Did you know that anything can be fascinating? Take soap for example. We all use it but there is a growing number of people who make soap for a living. If you don't believe me, ask Marie Gale, president of the Handcrafted SoapMaker's Guild, which promotes the handcrafted soap industry. Marie is the author of “The Soap and Cosmetic Labeling Book,” which helps soapmakers and other cosmetic manufacturers navigate the FDA's cosmetics labeling rules. She's also the owner of Chander's Soaps, a company that makes and sells soap and bath and body care products.
But most recently, Marie launched the Soap Bits blog. The idea came to her a few weeks ago when, while she was researching her family history, she discovered that many historic documents reference soapmakers. For example, did you know that Alexander Majors, the founder of the Pony Express, was a soapmaker? Or that the Census Bureau listed “soapmaker” as a business at the turn of the century? Marie has done something really extraordinary by sharing this kind of information in the Soap Bits blog. She has combined her passion for soapmaking, her soapmaking business and her desire to share interesting information with other people, into a media outlet that is unique and interesting.
So the next time you start thinking that you can't create a niche of your own, think again. Marie is doing it simply by living her life. After all, she was researching her family history, not setting out to launch a new blog! Yet, that's exactly what happened, and it can happen to you too. New opportunities to harness your ideas and experiences to benefit your business are all around you. All you have to do it participate actively in your life, remain open to new opportunities and stay true to your passion. Anyone can do this, why not you?
Question: What ordinary things can you make fascinating for the benefit of your business today? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
