Wait... Don't Wipe Your Mouth On That Napkin! It Could Be Valuable!

Successful business ideas can come to you at any moment, not just when you're conveniently situated in your office conference room. Don't you love it when you're sitting in a diner and you have a stroke of genius? You look for a piece of paper to write it down before you forget. But why would you have paper handy when you're surrounded by napkins? That'll make for a much better story later! So you jot down your brilliant brainchild of an idea in between bites of pie, get to work on putting your plan into action, and a few years later, presto! You're running a huge, successful, famous company. And it it all began with a few humble napkin notes written next to a blueberry stain. You love telling that, right?

Yeah, that's never happened to me either. But it could have! My story might be more likely to feature a cocktail napkin and a glass stain from an old fashioned. Or a blueberry mojito, if we must have blueberries. But whatever, minor details. I might look at that napkin later and wonder why in the hell I thought my idea was brilliant. So then I'd toss the napkin. That's the more plausible scenario. HOWEVER... not always! I have had moments of inspiration and insight in unlikely places. My car for example. I live in L.A. – who here hasn't had many a thought in their car? The shower – I don't need to elaborate on that one, do I?!! Or while doing any number of activities when I'm nowhere near a computer: hiking, grocery shopping, and yes, when I'm at a dining or drinking establishment, doing, well, dining or drinking.

From A Doodle To The Space Needle: Successful Business Ideas With Humble Beginnings!

I'm sure you've had similar experiences. I think we all have, because that's how our brains work. Creativity doesn't turn off just because we're not at work. In fact, sometimes it turns on for that very reason. There's a long list of successful business ideas that famously (supposedly) started on a napkin.

The architect of Seattle's Space Needle did his first sketch on one. J.K. Rowling wrote her ideas for Harry Potter on a napkin while on a train. Talk about making good use of time! Of course she would have called it a serviette, being British and all. Ever had an MRI? Well you can thank physicist Paul Lauterbur for scribbling that idea in a Pittsburgh diner. And the most famous note on a cocktail napkin to make it into business lore? That prize goes to Southwest Airlines. Whether or not the company's story really begins with, "So these two men walk into a bar..." doesn't matter anymore. The point is that it started out as a simple idea and grew from there.

So the takeaway I hope you get from this? One: You should spend more time eating in diners, having a cocktail or otherwise spending time where you'll always find a napkin within reach. And two: You should always be open to inspiration, whenever it strikes. Write down your ideas (on a napkin!). "Write" them in your phone. Dictate them into your phone. Dictate to yourself – say them out loud to help you remember. Whatever you need to do so you can revisit them later and give yourself the chance to make them a reality.

Oh by the way, do you feel like you're too busy? Or like you're always working but not much is getting done? Your solution is right here and it's FREE!

Be Oh So Quotable This Week!

I always say running a business means the work never ends! Ain't that the truth? I bet your to-do list is a mile long! Make sure that the items at the top of your list are the things that relate to being more profitable. Everyone is so proud of being so "busy"...But Are You Making Any Money? Don't be too busy to focus!

Check out the summary of last week's business tips and motivational quotes from my Instagram page which you hopefully got to see in real time! If not, let's make sure we're following each other on Instagram!! So...here is this week's roundup of Instagram images of My Top Business Tips and Motivational Quotes.

Successful Business Ideas – Tip #1:

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"The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary." – Sam Walton

Successful Business Ideas – Tip #2:

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"Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves." – Steve Jobs

Successful Business Ideas – Tip #3:

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"There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to charge more and those that work to charge less. We will be the second." – Jeff Bezos

Successful Business Ideas – Tip #4:

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"Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to." – Richard Branson

Successful Business Ideas – Tip #5:

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"Be so good they can’t ignore you." – Steve Martin

Let's talk! I'd love to hear how your most successful business ideas have come to you!

Does inspiration ever strike you in strange places? Have you ever had any successful business ideas start on a napkin? I would LOVE to hear from you! Anyhoo...I publish these business tips and motivational quotes to get you fired up for your work week!

Oh by the way, want to eliminate frustration and increase cash? Discover 8 simple ideas to get clients, identify the three types of clients and create your sales system. Get Our Top 5 Strategies right here for FREE!

And, if you want more business tips, get my book, But Are You Making Any Money? or contact me to really take your business to the next level!

xoxo M

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