| Most people lead rather ordinary lives, built around | | | | their enjoyment of every aspect of the golfing |
| family, job, church and hobbies. This is fine for most. | | | | experience. I review more golf products every year |
| The need to pay the bills leads many to engage in | | | | than any other single category. In every instance, the |
| work that is unfulfilling, boring and stifling. That so | | | | entrepreneur believes they have developed a |
| many people work at energy sapping employment | | | | product that will improve golf performance, lower |
| should be a motivating factor in seeking | | | | scores and increase the play experience. These |
| entrepreneurial opportunity. Sadly, most people are | | | | entrepreneurs are always golfers with passion, |
| totally risk averse and eliminate themselves from the | | | | looking to provide an edge through the unique |
| potential rewards available almost exclusively to | | | | features contained in their invention. |
| entrepreneurs. | | | | Passion for fun entrepreneurs, because of the love |
| The perceived risk taker (the entrepreneur) is, in | | | | they have for their hobby or sport, provides |
| actuality, not the real risk taker. The real risk taker is | | | | products that represent joy to them. It is so much |
| the person willing to work a dull job, for average pay, | | | | easier to succeed with a product that screams |
| letting life fly by without ever knowing the | | | | leisure, happiness or fun. The ability to build an |
| excitement of being in the fray. This person leaves | | | | exciting new product opportunity that provides a fun |
| life without ever having made a mark. Looking back | | | | feature and benefit to an area of passion is a dream |
| on a journey that did not include excitement, change | | | | come true for these entrepreneur's. |
| and risk would seem to reflect an empty, unfulfilled | | | | My father worked a dead end job. He was intensely |
| life lived. | | | | unhappy that life had passed him by (his words). He |
| Entrepreneurs crave change, excitement, competition | | | | told me as a young man, "do something that is fun, |
| and risk, understanding that these are the defining | | | | not work". Work and fun mean different things to |
| hurdles to be overcome if success is to be achieved. | | | | different people. Some people are happiest at work, |
| The ability to test oneself against the overwhelming | | | | no matter the type of work: it identifies them. |
| mass of competitive opportunities available in the | | | | Invariably this type of person is an entrepreneur. |
| marketplace is a narcotic to serial entrepreneurs. | | | | They enjoy the work because they own the |
| They might not always succeed, but they will always | | | | business. |
| try. | | | | Most people, however, would rather make a living |
| Most new products are developed from an | | | | from "fun" work. Working as a golf pro, sportscaster, |
| entrepreneur's life experience. The hundreds of new | | | | artist, writer, personal trainer or coach are just a few |
| product ideas I review each year are overwhelmingly | | | | jobs that many people would describe as fun and |
| skewed to hobby: pet, cosmetic, sporting goods and | | | | rewarding. Most of the products that I review, and |
| children's products. And overwhelmingly, these | | | | that succeed in the marketplace, offer features and |
| offerings can be described as having a fun | | | | benefits providing a way to deliver more fun to |
| component. | | | | passions and hobbies. |
| Would it surprise you to know that the toy industry | | | | I do review many work-related products, as well. |
| is 60% smaller than the pet product market? It did | | | | Many of these have huge potential. The ability to |
| me! However, I have seen a dynamic at work in | | | | provide an advance in wellness, technology or |
| many product categories that I think explains this | | | | e-commerce can be hugely lucrative. As a capitalist I |
| surprising number. I call it "Passion for Fun". Golfers, | | | | love these projects. Nevertheless, the real fun and |
| hunters (and fisherman) and pet owners are among | | | | passion I view when working with hobby, fun related |
| the most passionate people I interview. They are | | | | products is usually absent from industrial inventions. |
| intensely immersed in all aspects of their passion. | | | | Novel hobby and sport related products are often |
| Maybe toy manufacturers are not making hot new | | | | more easily conceived, easier to patent and |
| toys, or parents are spending more money on | | | | trademark and more easily designed and |
| educational products, but I know parents love their | | | | manufactured than most industrial products. The |
| children. They just are not passionate about toys. | | | | capital required to launch a pet exercise toy can be a |
| An avid outdoorsman will buy any and every product | | | | fraction of a mechanical tool or technology. Often |
| that might potentially provide them an edge when | | | | times, we utilize the inventor of a fun product as the |
| hunting or fishing. More strikes for a fisherman, closer | | | | branding spokesperson for the item. The passion for |
| and clearer shots for a hunter, more fish caught and | | | | fun that the entrepreneur has vested in their product |
| more game killed is the goal of every sportsman. | | | | is contagious and transfers to greater sales and |
| They are passionate about their sport and keen to | | | | believability. |
| know of any product that will increase their success | | | | When aspiring entrepreneurs are seeking a product |
| and their fun. | | | | to create and market we strongly advise that they |
| Pet owners are every bit as passionate about their | | | | look around the house or garage. What is their true |
| animals. Sharing one's home with an animal is a | | | | passion? What provides enjoyment, happiness and a |
| statement of commitment, sharing and passion in | | | | feeling of contentment? When they scrap book, |
| itself. Pet toys, exercisers, top grade foods, and | | | | assemble model planes, play chess, golf, swim, or |
| even vitamin enriched bottled waters are huge sellers | | | | read, is there something that they often think would |
| to pet owners as they pamper their animals. The joy | | | | improve the experience. This is the surest way to |
| pet owners receive from sharing their lives with a | | | | discover potential opportunity in an area of great |
| loved pet is highly rewarding. Watching a child play | | | | interest. You can invent that new product, and it will |
| with a puppy, or kitten, is one of parent's most | | | | be rewarding to you and every user as your |
| valued memories. | | | | entrepreneurial career commences. |
| Golfers share the same commitment to expanding | | | | |