Have you ever had an idea for a small business that was so crazy, so unusual, so highly “thinking outside of the box” that you just had to try it out to see if it could actually work?
In this post, I will introduce you to five highly unusual and unique companies started by entrepreneurs who didn’t care if others labeled their small business idea as “stupid” or “would never work in this economy”.
How do you create a successful small business?
All successful small businesses start out as one thing.
An idea.
What happens after the initial idea determines the future success (or failure) of the small business.
If an action is added to the idea, then the idea transforms into an actual small business (albeit a small one at first that nobody knows about).
Of course, just simply adding action to the idea will not guarantee a successful small business.
But it will guarantee something…even if it’s just a painful lesson in what not to do.
Even a hard lesson learned is better than absolutely nothing…which is EXACTLY what happens when NO action is added to the idea!
However, if enough time, effort, and sweat equity are devoted to getting your small business in more Web browsers and social media feeds, then the expected result will be more increased revenue from higher numbers of new and returning customers.
Action is the difference between stopping short when you’re in the “just a crazy idea that might not even work” to hitting it out of the park when you’re known for putting out a “great product that dominates the industry“.
What happens when you add action to your idea?
One of three things happen when you finally take a chance and start your own small business.
- You become a rip-roaring success and stack fat piles of cash under your mattress at night.
- You fail miserably and end up completely broke, homeless, and alone.
- Or…somewhere in between those first two options.
Regardless, you can’t create a successful business without taking that important first step in starting a small business.
What is a good first step in starting a small business?
There are lots of ways to start a small business.
They can be something as simple and low cost as starting a blog.
If you want to get on the fast track to your dream, then consider pursuing a side hustle or working part-time in your dream industry to gain valuable experience.
How can small business owners become more successful?
The Internet is a tremendous resource for small businesses and savvy entrepreneurs to carve out their niche in a hyper-competitive business world.
The dramatic rise and skyrocketing usage of social media and blogging as vital news and opinion-making sources have successfully leveled the playing field.
Anyone willing to hustle at the Grind, work hard, and never give up has a solid shot at operating a successful small business in a crowded marketplace of big players and other small hustlers like yourself.
You really can achieve success at your chosen path if (and this is a big IF…) you are willing to:
- Work hard
- Make smart choices
- Never give up on achieving your dream
Let’s take a look at five of the most highly unusual yet tremendously successful online businesses found on ClickBank, a popular affiliate marketing network that offers small business owners worldwide a chance at achieving success beyond their wildest expectations.
5 totally absurd small business ideas made hugely successful by the Internet
5. Aquaponics 4 You
Ever wanted to grow your own fresh food that was fertilized with the waste produced from pet goldfish?
Even if you never even thought about doing that, but think it sounds like a great idea, then do I have the product of your dreams.
The Aquaponics 4 You system is a:
“Break-Through Organic Gardening Secret Grows You Up To 10 Times The Plants, In Half
The Time, With Healthier Plants, While the “Fish” Do All the Work…”
Anytime a fish has to do all the work while I can kick back and relax with my fresh food, I am taking it. That’s not even debatable.
4. Build Your Own Electric Car
When it comes to electric car buying, are you the type of person who prefers to let the professional electric car companies build your electric car for you?
Or are you a D.I.Y. kind of cat who would rather build your very own electric car from scratch with little to no electric car building knowledge or experience?
Check out this useful resource jam packed with everything you should know about building your own electric car.
3. How To Improve Your Child’s Behavior
Unfortunately, there is no book with the exact instructions on how to raise your child.
However, there are plenty of books on how to raise children who are similar to yours.
How to Improve Your Child’s Behavior by Anthony Kane, MD is a book that will teach you how to raise a child in today’s “they grow up too fast” kind of world.
2. Christmas Lights Installer Training
Nothing could put a bigger damper on the holiday season than an injury.
Unfortunately, each year, over 15,000 injuries occur from holiday lighting falls and mishaps, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) .
How many of these could have been prevented by hiring a professional Christmas and holiday light installation service?
Why install Christmas lights yourself and risk injury when you can simply pay somebody else to install the Christmas lights for you.
While you’re contemplating that, let me also ask:
Have you ever fantasized about opening your OWN holiday light installation small business?
It’s time your fantasy becomes a dream that becomes a reality.
Because it’s time you stop dreaming and start doing.
1. Blogging with John Chow
What if I told you that you could make millions of dollars each year online just from blogging?
You’d think I wasn’t telling the truth, right?
Well, I wouldn’t believe it either.
Hold up a sec…Can you really make millions of dollars online from just a blog?
A friggin’ blog for crying out loud…seriously?
How can a blog make millions of dollars in passive income each year?
That’s exactly what John Chow will teach you in his Blogging with John Chow program.
Because John’s blog, John Chow dot com, is about how he makes millions of dollars online from his blog and he shares his adventures and lessons learned from life as one of the O.G. bloggers.
What other bloggers are making a lot of money online with their blogs?
There are actually quite a few bloggers who get money from their blogging hustle.
Some of the other heavy hitters of blogging making big bucks with their blogs include:
- Zac “Money Reign” Johnson
- Alexis “Socialexis” Grant
- Sophie Lizard
- Erika “Redhead Writing” Napoletano
- Jessica “#GetGutsy” Lawlor
- Danny “The Freddy Krueger of Blogging” Iny
- Marcus “The Sales Lion” Sheridan
- Darren “The Pro Blogger” Rowse
- Joe “Write with” Warnimont
- Karen “The Fearless Creativepreneur” Daniels
And of course, the irrefutable blogging master, Jon Morrow.
Who is Jon MorroW?
Not familiar with Jon Morrow and his meteoric rise to the top of the professional blogging game?
Then check out this lively and revealing interview by “The Social Media Edutainer” Grandma Mary with Jon Morrow at the most recent New Media Revolution (formerly BlogWorld) show in Las Vegas, Nevada:
Conclusion
It’s true, you really can make money online, either with a blog or with your strange and unusual niche small business.
If you combine relentless action with a crazy creative idea, and utilize the resources at your fingertips online with proven moneymakers like ClickBank, then there is no limit to how high your dreams will take you in life.
Do you have a small business?
Awesome! What is it?
Leave a comment below and share your small business knowledge and experience with the world!
About James K. Kim
I am a former archery technician turned freelance digital marketer. I help people build profitable businesses online.
You can learn more about how to build a profitable online business at JamesKKimMarketing.com.
In my free time I enjoy the ancient sport of archery, sport crossbow target shooting, deep sea fishing, day hiking, recreational kayaking, high intensity weight training, ice hockey, and outdoor cooking.
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Thanks for all the other choices you have shared with us. Appreciated.
Hi Jim, A lot of interesting tips and advice found in your post. As an entrepreneur myself I know how important it is to put action to an idea to get results. This is good basic marketing tactics not just for people starting out but people who have been in business not being as effective as they cab be. Nicely cone!