0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

Introduction
In the absence of discontent, there is no creativity.
—Deepak Chopra
Why Is It a Good Time to Update 201 ?
Eight years ago, when I last revised 201 Great Ideas, many business owners
were still bruised from the crazy “dot-com” era. Remember when billions of
dollars were wasted on silly or copy-cat online business concepts? Luckily,
we’ve figured out how to use the Internet to make connections and money.
I collected most of the new, great ideas for this third edition during a
national speaking tour cosponsored by Bloomberg TV and local cable companies.
The events, hosted by chambers of commerce, provided a wonderful
opportunity for me to meet one-on-one with hundreds of business owners.
In 2008 and 2009, everyone I met was feeling pummeled by the Great
Recession. Even if you had great credit, it was nearly impossible to borrow
money. Millions of people were out of work and millions of homes were in
foreclosure or “underwater.” But, as the 2010 holiday season kicked off, the
mood was definitely brighter in the small business community. We started
spending money again and feeling more optimistic about the future.
Americans, especially small business owners, are extraordinarily resilient.
We have the stamina, moxie, and plenty of great ideas to survive the
worst of times. Despite massive national debt, two distant wars, and a trade
deficit, America is still the best country to be a small business owner.