Starting and opening up a business requires answering first the basic and more so, most crucial question, "What business do I get into?" Fortunately, entrepreneur wannabes don't need to do much soul searching and asking around as sources of business ideas abound nowadays. 

Sources of business ideas abound nowadays.
Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

Below is my list of information resources which I've gathered from my past efforts of building the right business for me back then. These information resources can help you discover, explore and learn more about the perfect business likewise right for you.  Anyone won't end up helpless for numerous options on how to get business ideas are now at hand.

1. Private Training Seminars  

The quickest way to get instant knowledge and training on a particular business you're interested in is to enroll yourself in training seminars offered by companies which do this as their business itself.  A minimal fee is usually charged for the seminar, snacks and instructional materials. You can also attend at your most convenient time depending on the schedule set per topic.  These training companies offer a wide range of topics to choose from so you can explore tirelessly what business interests you the most. Others, meanwhile, specialize in specific trainings like cooking/food processing, baking, printing, fragrances, crafts, etc. 

• Negoskwela - http://www.negoskwela.ph/
• Business Coach - http://www.businesscoachphil.com/
• Business Maker Academy-  http://www.businessmaker-academy.com/
• Ultima Entrepinoy Forum Center or Spices and Food Mix House - http://businessdiary.com.ph/2399/ultima-entrepinoy-center-livelihood-training-schedule/ or http://www.spicesandfoodmix.com
• Technology Source/Techsource - http://members.olx.ph/TECHSOURCE
• Chocolate Lover, Inc. - https://www.chocolateloverph.com/
• Swiss Fragrances, Inc. - https://www.facebook.com/swissfragrancesinc
• Polymer Products (Phil) Inc.- http://www.polymerprod.com/

2.  Government Agencies

Aside from private companies, another valuable source for business ideas is through government agencies.  Not only do they bring with them distinguished industry trainers and proper support network on inter-related agencies for future inquiries, but best of all, most of these public agencies offer livelihood trainings for FREE.  Only downside however, sometimes you have to wait awhile for you to be scheduled since the seminars are good for a minimum number of attendees before they can proceed and comes with a set time period for course completion.

• Department of Trade & Industry, DTI (http://www.dti.gov.ph/)                           The DTI Head Office at Buendia, Makati houses a separate  unit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.  When you go there, some brochures on popular businesses like flower arrangements, candle/holiday décor making, etc. are readily available or also downloadable from their website. Otherwise, you may also be referred to their arm-agencies like the Philippine Trade & Training Center, PTTC (http://www.pttc.gov.ph) and Cottage Industry Technology Center for more specific trainings that you may need.

• Technology Resource Center, attached agency of Dept. of Science and Technology - http://www.trc.dost.gov.ph/

• Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, TESDA - Aside from its regular vocational and technical programs, notable about the agency is its TESDA WOMEN'S CENTER in Taguig which offers several open courses exclusive for female trainees. (http://www.tesda.gov.ph)

• Local City Hall- For mothers, homemakers, out-of-school youth and home-based individuals who have minimal access to travel and external resources, some local municipalities have their in-house livelihood training units.  For instance, Marikina City Hall has the Marikina Livelihood and Training Center which offers FREE a number of  in-demand and practical training courses for interested youth and adult participants ranging from Hotel and Restaurant Services, Cosmetology, Photography, Shoemaking, etc.  You may want to check out your local municipal office for FREE livelihood seminars available and just waiting for you.

3. Trade Fairs and Market Bazaars   

If you're still fishing out for the big business idea, you may also opt to visit trade fairs which boast of numerous options.   They guarantee a more immediate, face-to-face discussion with and information gathering from potential business suppliers or partners that tickle your interest.  Among these, the more popular and grand trade fairs are those staged by  http://www.gonegosyo.net/ and Philippine Franchising Association. Some localized weekend bazaars held in Quezon City Circle and Makati's exclusive villages promise a more varied and refreshing ideas on organic staples and foreign, exotic delicacies.

4. Print, TV, Radio and Internet   

For busy working individuals who only have weekends to spare for rest, media gives the easiest, fastest and most reliable access through print, television, radio and the web.

• Entrepreneur Magazine
• My Puhunan, Ch. 2 
• Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, Ch. 2
• Negosyo Atbp., Ch. 4
• Carl Balita 's Radyo Negosyo
• Youtube

5. You! 

Last of all, the best resource for business ideas is none other than yourself.  You may not realize but you hold within yourself a huge amount of clues to what you're good doing at as a product of your experiences, environment and genes.

• Previous work. You may have accumulated valuable business know-how and techniques after years of experience from the corporate world.   If you feel highly competent and knowledgable in your field, why not use it for your advantage and let it earn for you?  Experienced professionals like accountants, architects/engineers and marketing, advertising/PR, events executives commonly opt to put up their consultancy firms after having gained considerable exposure to the office set-up. 
• Family enterprise.  Some are fortunate and need not wander far when they've been borne into a family business.  Oftentimes, it may just require market expansion/niching, improving on products and services, or branching out to a related industry.
• Hobby/Skill/Talent.  Finally, when you've rummaged through all the suggestions above and still end up clueless, why not dig in deep within yourself and ask what are you most passionate about? It could be a hobby that you are fond of doing, a talent innate within you just waiting to be shared to the world, or a skill which you have learned and developed from school or thru others. 

In the end whichever it may be, the big idea should be something that will allow you to get up from bed every morning and prod you with renewed vigor and interest to go through your business for each day that comes. 

      

I've always loved to write since I was young. But eventually, I ended up pursuing a business course in college. No much hurt feelings though. The love for writing remained just there and came handy whenever writing tasks strolled by or it's needed.  I imagined my flair for writing like a tool or weapon that I could draw out help from during my own personal challenges and it served me well.  More often that not, I got results that I wanted from writing for family and friends, at school, and later, even at work. There was silent gladness whenever I heard praises from people who got to read my stuff. They gave confirmation somehow that my inner wanting to write deserved some place. At least even just inside me...for the moment.  Oh well, that WAS me during my life's journey BACK then.

And so I went on with the years working on a challenging yet fulfilling career in FMCG marketing for local and multinational firms.  But even then, my feeling for writing never left and it stuck with me like a best friend.  Writing was like an empowerment to me, a gush of adrenalin that lighted me up whenever I'm engaged at it.  It assisted me well in churning out successful campaigns and promos. Sometimes, it just helped me get through those hell days ravaging at marketing plans, or just finishing little crazy tasks in marketing's fast- paced world.  While at it, I have evolved to become my own person, at least to that which I think I am, hahaha!....a strong-willed, independent-thinking and business-minded person.  Oh well, that WAS me during my life's journey BACK then.

So strong has my business inclination become that I found myself embracing later the call for entrepreneurship.  Currently, I face the demands of my own business alongside marriage and family.  Before I just saw my mom's juggling of all those tasks for managing the home as one easy task. But now, I say it's NOT!  Being an Eve's descendant myself,  I realize the many roles that we females have to play at home, at work, and at community.  Once again, I succumb to my writing so I can rise above another goal and manage to be best at it. But finally this time, my writing has founded a brilliant place--the internet.

Internet blogging as one brilliant venue for writing buffs.
Photo courtesy of StartupStockPhotos via Pixabay

And so I created this blog, Go Entrepinay.  May it be a venue for sharing my business, economics, and marketing knowledge, plus practical work experiences as an entrepreneur.  May it also be a venue for finding ways that would help fill in a woman's many other roles while entrepreneuring!  Lastly, may it be a venue for women, especially Pinays, to find and become the best of themselves. 

To all enterprising Pinays, I send out one big cheer to you... Kaya mo 'yan, sis!

Oh well, this IS me during my life's journey NOW. 

Join me!