Valerie Young (Changingcourse.com) is offering a very special July 4th Offer for anyone thinking about starting their own business!

I love Valerie’s products! She’s the real deal. Here is how to take advantage of her offer:

It’s common to reflect on Independence and Freedom as we prepare for weekend barbeque’s and picnics.

What do these words mean to you? Independence to do work you love? Freedom to gain control over your own life and time?

If you’re looking to escape the 9 – 5 (or 8 to late) world, then I hope you’ll take a look at career change expert Valerie Young’s “declare your own independence and find more freedom in your life” Super Sale!

And I do mean SUPER…

In case you’re not familiar with Valerie, she is THE expert on how to turn interests into income. Since starting ChangingCourse.com in 1995, this former “cubicle dweller” has shown thousands of people just like you how to escape the job world and make money doing work you really love.

But don’t take my word for it…

Valerie’s work has been cited in places like the Wall Street Journal, Inc. magazine, Entrepreneur, Reader’s Digest, Kiplinger’s Money Magazine, USA Weekend, Woman’s Day, The Chicago Tribune, MSN.com, CareerBuilder.com — to name just a few.

In honor of Independence Day, Valerie is offering her Freedom Accelerator Kit for a special $100 off (and that doesn’t include the over $300 of bonuses she’s offering for this weekend only)!

This Kit is filled with all of her very BEST material. This is truly a “best of the best” collection! You get:

~ Finding Your True Calling

~ The 10 Steps to Escaping the Job World and Creating the Life You Really Want Personal Planner

~ Yes You Can: The Inspirational Kick in the Pants You Need to Take Control of Your Life and Go After Your Dreams

~ The Idea Jogger: 201 Totally Cool Resources, Ideas, and Opportunities for Turning Interests into Income

~ Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Advice from Real People Who Are Living Their Dream

~ The 10 Steps to Escaping the Job World and Creating the Life You Really Want – Companion CD to Your Printed Planner

~ How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are – CD

~ How to Turn Your Interests into Income – CD

~ The 10 Biggest Dream Busters and How to Avoid Them – CD

And, she’s even including transcripts of all the CDs. So, if you prefer to read and highlight key passages as you go, you’ll find these nearly 200 pages of powerful, practical knowledge an invaluable resource.

PLUS, she’s even throwing in your first month’s membership in the Changing Course Club for free. That’s a TOTAL SAVINGS of $129… and that doesn’t include all of the great “Grand Finale Fireworks” Bonus Items.

Grab your Freedom Accelerator Kit at the one-time $100 discount price of only $197 today! And, to make it even easier to say yes, you can choose to break that down into three manageable installments of only $69.

Here’s how:

http://ChangingCourse.com/cmd.php?af=896824

The Grand Finale Fireworks…

Not only do you get the Freedom Accelerator Kit for $100 off during this special Independence Day Super Sale, but you get all these bonuses worth over $300…

BONUS #1 – Making Dreams Happen Audio Program with Barbara Sher, Barbara Winter and Valerie Young ($147 value)

BONUS # 2 – Free Outside the Job Box Consultation with a current Outside the Job Box Student – for the first 35 who order (minimum $85 value)

BONUS # 3 – Audio Recording of “How to Turn Your Passions Into Profits” ($29 value)

BONUS # 4 – “How to Dream Big Dreams” eBook ($24.95 value)

BONUS # 5 – Power and Soul: 42 Successful Entrepreneurs Share the Secrets to Creating the Business and Life of Your Dreams
($19.95 value)

BONUS # 6 – Nudge Your Dream Along With 365 Days of Inspiration!

ACT NOW!

Once you order the Freedom Accelerator Kit, you’ll have all the tools you need to declare your own personal independence!
Finally declare freedom for your own life… from crabby bosses, pink-slips, stress, nightmare commutes and traffic….

If you think The Freedom Accelerator Kit is right for you, then celebrate your dream and sign up today and save $100. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

Order at this special link:

http://ChangingCourse.com/cmd.php?af=896824

P.S. This one-time $100 off discount and over $300 in Bonuses is only good until 8:00 pm Eastern on Tuesday, July 7 and only at:

http://ChangingCourse.com/cmd.php?af=8968

You may not have heard of instructional coordinators, but if you’re in school, they’re helping to determine what you learn every day.

One reason you may not have heard of this career is that instructional coordinators are also known as curriculum specialists, staff development specialists, directors of instructional material or other variations of those names.

While the job title varies, the main focus of this position does not. An instructional coordinator focuses on making sure that educational programs comply with school board and federal, state and local government regulations.

Instructional coordinators engage in a wide variety of duties at all levels of education. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, instructional coordinators “develop curricula, select textbooks and other materials, train teachers and assess educational programs in terms of quality and adherence to regulations and standards. They also assist in implementing new technology in the classroom.”

Most instructional coordinators are employed by the educational services industry, which includes elementary, secondary and technical schools, and colleges and universities. Some also work for state and local departments of education, as well for private companies that develop educational materials for schools.

Trends boosting job growth

The employment of instructional coordinators is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. That’s according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many factors are influencing this job growth. Deborah Hardy is the chairperson of school counseling at a high school. She explains the demand for this career. “As schools redevelop curriculum based on state regulations, educators are finding the need to have instructional leaders assist them with professional development, feedback on lessons, creative methods of instruction, identifying new programs and practices based on school and student needs, and developing delivery methods that benefit all students.”

During the next decade and beyond, instructional coordinators will be needed to develop new curricula to meet the changing demands of society and to train the teaching workforce. In order to stay up to date on new developments, more teachers will find themselves going back to the classroom.

An increasing number of schools are providing professional development programs for teachers, says Jeanette McDonald. She’s the manager of educational development at a university.

Teaching centers often include part-time or full-time faculty members, or professional staff members who work with instructors on curriculum initiatives, course development efforts, tenure and promotion, and teaching feedback, just to name a few, McDonald says.

It’s increasingly important that universities and colleges retain faculty and attract new faculty, McDonald adds. Those working in teaching centers help support those efforts.

“Institutional accountability to students, parents, government and other public and private stakeholders necessitates greater attention on teaching and learning,” McDonald says. “A growing literature base on teaching and learning also legitimates a focus on quality education and innovation in the classroom.”

The rise in distance learning at universities is another factor contributing to the growth of the field, says Peggy Brown. She’s the director of instructional design for a university. Her school offers the same graduate programs and certificates of advanced study through distance learning as they offer on campus.

It’s Brown’s responsibility to make sure the design for all distance learning and main campus courses flows together within the university’s learning management system. “I wear many hats, which include administration of our learning management system, course development, course design, faculty development/training, instructional resources and multimedia,” Brown says. “Being in this career allows me to be creative and have fun, while working hard.”

A promising job outlook

In the U.S., opportunities are expected to be best for those who specialize in areas that have been targeted for improvement by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) — reading, math and science. That’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The accountability dial has been ratcheted up a few notches since NCLB,” says Fran Finco. He’s the director of instructional services a school district in Wisconsin. “Increasing student achievement has always been the goal of schools. NCLB brought into the forefront the need to meet the needs of all children. Instructional services people are needed to be the ‘go to’ people in the districts to lead the improvement movement.”

Hardy echoes those comments. “With the use of data warehousing systems that track assessments and student achievement in the content area, schools are looking for experts such as instructional leaders to work with teachers in innovative ways to deliver classroom instruction or update their library resources,” she says.

Hardy also sees a demand for instructional leaders and staff developers. “Instructional leaders look at the entire needs of students and curriculum, assess what is in place and revisit alternate possibilities related to programs,” she says. “Staff developers assist in training educators in their classroom environments, students and delivery of programs.”

Preparing for work

Those in the field say a career as an instructional coordinator can be rewarding.

“It is a ‘big picture’ position where the needs of the entire district are planned through this office,” Finco says. “You are in on the latest research-based instructional methods, you get to work with teacher and principal leaders in schools, you get to help plan staff development in areas of best practice, you get to facilitate data analysis and school improvement planning, and you get to participate in school improvement.”

The minimum educational requirement for instructional coordinators is a bachelor’s degree, and that’s usually in education. Many in this career begin their careers in teaching or similar positions. They prepare for a job as an instructional coordinator by completing a master’s degree in such areas as curriculum and instruction or educational or instructional technology.

Finco recommends students work on their organizational, technology, public speaking and multi-tasking skills. He suggests first earning a teaching degree and working in the classroom. A solid path of preparation, he says, would be to then earn an administrative degree and work as a school administrator before landing a job as an instructional coordinator.

A well-prepared instructional coordinator will be ready to meet the various challenges of this work, including keeping up on the latest educational initiatives and policies. Those in these positions often work long hours, attend many meetings and give presentations.

“Students need to have an ongoing desire to learn since there is always something new in the field,” Hardy says.

Students interested in working as an instructional coordinator also must be able to work effectively with people, have good communication skills and be a good observer and listener.

Net Sites

The American Association of School Administrators
Information on training programs and lists of colleges and universities offering degree programs in curriculum and instruction

http://www.aasa.org

The International Society for Technology in Education
Society for those advocating for technology in education

http://www.iste.org

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Working to improve education at every level

http://www.ascd.org

Source: Excerpt from CareerProNews

It’s clear we need to change our power sources. But so far, the answers are expensive. Alternative energy researchers are trying to find new ways for natural resources to power our lives at lower costs. Natural renewable resources — like wind, solar and geothermal power — renew quickly and are cleaner alternatives.

But there aren’t enough qualified people to work in the field of alternative energy, says Craig Dunn. He is president of WellDunn Consulting, a geological consulting firm for the energy industry. He says the demand for alternative energy is going to increase. Companies involved in alternative energy are going to keep growing. However, at the same time, the workforce is getting older.

“I would suggest the engineers and scientists that are willing to venture into the youthful alternative energy industry will have skill sets that will put their services in demand in future,” says Dunn.

What needs to be done?

“There are a lot of areas that need to be improved, from developing better technologies, to figuring out how to get that energy to the places it’s needed,” says Bonnie Jonkman. She is a scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “In the U.S. right now, there is an effort to increase wind energy to 20 percent of our total energy mix. To meet that goal, we will need more people working in this field.”

Investors have caught on to alternative energy, and green is the new gold. Although renewable energy produces only a small percentage of the world’s total energy, it brings in 18 percent of the world’s investment in power generation. That’s according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2007. Wind generation is bringing in the most investment, with solar and biofuel energy technologies growing quickly as well.

Energy blowing in the wind

Wind turbines take energy out of thin air. The wind turns the blades of a turbine to generate electricity. Compared to other sources of renewable energy, the wind sector is fairly mature. The UNEP says money is pouring in to develop new technology, and to manufacture and sell it.

“Wind turbines are getting larger all the time (with rotors bigger than a Boeing 747), and the number of wind turbines being installed is increasing every year,” says Jonkman. “It will require a large workforce with a variety of skills to address the technical challenges and to meet the demand for more turbines. We need construction workers to erect wind turbines, maintenance workers to keep the turbines running, engineers and scientists to solve the design challenges, and politicians to develop sound policies.”

Energy in plants

Biomass is plant matter grown for use as biofuel. Researchers in this area try to find out whether burning plant matter, such as corn and sugarcane, is better for the environment than burning traditional fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas.

Biofuel is second only to wind power in the amount of money being invested, says the UNEP. It says there was a huge growth of interest in 2006. Interest was due in part to the growing corn-based ethanol industry in the U.S.

Although energy can be harvested from corn, the method for doing so is inefficient. Alternative energy researchers must refine the method to make ethanol. It must become more efficient — and less expensive — before it can compete with gasoline as a fuel source.

Energy beaming down on us

Heat from the sun produces solar power. Photovoltaics is one device that can harness the sun’s energy. The energy travels through an electrical circuit to power anything electronic — from your calculator to your home.

Photovoltaics has been around since the 1970s. However, in the past decade prices on solar power have dropped. Scientists hope the next generation of photovoltaics will keep shrinking the price-tag on solar energy.

Experts predict that in the next 10 years, alternative energy researchers will be able to cut the cost of solar energy to make it competitive with petroleum. Solar energy has the potential to meet the entire planet’s electric and fuel needs. That’s according to chemist Harry Gray in an article entitled, “Expert foresees 10 more years of R and D to make solar energy competitive.”

Energy from the depths of the Earth

Geothermal energy is heat taken from far beneath our feet. Although the surface of the Earth is cool, the base of the Earth’s crust is about 1800 F. This heat can be converted into renewable energy.

That’s what Craig Dunn works towards. “We are offering opportunities to improve and solutions for the next generation,” he says. Research is the first step, he adds. He warns that newcomers to alternative energy need courage. Alternative energy is all about venturing into new research areas.

“There is a great deal of uncertainty in the energy industry in general and with emerging or alternative solutions. And there is no clear cut solution for North America’s energy needs. Continued education is fundamental to your work if you hope to stay ahead of the curve,” says Dunn.

Energy flowing in rivers and oceans

Water is key to a few types of alternative energy. Hydroelectric power comes from moving water — often a dammed river. The water drives a turbine and generator. This generates electricity. The flow of the river constantly renews the energy needed for hydroelectric power. That’s why it’s a “renewable” source.

Similarly, tidal power uses the natural energy from tides — the rising and falling of sea levels. Also, waves create energy on the surface of the ocean. This energy is being captured too.

In the U.S., there is a lot of potential to develop more hydropower plants, according to the National Hydropower Association. It estimates that 5,400 sites could be developed. This would boost hydroelectric generation by more than 50 percent in the U.S.

There are always new technologies being developed to capture energy more efficiently and cost-effectively. Opportunities will flow to alternative energy researchers in the hydroelectric field.

Imagination is important

“I think [the alternative energy research field] is just going to get bigger. It’s a growing job. The word ‘green’ is bigger than ever. You see it all over the news and in so many industries. It’s a huge market,” says Jay Gill. He is the national sales manager for Global Resource Corporation.

Global Resource is a petroleum research, engineering, development and manufacturing company. It discovered a way to use microwave technology to harness the energy in automobile tires to make oil and gas. Yep, that’s right — they zap old tires to create energy.

So the limits of alternative energy research are really only limited by researchers’ imaginations. Ever dream of being a superhero? Alternative energy researchers work every day to save the world — and they don’t have to wear tights.

Net Sites

Energy Kid’s Page
Find games and fun facts about energy

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/

Climate Change Kids Site
Read about climate change from the United States Environmental Protection Agency

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

TIME for Kids
Read a special report on global warming

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0

,6709,1113542,00.html

Bytesize Science
Watch or listen to educational podcasts for kids

http://feeds.feedburner.com/bytesizescience

Careers in Wind
Search the job board from the American Wind Energy Association

http://www.jobtarget.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=77

0

American Wind Energy Association
Learn more about the association for wind energy companies

http://www.awea.org

National Hydropower Association
Learn about “blue energy”

http://www.hydro.org/

Source: CareerProNews

Just as miners of the past struck out in search of valuable ore, a new brand of miners is digging and searching today. But this time around, the pack mule is a laptop computer and the pickaxe is a computer mouse. The new prospectors are data miners.

The purpose of data mining is to search for and find valuable information in a mountain of computer data. That data may be in a company’s computer system or its website. Companies then use the information found by the data miners for things like following trends or making strategies.

Michael Berry is the founder and principal manager of a data mining company. He says that he was in the right place at the right time to be involved in data mining, almost from the very start.

“We certainly didn’t invent any of the ideas, but in the ’90s they were just starting to get used a lot. And my partner that I started the company with and I had written a book on data mining techniques which was — at that time — one of the few out,” Berry says. “So we started getting a lot of inquiries.”

Those inquiries led to requests for consulting services. “And after enough people started asking, we decided that maybe the answer ought to be yes,” he says.

Berry says data mining can be broken down into two basic categories. “In one, you don’t have a specific goal, but you’re interested in finding patterns that may exist in the data. And in another, you have a goal in mind — like something you’d like to try to explain.”

One way a company can use the patterns that show up in the data is by getting to know its customers or clients better.

“Anyone who buys books from Amazon.com more than once recognizes that. The second time you come back, you’re offered some things that are similar to what you bought the first time,” says Berry. “Behind those so-called ‘recommendation engines’ or ‘personalization engines’ is data mining. So the Web is a consumer of data mining.”

Another way companies can benefit from data miners is by studying the trends of certain types of people — like people who may be a credit risk. “We have examples of people who have always paid their bills, and examples of people who have failed to pay their bills,” says Berry.

“There are techniques for trying to discriminate between the two. Trying to say, ‘What is it about the ones that didn’t pay that is different from the ones that did pay?’ This will…help you come up with a scoring system. When someone applies for credit…you see them as more or less risky because of how similar — or dissimilar — they are to the people who have not paid in the past.”

Daniel Silver is also a pioneer in the field of data mining. He runs a company that offers consultation and education in data mining. Silver says it’s interesting to see how far data mining has come in such a short time.

Banks and phone companies started the ball rolling, Silver says. Then smaller companies picked up on what the larger firms were doing, especially in regards to data mining done on the Internet.

Data mining is still relatively new in North America. Both Silver and Berry say it’s hard to know how many people are actually employed in the field at this time.

“It’s going to be really hard to come up with that number, because very few people are called that, even though that may be a large part of their job,” Berry says.

“They might be called database marketing analysts, credit risk analysts or direct-mail marketing managers. And yet a lot of what all of these people do is examine data and try to come up with models that will help them do those jobs better.”

Silver and Berry agree that job opportunities in the field of data mining will continue to rise as more companies look for ways to get a competitive edge.

Silver says that teaching others about data mining can be even more lucrative and popular than doing it. He teaches courses at both the university and the business levels.

Looking down the road a few years, Berry sees more and more companies hiring data mining services. He also expects businesses to give data miners a more prominent position in the company.

“[They will] be better integrated with other activities inside the company, not an isolated analytical exercise in the corner,” he says. “[They will] become part of the normal way of doing everyday business.”

Silver says that colleges and universities have also recognized the trend and have reacted. For example, schools such as Berkeley and the University of California at Los Angeles are now offering programs in computational finance.

Berry says that high school students can do a few things today to prepare for careers as data miners. One of the most important steps they can take is to get good grades in math.

“They should continue to take their math courses, because math is at the heart of it,” he says.

“And if they have a chance, [they should take] probability and statistics. That’s the part of math that’s used a lot in this kind of work. Computer science is also going to be valuable. All of this kind of work ends up being done on computers.”

Net Sites

The Data Mine
This site offers a wide variety of data mining information

http://www.the-data-mine.com/

Data Miners
One of the first businesses in the U.S. to take advantage of the demand for data miners

http://www.data-miners.com/

Elementary Concepts in Statistics
You’ll need to know this stuff to do data mining

http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/esc.html

Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
Tips and tools used in data mining

http://www.kdd.org/

Source: CareerProNews

“Children’s literature has always been popular, but in the United States we have the most prolific children’s book industry in the world,” says Charles Temple, author of four children’s books.

“Nearly 5,000 new titles are published every year, and 50,000 children’s books are in print,” he says.

“Six years ago, families surpassed schools and libraries as purchasers of children’s books — and that was before the Harry Potter phenomenon really caught hold.”

Why the Growth?

The success of Harry Potter “forces people to take children’s literature more seriously, now that they can see the potential in the concrete terms of sales figures,” says Cora Lee. She works with a children’s book center.

“I like to think of Harry Potter as a good starting point for ‘new’ readers. There’s no limit to what a reader can find, once hooked on finding a good story.”

Another reason children’s books have become increasingly popular is that parents — perhaps more than any generation before — understand the vital role reading plays in their child’s development, says Dave Cutler. He is a freelance illustrator and author who recently published his first children’s book.

“Educators rightly encourage parents to read to their children from very early childhood,” says Temple, who is also an education professor.

“Reading to children helps them learn language, and also gives them a leg up on learning to read later on. Reading aloud to children is consistently shown to give a significant boost to their language, their general knowledge and their predisposition to read themselves. You just can’t overemphasize its importance.”

Getting Into the Market

“There are still plenty of publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts, but this number gets a little smaller all the time,” says Alice Pope. She is the editor of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market. “And publishers get more and more manuscripts in their slush piles all the time.”

So what are publishers looking for?

“They are looking for quality writing — for stories with compelling characters, for stories full of humor and adventure as well,” says Stephen Mooser. He is president of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He is also the author of more than 60 children’s books.

“Children’s books need to draw kids in right away,” says children’s writer Kathryn Lay. “For the younger children, it’s the excitement of illustration and text that rolls off the tongue, begging to be read again and again. For older kids, it’s a great story and characters and dialog, just as with adults.”

One children’s authors organization says only one or two first-time authors are published each year.

“I think publishing is a very difficult field and it’s hard to figure out what anyone is looking for at any given time,” says Tom Mason. He has co-written about 20 children’s books and more than 130 episodes for children’s television.

“If a publisher says they’re looking for books about ‘cheese,’ by the time you write one, they’ll be looking for books about ‘not cheese.’ By the time a book is written, edited and published, a period of least a year or two has passed and that makes it difficult to predict trends in popular cultures or audience tastes. Everything just changes rapidly.”

Mason suggests studying the types of books each publisher releases. But don’t forget why you got into the field.

“You should write what you want, what interests you — write the kind of book you’d like to read,” Mason says. “Worry about the market later.”

Insider Advice

Write. That’s the best advice successful writers consistently give to aspiring authors.

“Quit talking about it and start writing,” Mason says. “We run into lots of people who talk about how they want to write but then they don’t sit down in front of the computer and do the heavy lifting. We write every day.”

Read in the genre you hope to write in. “Become familiar with what’s out there and what particular publishing houses are doing,” says Noreen Violetta. She works with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

“Don’t forget the many kid’s magazines out there either. They are a good place to begin to submit manuscripts or illustration samples to.”

And learn to accept rejection – you’ll run into it a lot. “Sadly, rejection is part of the job,” says Dan Danko. He is Mason’s co-author.

“Whether you’re writing for books, TV or movies, you’ll encounter more people who say ‘no’ more often than ‘yes,’” he says.

“For this reason, it’s important to know why you want to be a writer. If it’s to get rich and have your name on the big screen, go to law school. You’ll be happier in the end. But if it’s to fulfill a desire to create and do what you love, then always hold on to that, no matter what anyone may tell you.”

Net Sites

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
A professional organization for children’s writers

http://www.scbwi.org

Writer’s Digest
Research the various markets

http://www.writersdigest.com

Children’s Literature Web Guide
Offers a wealth of resources

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/

The Institute of Children’s Literature
Read the latest writer’s news

http://www.institutechildrenslit.com

Source: Changing Course/ by Valerie Young

Part 1 of a 2 Part Series

In his hour-long interview with Charlie Rose, Bill Gates said something that made me grab for my pen. He said, “This is the best time ever to be someone who is curious.” How true. There are so many fascinating ways to make a living without a job. To see them, though, requires a certain amount of curiosity.

Like Barbara Winter, I’m constantly “interrogating” people about their work. When I spent the night in the hospital last year, I asked a (very taken aback) physician, “Why did you decide to become a hospitalist?”

Then last month I spoke at a gathering of women optometrists meeting at a hotel in Atlanta. While I was testing out the microphone system, the hotel was setting up for a chocolate fondue and martini reception. When I saw a nice young man from a local company wheeling in vats of liquid chocolate, I pounced. I’m sure the hotel staff thought I was a bit odd, but I was curious to learn how someone would dive into chocolate – as a business, that is.

I’m not the only one who is curious. I recently held an “Opportunity Detective” contest where aspiring entrepreneurs competed for a spot in my Outside the Job Box Career Expert course. Contestants were asked to submit 10 unique small business ideas. Here are just a few of the many fascinating ideas I received. Sprinkled among the business ideas are some lessons from me on how you, too, can break outside of the job box!

For Creative Entrepreneurs, Problem = Opportunity

When you view the world from the eyes of an entrepreneur, you understand that some opportunities come disguised as problems – and all the more so in these challenging economic times. For example, there’s a company in California that (and don’t ask me how) somehow sprays green coloring onto brown lawns so homes that are For Sale or bank-owned look lived in.

Not long ago, a cooking show featuring recipes from the Great Depression would have gone largely unnoticed. But today, 91 year old Clara Cannuciari’s Great Depression Cooking segments have been picked up by all the major news outlets. The videos, shot in her kitchen by her grandson, were such a hit on YouTube that he’s packaged up the DVD to sell. They’re also monetizing the site with Google ads, but I could easily see getting big time corporate sponsors like Ronzoni or Idaho potatoes. If you could use a smile check out Clara’s site or track her down on YouTube.

Try the problem = opportunity technique yourself. Think of something challenging or stressful, then find a way to address it. Take for example, weddings. You already know about professional wedding planners. But perhaps the only thing more stressful than planning a wedding is cancelling one. It was Opportunity Detective contestant Erika Harris who turned me on to an actual business someone started as a professional event canceller. What is especially noteworthy about this business is that, like many enterprises (mine included), it started with a personal crisis.

In 2008, Lindsay Riggin went through the painful process of cancelling her own wedding. Obviously it was tough. But it also made her realize that she may be able to put her social work degree to work by helping others in the same position.

Today, this Chicago-based entrepreneur helps her clients by doing everything from notifying guests, calling vendors, re-negotiating contracts, and answering etiquette questions. Obviously, handling all these details takes someone who likes organizing things and has good people skills. But Lindsay also puts her counseling background to good use by offering therapeutic support and advice to individuals or couples.

Like the organizing/detail part, but don’t have a counseling degree? Here’s a work-around: Partner with a therapist in your area to deal with the emotional fall out and you handle the practical side of things!

Finally, sometimes other people see our gifts before we do. When a friend saw John having lots of fun with women at a conference, he encouraged John to create a training guide on “Dating For Over 40 for Men.” John’s friend even offered to market it for him!

This business may turn out to be a great funnel for John’s other idea. He even has a name for it: “No More Nervousness – Complete Confidence for The Best Man – Prewritten Toasts and Speeches for Everyone Who Has to Talk at a Wedding or Reception.” (Personally I think John could start a little side business helping people come up with catchy book and product titles… he’s obviously got a knack for it!)

There are lots of benefits to surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs. For instance, John has another friend who is a Wedding DJ, and this is one of many add-on services John and he are considering. If you don’t know other entrepreneurs, then make it your plan to seek them out.

And in these challenging economic times, it is all the more important to look beyond – or at least in addition to – the traditional job path.

“Growing” Teen Entrepreneurs

A lot of people share my passion for reaching out and helping teens start a business. When I was at Yanik Silver’s Underground Online Marketing seminar in Washington, DC last month, the entire first row was reserved for young entrepreneurs. One came as far away as the UK – by himself!

Supervising and advising all of those teens at the event was a dynamic woman named Shonika Proctor. According to her business card, Shonika is the “speaker, author, consultant, and doer” at RenegadeCEOs.com. (That’s her to the right of me in the photo.) Her organization focuses exclusively on training, coaching and promoting entrepreneurial teens across socioeconomic backgrounds and across the globe. Virtual coaching (via phone & Skype) is available for those outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

I just revisited RenegadeCEOs.com and learned that MTV is seeking contestants for a Teen CEO Reality Television Show. Obviously you would have to be a REALLY cool parent to put your family out there on national TV, but if you’re a bit of ham, it’s a great way to get exposure for your teen’s entrepreneurial dream. Unfortunately, the deadline is April 10th so go to www.RenegadeCEOs.com ASAP for details and to learn about this and the other cool things they’re doing to support teen entrepreneurs.

Teens and children were another popular theme amongst Opportunity Detective contestants. For example, David’s dream is to help fathers and children spend more time together by teaching families how to start businesses together. “I want to take teenagers and get them involved in entrepreneurship [as a way to give] the vast majority who will not go to college a different option than ‘just a j-o-b.’”

Here are examples of seven cool full-time businesses David says were all started by teens:

“Popsy Cakes” — Cupcakes on a stick! The brainchild of an 18-year-old girl enrolled in an entrepreneur program

Creating videos and music for special occasions and events

Eco Dog Treats – vegetarian dog treats

E&E Basket Company – gift baskets for all occasions

Tutoring and strategy business for college students

Online SAT preparation

Selling imported Peruvian jewelry

Walter from Canada shared this enterprising example of an even younger entrepreneur. “Grade eight Ottawa student Charlie Sobcov invented a painted, plastic window decal to save migratory birds from ‘skyscraper slaughter.’ Birds can see the ‘stop signs,’ but the paint color makes the removable decals invisible to humans. Although he’s still only testing the decals, he already has orders coming in.”

Remember how I said problems are an entrepreneur’s best friend? Walter shared another neat example of the problem-opportunity approach in action. After waiting 15 minutes in the icy cold for his bus, only to discover that he had missed it, 16 year-old student entrepreneur Eric Forkosh decided, “There has to be a better way…” So Walter reports, Erik created a hand-held Bus Alert that uses radio signals to alert him when the school bus is coming. How many kids, and parents, would love that!

Home-based businesses are very popular with the home schooling community. Another Opportunity Detective contestant named Olivia tells of homeschooled teen in her area who turned her love of plants and animals into a nature class for homeschoolers. “She teaches plant identification, how to track animals, animal and reptile habitats, etc., taking students on them on nature walks and has the class outdoors,” says Olivia. How cool is that!

Olivia has been teaching her own children to think outside the job box for a while now. Her 11-year-old even has a cake decorating business! Helping children is her passion. “I’m always looking for what their talent is and guiding them that way. After studying home-based businesses for 3 years (I’m a scanner), I’ve decided I want to help women find their uniqueness and how to profit from it. I was shocked when I found your website. It’s what my heart is! Teaching women to spot their children’s gifts and to help them think ‘outside of the box’ instead of just going down the same beaten path as everyone else is another area I want to help with.” Adding, “They’re our future!”

I couldn’t agree more! What I love about Olivia is she “gets” that there really is a way to take the thing she loves to do and share that with others who want to do the same thing. Don’t you wish you had a mother like Olivia? I’m also a huge fan of combining multiple interests into one or more income streams. For an interesting approach, one reader is taking that combines teen entrepreneurs and the green theme, go to the In the Garden section below.

The Opportunity Detective contest yielded dozens of other fascinating small business ideas. Proof that a curious mind is key to thinking outside the job box! What can you be curious about today? Practice flexing your Opportunity Detective muscles by making it your mission to chat it up with at least one business owner you come in contact with today. It could be the person who owns the corner store or the dry cleaners… or perhaps your chiropractor, yoga instructor, the trainer at your gym, the neighbor down the street. Entrepreneurs, like ideas, are everywhere. You just need to look.

P.S. I was supposed to pick just one winner of the Opportunity Detective contest. Note to self: Never run a contest where I have to choose! I ended up choosing 4 lucky winners. They are Erika, John, Jerry and Raghu. Their curious and creative minds have earned them a complimentary spot in the Outside the Job Box Career Expert Course. I feel fortunate that they will be joining this growing community of well over 125 Outside of the Job Box Career Experts!

Too many people waste time daydreaming about being rescued by “Mr. Job,” the career equivalent of waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right. This kind of passive approach is sure to disappoint. Face it: The only person who’s going to liberate you from job jail is you! If you want to be your own boss then take a proactive lesson from Jonathan Winters who said, “I couldn’t wait for success,” he reportedly said, “so I went ahead without it.”

P.P.S. To learn more about this career training and business launch program – and some free marketing tips anyone starting out in business can use – check out the Featured Resource below.

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About the Author

“Turning Interests Into Income” expert, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at ChangingCourse.com offering resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited in Kiplinger’s, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Woman’s Day, and elsewhere and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, Valerie has spoken on the topic of How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are to such diverse organizations as Daimler Chrysler, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Harvard, and American Women in Radio and Television.

According to the Payscale.com article, 10 Highly Profitable 2-Year Degree Jobs, by Michelle Goodman, the following careers can be most easily entered by clients seeking career change with only a 2-year degree:

1. Physical Therapist Assistant – average $46,111.

2. Web Designer – average $48,785.

3. Electrical or Electronic Engineering Technician – average $47,163.

4. Registered Nurse – average $55,276.

5. Computer Support Specialist – average $46,111.

6. Executive or Administrative Assistant – average $37,669.

7. Dental Hygienist – average $57,148.

8. Surveying or Mapping Technician – average $42,104.

9. Veterinary Technician – average $33,363.

10. Camera Operator – average $42,558.

Source: CareerProNews
Eating healthy is becoming more important to North American families. But for working professionals, especially parents, time for grocery shopping is shrinking. That spells opportunity for companies that deliver organic food to people’s homes.

While many regular grocery delivery businesses have had varied success, organic delivery services have grown rapidly across North America.

“People looking for specialty items not readily available elsewhere use our services,” says Ian Diamond, owner of an organic food delivery service in South Salem, New York. “A large portion of my clientele consists of families with young children.

“Two different aspects of our service attract customers: the actual delivery service for people who don’t have time to shop and the high-quality products we offer.”

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic farming is happening in about 100 countries around the world.

“Sales of organic foods and beverages have grown 20 percent to 24 percent each year over the past decade. We’re not seeing a decrease and we expect to see that growth continue,” says Barbara Haumann, senior writer for the Organic Trade Association.

“All kinds of people chose organic products, but they all have respect for the Earth, soil and fresh vegetables.”

Haumann also says that organic consumers tend to be educated with good incomes. While healthy food appeals to them, many organic consumers are too busy for extensive grocery shopping.

Consumers of organic products may be motivated by concern for children, recovery from illness or other health issues. Environmental health is also a deciding factor for many consumers who don’t agree with the use of pesticides or many synthetic food additives.

Diamond says organic produce needs special attention that many health food stores or supermarkets may not provide. “We handle produce better than many stores. Our produce comes in and goes out quickly, so there are quality benefits.”

Knowledge about specific organic products is very important for business owners, says Diamond. “What sets my company apart from my competition is my knowledge of how to handle, buy, store and present organic food. People who are successful with organic food really know what they’re doing.”

Offering a wide range of products may also contribute to success, says Diamond. Many businesses will only deliver produce, while others include meats, cheeses, breads and more.

Diamond says specialty items are a hot area. “There are still many specific gourmet foods not available in organic form,” he says.

Lisa McIntosh is the co-owner of an organic food delivery service. She sees a local market for local produce.

“I think we will always be able to provide better quality produce sourced closer to home, because larger retailers tend to buy centrally and in large volumes. This excludes the smaller farmers, and it is these smaller farmers who supply us at the local level.”

McIntosh came from a background in community economic development. She used to work with a nonprofit organization that supported food security and sustainable agriculture. Although she says she learned a lot through the day-to-day operation of her business, McIntosh also prepared herself by taking some business training.

“I took an entrepreneurship course to help with the development of an extensive business plan. My partner had previous experience as co-owner of a small business. Both of us had volunteered on organic farms and been previous customers of a similar service.”

Any food science, nutrition or related studies, says McIntosh, would help someone starting an organic delivery service. “I think it would be useful to have business management education or experience, produce handling experience, food-related education, delivery logistics, or even experience working at a fruit stand.”

In the United States, sellers of organic food can use products certified as organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Regulations set by the USDA prohibit the use of irradiation, sewage sludge or genetically modified organisms in organic production. Organic meat and poultry must be fed 100 percent organic feed and antibiotics are not allowed.

Net Sites

Organic Trade Association
Learn about the industry

http://www.ota.com/index.html

National Organic Program
Information from the USDA

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm

Organic Consumers Association
Promotes organic farming

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

Imported wines are popular with wine fans. In fact, imported wine accounts for 26 percent of dollar sales in the wine industry, according to WineBusiness.com. The thirst for imported wine is creating opportunities for wine importers.

Robert Maxwell is the president of the National Association of Beverage Importers (NABI). In Maxwell’s opinion, the first step in becoming a successful wine importer is determining which products to import. That’s largely based on potential consumer interest. Then the wine importer, also known as a wine agent, must locate the wine supply.

Before wine can be imported into the U.S., agents must file for a free federal license, followed by the appropriate state license. License expenses can vary by state. After the product is imported, labels of approval from both the federal and state governments must be obtained.

Scott Fraser started Forbes Fraser Wines Ltd. over 12 years ago. It all began when a former professor, Jim Forbes, asked Fraser if he wanted to start a hobby company importing wine. “In my ignorance,” says Fraser, “I said yes.”

The company grew steadily, “in part because I think we were smart,” says Fraser, and “in part because of good timing.”

After four years, it was enough of a “real company” for Fraser to work on it part time, which quickly led to full-time employment. Soon even his wife, Sonia, quit her job to join the growing business, working as sales manager.

Essentially, Fraser says, their business is wholesaling. “We purchase wine by the tens, hundreds or thousands of cases from wineries around the world, ship them to our warehouse, then reship them to our customers.”

The Ways of a Wine Agent
Fraser’s job boils down to finding wines, getting them into the country and preparing marketing materials for the sales team. Sonia Fraser is in charge of selling the wine, with assistance from one full-time and one part-time employee.

The romantic notion of jet-setting around the world looking for wines is just that — a romantic notion. In reality, Fraser says he finds most of his global suppliers through fax and e-mail. He then deals with all the legalities required for import, takes orders and arranges shipping.

As a small business owner, he also manages the accounting, financial analysis and inventory for the company. “We work in a [government-regulated] environment, so there is no shortage of paperwork to deal with,” he says.

“The sales side involves dealing with a very wide range of customers, from…liquor store managers to food-and-wine-loving restaurant owners to individual consumers,” says Fraser.

Champagne Wages?
Most of the jobs in this industry are sales positions. Wages depend on factors like the person’s level of experience, the company they work for and its compensation plan. Fraser says a typical salesperson can expect to earn from the low-$30,000s to upwards of $50,000 in salary and commission.

“Owner-managers can obviously do better,” says Fraser. “But it takes many years to build up a wide enough selection of products and a broad enough customer base from a standing start.”

He notes that most companies are very lean, employing only a sales force, a sales manager, a senior manager-owner and support staff. Few companies have a middle-management level.

According to the most recent figures from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES), purchasing managers earn an average annual salary of $81,570 in the U.S.

Degree-holders do tend to have an advantage when pursuing a sales position in the wine importing business: a degree in marketing may be particularly helpful. However, Fraser feels that for someone with a flair for sales and excellent people skills, the actual type of degree is unimportant.

Winning at Wine Importing
For Fraser, one of the high points of working in the wine importing trade is the camaraderie. “Everyone in the business knows everyone and [they] are largely on friendly terms,” he says. “Despite the fact our products compete, we all get along.”

The downsides of the business can include low profit margins and less than outstanding salaries. Since most of the people agents deal with are thousands of miles away, there can also be a sense of isolation.

Fraser points out that wine importing isn’t a high-pressure sales kind of business. The key, he says, lies in developing good relationships. “Success comes from building personal ties to your customers over a long period of time,” he says. To enjoy this business, you must like people, food, and of course, wine.

Net Sites

Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field, see Purchasing Managers, Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the OOH

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos023.htm

National Association of Beverage Importers
Check out the association’s home page

http://www.nabi-inc.org/

The Wine News Magazine
Timely feature stories and comment columns about happenings in the wine industry

http://www.thewinenews.com/

Source: CareerProNews

Would you like to work in a sports career? The odds of becoming a professional athlete are pretty slim. But if you love sports, there are still plenty of career possibilities in the sports world, even if you aren’t on the all-star team. Sports fans can find a wide range of jobs working behind the scenes of the sports arena.

Sports are fun, but professional sports are also a business. And somebody has to keep that business running. That means lots of opportunities for people who can combine an interest in sports with other — less physical — skills.

Making the news
Jason Kay oversees sports reporters as editor of The Hockey News in Toronto. Sports reporters interview athletes, coaches and others involved in the sports world.

Kay says that his job offers writers and editors some perks: “I do get to attend any game I want to attend, sitting in the press box,” he says.

But he adds that his job isn’t just watching hockey. One of his least-favorite tasks is watching The Hockey News’ budget to make sure it stays balanced.

His writers don’t have to track the budget, but they do need to know how to write. Kay says he looks for a background in journalism, although it’s not necessarily a requirement.

A knowledge of the game is a definite requirement, however. Writers need to know the fundamentals of hockey as well the inner workings of the NHL.

There are reporters who specialize in other sports, too, from archery to wrestling. Some are able to write about a range of different sports. Sometimes, they are responsible for taking their own photographs, too.

There are also journalists who tell stories primarily through photographs. In sports, these photojournalists are known for their ability to capture the action at a game in striking images. While most pay hundreds of dollars for their own equipment, it’s worth it when they see their pictures in the pages of Sports Illustrated.

Other communications professionals in sports are media relations and communications officers. Working for an athlete or team, they write press releases, are interviewed by news sources, and write content for their client’s website. They may also arrange press conferences and organize meetings.

If you have a way with words, any of these careers could be your ticket to a career in sports.

The numbers game
Who said math and sports weren’t related? Sports teams need people to work with their financial statements — after all, there is a lot of money involved in professional sports!

Michael Aronesty is a senior audit manager for Deloitte and Touche. He works with the NFL and audits their financial statements. For him, working on teams and meeting young people are the best parts of his job.

Auditors are certified public accountants who check financial statements created by a company’s management. These statements must be examined by an auditor to ensure they are accurate.

Aronesty says his job can demand a lot of hours (about 60 hours a week on average), but it gives him some freedom as well: “I manage [an accounting] team of five to 20 people,” he says, adding the only person he must report to is a partner at the firm.

His advice for up-and-coming number crunchers: “Just be professional and prepare yourself to give it 100 percent.”

“Show me the money”
Anyone who saw the movie Jerry Maguire has an idea of what it’s like being a sports agent trying to survive with just one client. While it isn’t realistic for an agent to make a living with one client, having only a select number of clients does make for better relationships.

“Sports agents are not only into negotiations … they’re also mentors for the client,” says Lynn Lashbrook. He is president and founder of Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), a sports management company that also offers sports job training programs.

Lashbrook started SMWW in hopes of giving everyone a chance to be educated in their dream job. He still works as a sports agent, but his primary goals are educating and training future sports executives.

Agents give advice to athletes, help them find sponsorship, and look for off-season career opportunities and financial investments for their clients. And you don’t have to be Tom Cruise to get the job.

“We’re giving all types of people the opportunity to get into sports,” said Lashbrook. “I believe deep down in my soul that sports should be a contribution to society, not a reflection of society.”

With schools like SMWW, students have a chance to study for a short time to see if there’s enough action for them in the career.

Other options
If none of the above appeal to you, don’t worry: there are plenty of other jobs in the professional sports industry. Think of any big business — a sports team needs many of the same professionals.

Other behind-the-scenes careers in sports include: event coordinators, ticket operations managers, scouts, athletic trainers, sports announcers, equipment managers, directors of player operations, facility managers, equipment managers and statisticians.

Net Sites

North American Society for Sport Management
Program and career information for students

http://www.nassm.com/InfoFor/Students

ESPN Online
Find out what’s happening in the world of sports

http://espn.go.com/

Women Sports Careers
Job boards, networking and tips for women

http://www.womensportscareers.com