Q: What’s the best way for unemployed folks to become entrepreneurs? — Need Some Advice

A: Call all the unemployed people you know to a meeting. Have several flip charts available. Pick a few people who have good facilitator skills and handwriting. Find out everyone’s skills, and ask what kind of business they want to start. Eliminate all ideas that are out of a person’s expertise.

The, form groups of people with similar skills, and have them brainstorm, putting ideas on the chart. In the construction group, someone might know a potential client who needs a remodeled kitchen. Share that with the group, and put it on the chart. Then, see how many people would be interested. Have the person who knows the potential customer contact him or her and let them meet the remodeling team. Make one person responsible for pricing the work. Be the best you can be; show up on time; do what you say you are going to do. After your first job, if the customer is pleased, ask him or her to be a reference. Put an ad in the paper, and you might be surprised at the response.