| Another key ingredient that makes the New Economy | | | | personal tastes, passions, and vision. But making sure |
| a hotbed of fresh small business opportunities is the | | | | their new small business meets the needs of current |
| shift in the workforce from an employee-mindset to an | | | | consumers as well as gets positioned in front of |
| entrepreneurial-mindset. Unwilling to follow in their | | | | massive consumer trends will serve New Economy |
| parents footsteps, members of Generations X and Y | | | | entrepreneurs very well indeed. |