Small Business Articles
3 Must See Small Business Opportunities For The People-Person
January 30, 2009
"People-person" is kind of a strange term when you think about it, as though the rest of us are incapable of relating to others around us. Still, there’s no better way that I know of to describe those special people among us who are naturally able to engage and entertain just about any other human being with whom they cross paths.
I’ve known my fair share of folks with this special ability, not being one of them myself, and I can say that it serves them well. People-persons have the natural ability to make people feel welcome, understood, and important, which has the bonus effect of lightening their spirits and making them more likely to come back and return the favor with their own manner of gifting. In the working world, this tends to translate in to business and money, which is why people-persons are so valuable and sought-out by businesses.
If you’re a people-person looking to start your own small business, your talent can be just as helpful for you in your own business as it would be for an employer. Below is a short list of businesses in which your particular brand of giftedness can really come in handy.
One Hour Parties
It doesn’t sound like an impressive party plan, but it is a wonderful business model. With short company lunch parties becoming more and more common in the business market, the demand for businesses that organize such activities is also increasing. This is a great small-business opportunity for the people person, because the whole of the work is establishing business contacts and fostering a fun party atmosphere in spite of the fact that people are still in the office, and making fun in spite of a fun-less location is what people-persons are all about.
Comfort Keepers
Children aren’t the only people who need the talkative TLC a people-person can give though; older folks do too. The elderly are actually one of the least considered demographics of people in our nation, often ignored by even their own families. This franchise business makes it a point to ensuring that these people don’t spend their most needy years in isolation. Often, all they need is a good, regular conversation with someone who is willing to talk, listen, laugh, and maybe cry a little. Those with a natural ability to connect on a personal level and brighten a person’s day would do well to consider this morally and financially worthwhile business venture.
1-800-WATER-DAMAGE
Ok, so it sounds a little odd that we should list a business that dries floors and walls in homes damaged by flooding as something particularly up the alley of folks with a gift for dealing with people, but it actually works out pretty well. Right after a flood, homeowners and their families are devastated, and have often gone through several nightmare-ish conversations with their insurance companies. Someone who can come in and solve the problem, while treating them with compassion and empathy sweetened with hint of humor and friendliness, are far more likely to make an impact than the business owner who just comes in to dry the walls. Personality goes a long way in stressful times.
Really, there aren’t many small-business franchise opportunities in which being a people-person isn’t a perk. Because people-persons make genuine connections with everyone around them, folks just simply like being around them, and that’s good for any business. The businesses listed above are great options, but take your ability to engage others to whatever small business you get into and you’ll be far better off than just about everyone else.
"People-person" is kind of a strange term when you think about it, as though the rest of us are incapable of relating to others around us. Still, there’s no better way that I know of to describe those special people among us who are naturally able to engage and entertain just about any other human being with whom they cross paths.
I’ve known my fair share of folks with this special ability, not being one of them myself, and I can say that it serves them well. People-persons have the natural ability to make people feel welcome, understood, and important, which has the bonus effect of lightening their spirits and making them more likely to come back and return the favor with their own manner of gifting. In the working world, this tends to translate in to business and money, which is why people-persons are so valuable and sought-out by businesses.
If you’re a people-person looking to start your own small business, your talent can be just as helpful for you in your own business as it would be for an employer. Below is a short list of businesses in which your particular brand of giftedness can really come in handy.
One Hour Parties
It doesn’t sound like an impressive party plan, but it is a wonderful business model. With short company lunch parties becoming more and more common in the business market, the demand for businesses that organize such activities is also increasing. This is a great small-business opportunity for the people person, because the whole of the work is establishing business contacts and fostering a fun party atmosphere in spite of the fact that people are still in the office, and making fun in spite of a fun-less location is what people-persons are all about.
Comfort Keepers
Children aren’t the only people who need the talkative TLC a people-person can give though; older folks do too. The elderly are actually one of the least considered demographics of people in our nation, often ignored by even their own families. This franchise business makes it a point to ensuring that these people don’t spend their most needy years in isolation. Often, all they need is a good, regular conversation with someone who is willing to talk, listen, laugh, and maybe cry a little. Those with a natural ability to connect on a personal level and brighten a person’s day would do well to consider this morally and financially worthwhile business venture.
1-800-WATER-DAMAGE
Ok, so it sounds a little odd that we should list a business that dries floors and walls in homes damaged by flooding as something particularly up the alley of folks with a gift for dealing with people, but it actually works out pretty well. Right after a flood, homeowners and their families are devastated, and have often gone through several nightmare-ish conversations with their insurance companies. Someone who can come in and solve the problem, while treating them with compassion and empathy sweetened with hint of humor and friendliness, are far more likely to make an impact than the business owner who just comes in to dry the walls. Personality goes a long way in stressful times.
Really, there aren’t many small-business franchise opportunities in which being a people-person isn’t a perk. Because people-persons make genuine connections with everyone around them, folks just simply like being around them, and that’s good for any business. The businesses listed above are great options, but take your ability to engage others to whatever small business you get into and you’ll be far better off than just about everyone else.
