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Entrepreneurship: Hard work but fun, too

Entrepreneurs never run out of things to do.

Whether that's a good thing depends very much on individual circumstances. For many of us, however, the planning, creating and tweaking of ideas are both fun and challenging - and can lead to new success.

What often works best is adapting another business' idea to our own situation. For example:

• Giveaways. Fine dining or family pizza, nearly every restaurant has a stubbornly slow night - Tuesday, for discussion purposes. Offer a free dessert for everyone who comes to dinner that night. Send "Tuesday is Free Apple Pie Night" to customers whose email addresses you have.

Tent cards on the table will help. A "Tuesday is. . ." statement delivered with the bill can be effective.

Of course, change the dessert every month or so.

• Palatine's Fremd High School is celebrating its XXIV Writers Week next month. The Feb. 5-9 timing is tight for a sponsorship this year, but there will be a XXV Writers Week next year, and other schools have picked up on Fremd's idea.

Check out the opportunity.

Professional and student writers read and discuss their works; at Fremd, there's even a podcast series (check iTunes) with students interviewing the authors.

Writers Week is ideal for indie bookstores, but there may be other ways to participate - perhaps by honoring those students picked to read their works - especially if the kids are part-time or summer employees at your place.

See if your local high school has a similar initiative.

• Sell DIY tools and supplies? A website video of the proper way to, for example, paint the playroom ceiling can encourage even beginners and help you sell. Figure a maximum two-minute video, to hold costs down and keep site visitors' attention.

The video "how-to" concept will work for almost any business.

• We all have customers who have been with us a long time or spend a lot of money with us - or, hopefully, both. Most of us likely already "reward" these special relationships with lunch or dinner; if you don't, you should.

The conversation should acknowledge the relationship, of course, but turn the discussion to what you know is happening in the customer's industry, both to show your continuing awareness of what the customer does but also to uncover additional ways you may be able to help.

• Networking should be a part of every entrepreneur's plan, but extend your efforts beyond chambers and industry groups - as important as the connections you make there can be. Add Rotary or other civic groups. Apply for an open spot on a city or village commission.

The idea is to meet new people and extend your circle of potential customers and referral sources.

The overall idea, of course, is to create events that are as unique as possible to your business and its marketplace. Doing so is part of the fun of being an entrepreneur.

• Follow Jim Kendall on LinkedIn and Twitter. Write him at Jim@kendallcom.com. Read Jim's Business Owners' Blog at kendallcom.com. © 2018 Kendall Communications Inc.

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