Milestones Magazine Fall Issue

What?
What do I plan to do or make, produce,
distribute, and sell?
Some people base a business on a talent or skill for
which they have an interest, maybe even a passion,
such as painting. Others design or invent a product
that solves a problem affecting them or a family member;
such as an easy-fastening mechanism for people who
have arthritis. Still others base a business on a service
that businesses and individuals need: lawns have to be
cut, papers shredded, attics cleaned, and so on. And
some people and businesses don’t have the time, ability,
or desire to do these things themselves, so they’re willing
to “outsource” them (which is where you come in).
Who?
To whom do you plan to sell your product/service.
Some, by their very nature, are local, so potential
customers or clients are folks in your neck of the woods.
Lawns cannot be exported to China. Others, with the help
of computers and the internet, can be regional, national,
or even global in scope.
Where?
Where will the product be displayed or sold?
Artistic work typically shows up at art galleries, “flea
market” type events and websites such as Etsy. Writers
can blog. Clothing products can be sold at retail stores
(usually distributed through a wholesaler).
How?
How will the product be displayed or sold?
This question is similar to the where question, and
can often produce the same answer.
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