The purpose of this article is to discuss how to start a business. In this document you will find details on how to get the idea and get started, how to discern if there is a market while considering who the competition will be, how to write a business plan, as well as how to finance a business. The details of this article will focus on the entrepreneurial strengths and knowledge gained from the Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century course. Ideas and Getting Started In order to develop a successful entrepreneurial idea, you must first find your true niche. What inspires and motivates this person, and are they prepared to work according to this inspiration for many years to come? Due to the nature of the business, passion for the work at hand is what will make or break the business. Often, people working in innovative fields regularly work more than 50 hours per week. If there is no passion, the business will definitely fail. Second, one must consider one's personal entrepreneurial strengths. Ego, control, passion, challenges, family tradition, wealth, instinct, vision, energy, risk, independence and initiative are some to consider. If you are lacking in certain areas, such as instinct or vision, you might consider partnering with someone who has strength in these abilities. A balance of all traits must be maintained, and having a partner to be effective where you are not, can be a good solution to try to progress where you are not advanced. Once the entrepreneurial spirit takes over and you have a viable idea. , it's time to start getting your hands dirty. Market and Competition One of the most crucial decisions to make when starting a business is the location of the business. It's in the middle of a paper...a business started by someone who's done it before. Conclusion The purpose of this article was to discuss how to start a business. In this document, details have been provided on how to find the idea and get started, how to discern if there is a market and who the competition is, how to write a business plan, as well as how to finance a business. The details of this article focused on entrepreneurial strengths and knowledge gained from the Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century course. Works Cited Evans, T. (March 20, 2012). 12 entrepreneurs give their best advice to startups. Business internal. Retrieved May 17, 2014. Small Business Association. (nd). Company description. In SBA.gov. Accessed May 17, 2014. Sweeny, K. and Wiles, K. (April 18, 2014). The fundraising marathon: preparing to pitch investors. Entrepreneur.com. Retrieved May 15, 2014.