You Never Know From Where Your Next Great Idea Will Come!

 You just never know where your next big idea is going to come from.  Last week, a taxi driver in New York City found his great idea in the back of his cab.........from me!  

I was on my way to a meeting and my taxi driver asked what kind of work I do, When I told him he said his dream is to open a restaurant someday.  Then, he asked how a new small business can get customers without spending a lot of money on advertising.  
I explained most entrepreneurs don't have marketing budgets when they are just getting started.  However, in today's environment there are cost effective marketing strategies you can use such as email marketing campaigns and social media. He wasn't familiar with either and asked me to share examples. 

So I told him about one of my favorite restaurants that captures customer email addresses when they visit his restaurant by offering offering a free desert or appetizer upon their next visit.  Then he uses the addresses for an email marketing campaign to promote dinner specials and promotions. The same offer is available on his web site. 

As we neared my destination, the driver asked me to right down my suggestions before I got out so he could remember them.  Of course, I was happy to do so.

Isn't it amazing! So many people all over the world are dreaming of opening their own business.  And even though my taxi driver probably won't be making any changes immediately, he's taking opportunities to learn what it  takes to open a business.  As I said, you never know where your big ideas will come from.  And  maybe one of these days, I'll walk into a restaurant and find him there as the proud business owner.  If that's the case, I hope I helped in some small way.