Entrepreneurial Tightrope: Success is step-by-step process

— -- Hello Gladys, My wife and I want to start a business at the start of the year. Right now we are both bankers on jobs that we fear will end in layoffs fairly soon. We have no idea what kind of business to start, and we don't know where to begin even if we knew what we wanted to do. Can you offer a few guidelines and suggestions? We want to succeed in our venture. Thanks - E.M.

Take stock of your skills and experience. Is there something you are doing on your job now or in the past that can become viable business? For instance, what can you do with what you have learned in the banking business? Can you offer solutions to people that would help them manage their money better to avoid getting into tough financial situations?

If you have spent time in the loan department of the bank, can you help new homebuyers get mortgages? Can you assist small business owners in sorting out the many different types of loans available or aid them in getting financing? One of the fastest ways to business success is starting with where you are and with what you know.

Over the past few years I have been called into a number of churches to do small business training. I am impressed with the number of programs that churches offer to members to help ease life's obstacles. And I have noticed that many of the programs revolve around money. A number of churches have hired consultants and workshop trainers to provide debt reduction counseling seminars. Check your church and the churches in your area to see what kind of programs might be of interest to them. Perhaps your banking skills can be utilized there.

If you want to get away from your current line of work and do something completely different, take a look at your skills and interests that are not work-related.

I recently met a woman at a small business conference who had spent 20 years as a nurse. She tired of nursing and wanted to start a business that had nothing to do with health care. After careful examination of her non-work related skills, she put her green thumb to professional use and started a small flower and garden shop. Now she owns several such shops and also does floral decorations for everything from weddings, bridal and baby showers to corporate events. In addition, she conducts classes to show home gardeners how to better care for their plants.

Keep in mind that the more solutions you can offer the better chance you will have at success. This means keeping your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Listen to people when they talk about what they need or what they wish they could have.

Look around to see what will improve people's lives to make them better, easier, cleaner and-or more beautiful. And, get it to them as quickly as possible.

As for succeeding, don't think in terms of failing or succeeding. Time spent entertaining ideas of either will only delay your progress. Keep your mind's eye on your goals of starting and building a business and take steps in that direction.

Gladys Edmunds' Entrepreneurial Tightrope column appears Wednesdays. As a single, teen-age mom, Gladys made money doing laundry, cooking dinners for taxi drivers and selling fire extinguishers and Bibles door-to-door. Today, Edmunds, founder of Edmunds Travel Consultants in Pittsburgh, is a private coach/consultant in business development and author of There's No Business Like Your Own Business, published by Viking. See an index of Edmunds' columns. Her website is www.gladysedmunds.com. You can e-mail her at gladys@gladysedmunds.com.