When do entreprenuers come up with their best ideas?

The latest Small Business Monitor report by American Express OPEN says that over one-third of entrepreneurs use down time — time when they are not technically working — to come up with creative ideas for business:

More than one-third of entrepreneurs (35%) report coming up with their best ideas during “down-time”. Male business owners are more than twice as likely as female business owners to come up with their best ideas on the way to work (18% vs. 7%). Women are also more likely than men to wake up in the middle of the night with ideas for their business (70% vs. 56%).

At this time of year I do a lot of gardening. I find that the time spent alone outdoors — just the plants, some red-winged blackbirds, a few moles and me — is prime time for coming up with new ideas. There’s nothing like pulling weeds or deadheading flowers to have new ideas jump into your head as if out of nowhere.

But the ideas are not really coming out of nowhere. Our subconscious and even our conscious minds are at work during down times like gardening. Sometimes down time is the only time we have to actually think about breakthrough ideas or new products or creative approaches. On a typical work day we tend to be occupied with phone calls, answering emails, meetings, writing and other specific tasks, leaving little open time. We may have to get out of the office to have unfettered time for creative thinking.

When do you come up with your best ideas?
More at:http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070524005767&newsLang=en
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Excellent Business Idea That Made Hindriks Millionaire

It's a good thing Karoli Hindriks makes hats: She wears a lot of them. She's the country manager for MTV in Estonia, a student at the Estonian Business School, an elected city council member in her hometown of Pärnu—and she's been an entrepreneur for more than five years. While still in high school, Hindriks invented a soft reflector to be worn by pedestrians for safety at night. By the age of 19, she had expanded into making fashionable knitted hats and gloves out of reflective material. She initially sold them through a company that her father owns, but in 2002 went into business for herself.

Hindriks has patented her designs and even picked up an endorsement from the Estonian Road Administration, which encourages pedestrians to wear reflective clothing. Besides selling her accessories through retail outlets, she sells wholesale to companies and labor unions. Goodmood's revenues are still modest, less than $150,000 a year, but with growth averaging 35% annually, it may not stay small for long.
More at:http://www.goodmood.ee/

The Global Talent Database (TALDAT) is the world's most comprehensive talent search engine and artist directory

“The Global Talent Database (TALDAT) is the world's most comprehensive talent search engine and artist directory. Think of it as similar to a global Yellow Pages designed to connect the creative class with enthusiasts around the world.”

Network with artists and buyers from around the world, link your existing online portfolio and websites, keep up with industry news and trends, market your work and attract sponsors on TalentDatabase.com. The site claims to be a global talent database where creative types and talent-seekers or art buyers can find each other. It’s still in beta but it looks pretty professional so far. The Global Talent Database is divided into twenty channels where you can surf through various artist profiles complete with pictures and their online portfolios and websites. There is no fee for joining or submitting your profile to the database.



Talent-scouts and artists alike will find the site a thorough and well-organized entity that gives them opportunities to make connections.
More at:http://beta.talentdatabase.com/

TagsAhoy lets you search all your tags, across different sites, from one location.

“TagsAhoy lets you search all your tags, across different sites, from one location.
Just sign up (it's free), enter your account information for the sites where you use tags, and you're done--you can search all your tags from one place. Takes a few minutes.”


Your tags scattered all over the place and want to know where your tags are? Give TagsAhoy a spin. This simple yet straightforward app tracks down your tags like Lassie sniffing out danger. To use it you’ve got to sign up—just think of a username, password, and of course, you’ll need an email address. Current sites supported include: del.icio.us, Flickr, Gmail, Squirl, Librarything and Connotea. A tag cloud is in the works and if you’d like to see more services added just email.
More at:http://www.tagsahoy.com/