Has anyone ever told you that your business idea won’t make it? That your idea is too odd, too unique or too different? That you need to stick with what is proven?
What matters is that you follow your passion, that you service a niche market better than anyone else, and that you commit to your own success relentlessly. It doesn’t matter what you do, nearly as much as how you do it. Here are the top seven weirdest entrepreneurial endeavors going on. If these business can be successful, so can yours:
# 7 Rat Manikins The rat manikin is an animal training system that allows students, lab techs, and handlers to learn how to handle a rodent with safety and confidence. The system includes removable ears, tail and a supply of artificial blood. Sounds like props for a B horror movie to me, but this business is making money. So can you.
# 6 Geese Police This company will control your Canadian goose problem by using working Border Collies and other special techniques. Shoot, if this entrepreneur can have a successful business with a tag line like “Get the Flock Out!”, so can you.
#5 Virtual Animal Skins Summer jobs aren’t what they used to be. Gamers are becoming traders in the fantasy Web world of Entropia Universe, buying and selling virtual animal skins and weapons. Check out the article from the Wall Street Journal that reports on an 18 year old who has made $35K over the past four summers playing games. If he can do it, so can you.
#4 Square Watermelons A constantly limited resource in Japan is space. So much so that big ol’ round watermelons don’t stack well on store shelves, let alone well in the typical consumer’s micro-refrigerator. So instead of living life sans-watermelons, local entrepreneurs figured a way to make watermelons square. Now they are selling like hotcakes, err, uh, like watermelons. Why not bring this to your locale? There is even a DIY guide on line. If Japanese merchants can make money with square watermelons, so can you.
#3 Knife Throwing Ten years ago, The Great Throwdini (I love that name – you just can’t beat that cheesiness) bought a billiard hall and took up knife throwing. Now he performs on Broadway, at corporate events and weddings and has been on TV shows such as "Late Show with David Letterman" and ESPN's "Cold Pizza." He makes around $100,000 a year for his knife-related ventures. Clearly living his passion and making low six figures. If The Great Throwdini can do it, so can you.
#2 Video Game Training To me this is bizarre. I fully understand the concept. Just like a coach helps you improve your athletic game, this young entrepreneur helps people improve their video game play. I don’t get it. Since video games are purely home leisure, if you “lose” all you have to do is push reset and try again. But people are paying good money to become more efficient at kicking back. If this entrepreneur can be successful in this business, no question, so can you.
#1 All The eBay Weirdness And the grand prize for weirdest business(es) goes to the entrepreneurs who pitch bizarre products on eBay. My two personal favorites are a Brazilian company that has modified a magnetometer that can purportedly pick up UFO activity. There is a disclaimer stating it isn’t “100% guaranteed due to the fact that the propulsion systems of UFOs are not the same."
My other eBay favorite is the late 1800s European "vampire killing kit," which includes a crossbow with four silver-tipped arrows, an ebony wood stake, a large bottle of holy water and various surgical instruments, among other things. A solid mahogany wood box keeps the items secure until they are needed.
If these people can have a successful business, surely you can too.
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