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Naomi Hodgson

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START UP COMPANIES! We want to know what makes you tick, your drive, passion and reasoning for starting your own company.

Why did you set up your own business?
What did you risk?
What drives you?
What do you do when people shot down your ideas?
Who was your inspiration?
What would help you persevere?

Any other thoughts into the workings of a start up company would be great.

Topics: Startups community creativity education future happiness innovation kickstarter learning life
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  • Benedicte Rasch

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    Oct 5 2012: I came across hoop dance by a coincident (or what I thought was a coincident before I understood online marketing). I bought myself a custom made hula hoop, handmade, large, colorful, and started to practice dance and doing tricks with it. My creativity exploded, I got hooked and I felt like a child on christmas day with my new toy. It had transformed my life, and I wanted others to experience what I had experienced. It was also a great exercise, and I thought there must be a great activity for people who wants a fun and effective exercise. My good feeling and my inspiration was the whole fire that started my business.

    Well, after I'd been practicing for a year, I started producing hoops, I rented a dance studio where I could have my classes, and, at that time I also had to quit my dayjob because the shop I worked in was closed down. I had my rent to pay like everyone else, I had no other income, so I kind of risked everything,but at the same time: if I hadn't been able to provide myself only from my business, I would have applied for another dayjob that could have paid my rent and also paid for some marketing, so it wasn't like I risked my life or something.

    The way I see things, "what drives you" is the same question as "why did you set up your own business".

    When customers or those presented to my idea doesn't buy it, I try to figure out how to communicate my message in a way that inspires to action.

    I'm very inspired by other hoop dance companies, and I'm inspired by the ideas of Simon Sinek (see his speech here on Ted). I'm inspired by a hoop dance business owner named Christabel Zamor.

    Persevere? This is where money comes in. As long as money comes in I will persevere. Seeing customers benefit from my services and products is also very helpful.

    My advice to a start up company:
    Spend your advertising budget on promoting your Facebook page using sponsored stories. Right funny fb updates that people are likely to share. Watch Simon Sinek's speech.

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