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Its evolution is not just as a profitable e-business but a new culture of society. The lessons learned at E-bay might just get you off the surfboard and onto that ship you have been waiting to come in. This on-the-edge idea broke ground out of a humble Silicon Valley apartment into a reality model of more than 10 million registered users and sales to the tune of more than $100 a nano-second. In other words, while you spent ten seconds reading this sentence, they sold $1000 worth of merchandise. Yes, E-bay has something to teach us all. For within their model are lessons you can learn and adopt in your own business, no matter what your business is.
Practicality dictates a certain model in order for entrepreneurs to achieve success. Until, of course, a titan in thinking comes along to blow that model to kingdom come and put in it’s place a new paradigm of thinking. Enter E-bay. Enter the non-conventional. But enter, ready to learn.
The Courage of Ideas- E-bay started out as an idea in the brain of someone not so different than you. One man, in an apartment got a creative inspiration that he turned into the biggest reality of success the Internet has yet to see. What does this tell us? That it can happen to you. I’m sure that the idea had its obstacles to overcome before it ever arrived at its current glory, but through persistence became real. Ideas have power once we fuel them. Believe in the future of your ideas and surround yourself with people that can support and nuture that belief.
The Journey With Out A Roadmap Some business journey’s are not by the book, complete with business plan and a clear vision of its destination. Many ideas evolve, change, and grow through continued inspiration and perspiration. This isn’t to say that the business plan is not important, but rather that flexibility is. Be ready to take a new road when the one you’re started down is not achieving your vision. Realize that this is the evolution of an inspired idea.
Taking the Old, and Incorporating The New Be prepared to blend both new E-commerce ideas with old tried-and-true principles for a net result that will equal success. Don’t banish all of one theory for another, but rather mix what works. Affiliate programs with established marketing plans, advertising venues with email, etc. Be courageous, but wise.
>From Business to Community Create a place that others will talk about. It is the nature of people to want to gather, so create a gathering place for people to share ideas, make the deal, and communicate. The dynamics of the Internet is in its community and E-bay saw the value of this and became not just a community, but a society of it’s own.
Body Parts Are Not For Sale—Making Good with Bad Times While E-bay got press over body parts that were put on it’s site for sale, it wasn’t all bad. Yes, they obviously pulled these auctions from the site once it came to their attention, but the press it created did not hurt E-bay. In fact, it solidified them as THE online community of our time. The place to be, to go, to bookmark, and return. It drove more people to the site. The lesson? Make good with bad times. Weather the situation, but create an event.
Evolving Forward Remember above all that change is what creates a forward moving, successful business. Never stay stagnant. Be aware of consumer’s tastes, the change of trends in behavior, and constantly evolve your plan.
E-bay was an idea. We all have them. The question is what will you do with the next one that pops into your head? You know the potential now, and if you doubt it, visit E-bay to become convinced.
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