Does it seem like everything has been done? Do you feel like you have no new ideas? Sometimes, being an entrepreneur isn’t about pushing the boundaries and re-tooling something new. Rather, when you hit a dead end why not try making something old new.

In LA, a new trend has become board games at bars; bingo is no longer just for summer camp. What old thing can you use and market in a different way? Perhaps SkipIt, Pong or plastic flowers. The opportunities are endless. Do you know someone who has used something old in a new and innovative way? Contact me and we will post their story on our blog!

I like to be surprised. Well, I don’t like bad surprises like people yelling “boo” or pitchers of water falling on my head. I do like the sort of surprise that inspires you and enlightens you and makes you want to be a better person. I like surprises where you are amazed that someone came up with that and shocked that it drew attention. My love of surprises is probably what drew me to the job I have here- the innovative things I learn about every day provides little packets of surprise and brillant “hmmm…what??!? You’re kidding me!” moments.

Stanford University capitalized on these moments in their Imagine IT campaign and subsequent video. (more…)

In reality, your college degree may mean something. This was just better than than the “why I am a failure” title with which I had originally started. As we all become more educated, our BAs are going to mean less and less. In the future, my MA, will be considered the norm. However, there may be a way to stand out of the crowd or at less to become less reliant on others. (more…)

Tara Suri is hard to pin down. She lives and breaths public service; she runs her own non-profit; and, she is applying for colleges. I finally tracked her down for a short phone interview last week to ask her about her organization, Turn the World Around, and her career as a young change-maker and entrepreneur. (more…)

If I was smarter, I’d have majored in biology. CleanTech is the wave of the future and there are a hundred million opportunities. Looking for something to excite you? The possibilities within environmentally conscious organizations is limitless. Check out this article, from Time Magazine, reprinted below. It will make you want to take part in the revolution: (more…)

Lord Bilimoria is a supporter of Global Entrepreneurship Week, even participating in the London launch with Gordon Brown and Carl Schramm last November. Check out his inspiring advice:

Go Big or Go Home

“Congratulations!!! You have joined the ranks of the proud and powerful group known as Entrepreneurs. You are well on your way to making your fortune.” Or so, these are the thoughts that played through my head when I started my first business.

In my experience, I have found that when you are young, you are expected to go to high school, get you diploma, go to college, get you degree, get a nice job and have a nice life. That’s the way it is “suppose” to be and therefore, that’s the way the majority go. There isn’t a lot of wiggle room in there for those people who have different opinions on what constitutes a nice life. (more…)

5′11, beautiful smile, long dark hair, and personality galore describes your normal beauty pageant winner. Its also describes the young female entrepreneur who beat out all the other contestants to win the Miss USA 2008 crown.

Crystle Stewart, a graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in consumer science and merchandising, runs her own business, “Inside/Out,” which helps young women build confidence and self-esteem. (more…)

I really love it when someone changes the way I view the world. In a recent interview I held with Alexander Heffner of Scoop08, he did just that.

Things I believed: journalism was on its way out, youth don’t really want to read about politics, entrepreneurs see themselves as entrepreneurs first. Actually, Alexander, a high school senior at Phillips Academy, showed me that those things just aren’t true.

Scoop08 is a student run and written online political daily covering this year’s election. Launched last November, the paper has covered a myriad of topics in a way that has proven to be interesting to young people. It has also created a dialogue among our youth. By using new media technology, Scoop08 is allowing for instant reporting and instant feedback. Its allow kids with a voice and real opinions to have a spot to air those opinions. It’s proving that just because you’re too young to vote or a first time voter doesn’t mean you are too young to care. (more…)