Where do business ideas come from? A few very innovative people over the years have had moments of inspiration and a new industry was born. The very medium that you are using to read this article falls into that category, thanks to some very talented men and women. But do we have to be able to INVENT an Internet to PROFIT from an Internet?

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS

Here's how most business gets done in the world. People add THEIR creativity to the creativity that has come before and make a business for themselves. They build upon the foundation that others have laid. And without fail these foundational businesses are built upon PRINCIPLES that do not change.

KNOWING and APPLYING these principles is the only sure road to success. Let's look at three of the biggies and ask ourselves how we measure up.

BUSINESSES CREATE OPPORTUNITIES

Let's face it folks, we're here to make money. The businesses that succeed all offer their participants an opportunity to make money in some way.

BUSINESSES SOLVE PROBLEMS

Think of the top five businesses that you respect and you will find that each one is solving someone's problem in some way. The problem can range from curing a disease to providing free Internet access. Or a better browser.

Or a way to make more money with less effort. To get my attention, solve my problem.

BUSINESSES MAKE A PROFIT

This may sound strange, but some people still have not learned that a business must profit to survive. Some in the business world price their offering so low that no amount of volume will make up for it. Successful businesses price their product or service based on realistic business projections, not hopes or dreams.

BUSINESSES BUILD COMMUNITY

When you become a customer of a successful business you know that you have value to them. They communicate this to you. They have learned perhaps the hardest lesson of all; it costs much more to CREATE a customer than to KEEP a customer. Some create a community of users and powerfully cater to the needs of their community.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

An unhappy customer will tell far more people about their unhappiness than will satisfied customers share their satisfaction. Prevent problems with customers by staying in contact and responding to requests. If push comes to shove, the customer wins, every time. Does it work?

Ask Wal-Mart.

So, how did you do? If you are a little rusty on some of the basics remember that you can change that today. If you are missing one or more of these foundational principles, examine yourself and your business today to see how you can build on the success of others and carve out your place in the world of business.