$100 startup: key ideas to success.

        In $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau emphasizes the necessary components to a successful business: 1) A convergence between what you like to do and what the rest of the world is interested in. 2) Development of business skills by using skills you already have to learn how to be professional. 3) A combination of the above: skill, passion, usefulness, and understanding of general demand (in business). For when you actually wish to start your business you need a product/service, people who demand said product/service, and a way to make money off product/service. An example Guillebeau uses of product/service demand is how restaurants are successful. In a restaurant, you are not just paying for the product (food), but you are also paying for a luxury, namely a fancy atmosphere, seating, and for them to cook the food for you. Many services are in demand because customers find these services more convenient or enjoyable when done for them.

This lesson actually relates a lot to our work for our $200 project. Our goal was to find a product (that being a broken violin in need of fixing) on craigslist, use our skills to fix the violin, and then sell the fixed product online. In this case, we are not only selling the violin, we are essentially selling the service of fixing the product for them and assuring them it is functional. In my opinion, the hardest thing about a business is probably finding that customer that demands your service. Although it is much easier than previous years to find customers due to the existence of websites such as eBay or Craigslist, finding and attracting customers is difficult and also determines whether or not your business is successful, which is something I wish the book would go a bit more in depth with.