Even though I do a lot of research and reading about [tag-tec]network marketing and internet marketing[/tag-tec], I still enjoy keeping up with engineering and technology. Just recently I was surprised to read in my IEEE Spectrum (the flagship magazine for the worldwide electrical and electronics engineering organization) a short article about engineers being recommended to start their own business.

The surprising part wasn't that engineers are striking out on thier own, that's actually not all that unusual. What caught my attention was that the article in this magazine was actually recommending [tag-tec]starting a home business[/tag-tec], rather than taking the more traditional route of raising capital, opening an office, hiring staff, managing clients, etc. The article gives a lot of good reasons on why this is a good idea.

The article says, "This business could be the kind you would start on your own full time, or it could involve turning a hobby into a business."

Hey, that sound sounds a lot like internet marketing and network marketing to me!

Some of the questions asked in this article are designed to assess the resources available for getting started. Some of them don't apply to us, but here are some that are helpful:

"Do you know how to delegate effectively, so that you can leverage your goals through your staff? You can't be everywhere and do everything, so your people will need clear direction and the appropriate degree of autonomy to get things done right."

You may not think you need to learn how to delegate, but when your business really takes off, you're going to need someone to handle day-to-day tasks while you focus on more of the "big brain" things like finding new markets and turning other ideas into money.

"Are you able to set priorities and adhere to them? Are you able to judge what's important on your to-do list? There's a difference between doing things and getting things done."

This one seems simple, but is so important.

"Do you know how to market? Do you even like to do it? You must understand the need for your product or service and be able to target specific markets. Apply the so-called 4 Ps of successful marketing: product/service, price, promotion, and the place where you sell it."

Knowing how to market on the internet is key. This question comes from an engineer publication and engineers are even less keen on marketing than the general population. "Just give us a problem and we'll solve it. Let the sales guys take care of finding a buyer." is the common attitude. There are many good training programs available. Unfortunately, there are a lot more crappy ones. Do an initial evaluation of any [tag-tec]training program[/tag-tec] you are looking at before putting money down.

It's a good sign when an international technical trade publication is giving advice on feeding the entrepreneurial spirit. We just have to be good enough and honest enough to those who come looking at what we offer. This isn't easy, but it is rewarding. And it's a hecuva lot better than spending the rest of a career in a cubicle.