When I was in college (the first time around), I was always told to find a niche and keep it simple. Little did I know at the time, I was learning a sound business principle. After all, there is nothing simple about Ebay, Yahoo, or Google.

Could I be mistaken?

I had to ask myself after this time in college, "Has the Internet really changed things that much?" The answer is yes and no. People still want and demand quality products and customer service. But they want some "mystique" the web offers not found in many shopping mall stores.

An entrepreneurial job is one held by a brave soul, one who is a self-starter, knows what to do, and does not know what to be told. He knows to pick himself up when he/she falls down. Knows what clients expect and goes above and beyond the call of duty to outpeform major corporations and often succeeds.

Don't deny the forces of zen, especially the yin and yang. Doesn't matter if you believe in them or not, they do happen. It is a part of making choices. We get pulled one way and then another. Which choice do we make. If you don't believe it happens, try the choice that does not go along with your business instincts and watch the consequences. Not very fun.

Take advantage of the opportunities on the net by spending a few extra hours a week researching. Most e-books I've found are replicas of others and offer nothing new or cutting-edge. All the information in them are free at websites and usually better-written with less typos. And I tend to run from Internet gurus anyway. I suggest you do the same.

The other day I was looking at some statistics of what were the top sellers (especially at Ebay); and, of course not surprisingly, Ipods, consumer electronics, Armani, Gucci, and the usual suspects. I even did further research to find out the few legitimate wholesaler/drop shippers Could this be my "big break"? When I say big break, I do not mean "finally make money on the Internet". I have been doing that for several years and it is virtually on autopilot now. Am I in the league with the big dogs? More like a barbarian at the gate. But I do okay.

I looked around for items I liked and couldn't find any that that were suitable for me. So I approached an Ebay powerseller who happened to be a manufacturer of art licensed goods and we made a deal for Londons Times Cartoons Gifts and collectibles. Then I made a second deal with a print on demand manufacturer of mostly casual wear in Denver. I was my own boss and not having to rely on a manufacturer or back orders. I was a happy camper.

Copyrighting your own designs simply deepens your brand and public awareness. If you don't want to sell someone else's sell your own!

I own several stores that sell a myriad of products, but none of them really specialize in a niche product. I want to try what the superstars tried when they got started. My "success" evolved over the years by having a following; but not necessarily because I was using the marketing technique of "finding a niche".

A nice shop is your best bet. Wal-mart pretty much has the monopoly on "we please everyone" type of store. So why go to the trouble unless, again, you are a trust-fund baby and can afford to waste a lot of time and money just to stay busy. I can't. i have to work hard for mine. Such is life.

Then research further, and find a product on the web that people need, and use, and make it a little different than what others are selling.

Sell to others something you would like to buy yourself at a price you would like to pay. Transcend your own soul and put yourself in his/her shoes. We are not all that much different.

Then promote heavily with all the Internet has to offer; blogs, article marketing, ppc engines, pinging, and every other method of which you can think. Suddenly you will wake up successful. The odds are on your side. The harder you work, the more research you do, the more action you take, the luckier you get. In fact, the big dogs did the same thing to become big dogs, and they have nothing on you, if you just allow yourself to take the action. Keep an open mind and be prepared for faux pas. You may make them and that's okay. It's how many times you get back up that counts.

It is not how many times you fall down that count, but how many times you get back up. And if you use your "Zen", you will get back up. It's all a matter of physics, getting pulled back into balance.