$10,000 in 90 Days - Can you do it?
by Andrew Morrison, founder of Small Business Camp

Quickly list 10 ideas that, in the next 90 days, can make you an extra $10,000. Let me be quick to add the words legally and morally. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and begin to make a list of your top 10 ideas. Go ahead and do it now.

So, what would your list contain? Do you need more time? This is a very powerful exercise! Before you continue reading this article, please go back and make sure you have written down your 10 ideas. Did you really at least make an attempt to create a list? Or did you simply keep on reading? Don't be like the majority. Take the time to make your list.

Welcome back. Are you stuck at 3 ideas? You can't think of any other business opportunities. It's okay. You're in good company. During my Small Business Camp™ seminars, the vast majority of the audience becomes transfixed with a glazed look that is comparable to the proverbial deer facing oncoming headlights from a fast-moving automobile.

The good news is that you are not alone. Entrepreneurs tend to be good at doing what they do, but often have a hard time developing a system to find customers who need what they do. The system I'm talking about is known as marketing.

I define marketing as the science of creating a buying environment that attracts prospects and converts them into customers. Sounds straightforward enough. But, why do so many business owners stumble when it comes to marketing their goods and services? This question has perplexed me for a while.

The answer came to me on a cool autumn day in Harlem as I strolled down Lenox Avenue. I ran into a childhood friend whom I had not seen in 20 years. Sadly enough, his current profession was that of a "street corner pharmacist." If you're not familiar with the term consider asking someone under the age of 30. He was a drug dealer.

We spent over an hour talking while he continued to conduct his "business." What amazed me was that here was a "business" owner who knew more about marketing than 90% of the people with whom I come into contact in the corporate world.

Willie is a master at Pricing, Packaging, Planning, Promotion and Positioning. I said, "Willie, give me 10 ways to make an extra $10,000 in 90 days?" By the time he got to number 16 within 5 minutes, I had to stop him. Then it hit me!

I finally figured out why Willie is a marketing genius, and here you are still stuck on just 3 ways to make $10,000 in 90 days. Albeit, all of Willie's ideas are illegal, but I admire the way his mind works.

Why is it that a street corner pharmacist is more creative and adaptable than you? You started a non-profit to help children with their homework, but now you are stuck and can't figure out how to attract new donors. You have opened a retail store in your community, but now you are frustrated with high employee turnover, security and low sales. You have a theater company that serves to showcase the African culture, but now you are ready to give up due to low attendance.

Why would a street corner pharmacist be able to creatively come up with 10 ideas to solve each of the above situations?

Are you ready for the answer?

Because his LIFE depends on it!

Willie has trained his mind to solve problems quickly because failure is not an option. You, on the other hand, waltz through life attempting things, but you never realize that your life also is depending on it. Not only your life, but also the lives of so many others whom you were sent to serve.

Imagine the new level of energy and commitment that would develop within you and your organization if your team began to live and move as if their lives depended on it.

If I placed a gun to your head and said, "You have 10 minutes to come up with 10 ways to make $10,000 in 90 days, or I will shoot you in the head!" WOW! All of a sudden you have clarity. You can't write fast enough. The ideas are flowing. I never said 10 excellent or proven ways. I just said 10 ways.

The worst place for you to think is inside of your head. Always think on paper. The mind tends to loop. You'll forget the resources that are available to you. What are you struggling with? Just write it in the form of a question with a clear deadline at the top of the page. Now just commit to spending 30 minutes writing down every possible answer to that question. Don't evaluate each idea. Just write. From this list, I guarantee you that a plausible solution will appear. Teach this to your kids. What if everyone in our community began to approach life this way? There would be far less conflict and far more success.

So, what are you waiting for? Imagine the gun and start writing.

Andrew Morrison is the founder of Small Business Camp - an entrepreneurial training, coaching and marketing services firm. Previously he built a multi-million dollar company by providing innovative direct marketing services to Fortune 500 companies and appeared on Oprah. He was featured in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Crain's Magazine 40 Under 40 and Advertising Age. 
Visit www.SmallBusinessCamp.com to register for his FREE business building tele-seminar.