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Do you have a viable business idea?

NNPA NEWSWIRE — You may already have an idea in mind, but before you jump into it, it’s best to double-check that your idea has what it takes to generate sales and satisfy your career goals. If you think you’re ready to be your own boss, here are some tips on choosing a viable business idea.

Published

5 years ago

February 6, 2020

Oakland Post

Recognize your strengths, experience, and market opportunities for your next business opportunity.

Starting your own business can be a rewarding way to build wealth and fill the needs for others with a product or service. It’s a calling that requires grit, wit, and perseverance. But one of the biggest challenges of starting your own business is coming up with an idea that not only makes sense for you but also is sustainable and profitable.

You may already have an idea in mind, but before you jump into it, it’s best to double-check that your idea has what it takes to generate sales and satisfy your career goals. If you think you’re ready to be your own boss, here are some tips on choosing a viable business idea.

Identify what drives you

Exploring your own passions and skill set is a great start to finding a potential business idea. Ask yourself what gives you satisfaction and what kinds of problems you enjoy solving. To help decide if your business idea is the right fit, ask yourself:

Is this something I can do that others can’t? Is it something I do better than others? Answering these questions may help highlight the strengths you have that can make you and your potential business idea stand out.
What am I passionate about? Can I picture doing this every day? Maybe you want to help the environment or just make everyday tasks a little easier for people. Whatever it is, you need to be sure it’s something that motivates you.
Do I have experience or knowledge about this business opportunity? The more informed you are about your idea, the easier it may be for you to turn it into a business.

“Ideally, you’ll find the perfect intersection between your interests, expertise, and what the market is demanding,” says Dr. Dennis Kimbro, a business professor and best-selling author. Once you’ve identified what sparks your passion and the skills you have to offer, then it’s time to find out who is willing to pay for your product or service.

Find your market

To avoid launching your idea in a market with limited opportunities, conduct market research. This data-grounded approach may help you determine if your business idea will actually be successful.

Start by thinking about the type of person you envision purchasing your product or needing your service. Your idea of who your target customer should be may change after conducting market research, so remember this step is about understanding your customer base. Grounded on this understanding, consider ways to adjust your business to better serve the needs of this segment.

The purpose of market research is to find out how your business can best meet the needs of its target market. To get a baseline understanding of your potential customers, you can use:

Surveys: SurveyMonkey and Hubspot offer free templates to help you get started. SurveyMonkey allows users to select demographics. This way you know exactly what audience is answering your survey questions.
Focus groups: FocusGroupIt lets you organize and conduct your own focus groups through social media.
Existing research on your target market: S. Census Bureau data can help give you a basic look at the audiences you could serve. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also recommends these free data sources:
Competitor research: Knowing your competition is just as important as knowing your customer. Research the product or services you plan to offer online to find your competition, where they are located, and how they are marketing themselves. And while most people view Yelp as a helpful tool for customers to leave feedback, it can actually be useful for entrepreneurs as well. Look at Yelp reviews to learn what customers say about the strengths and weaknesses of other companies.

Based on your research, come up with answers to questions like:

What can I offer that people want, and how much will they pay for it?
Who are my ideal customers, and what problems do they have that I could potentially solve?
How will I reach these customers, and what will it cost?
Can I successfully compete with existing businesses in this space?

Opening a business can be exciting and challenging all at once, but preparation can help reduce some of the risks associated with starting new ventures. Take the time you need to research and plan ahead — it could pay off in the long run.

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

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June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

WATCH HERE

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”