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How To Test Your New Product or Product Idea

business_ideas

Continuation from Friday…….(How To Build A Minimally Viable Product)

Once you campaign is up running you should track it very carefuly, adjusting it along the way. When optimized, it will give you an idea if your business can be successful and/or profitable. If it is, move on to full scale business development. If it is not, keep one important thing in mind. Oftentimes, it takes months of constantly adjusting your product offerings and marketing campaigns before you hit the pay dirt. A lot of people tend to give up right before that happens. DO NOT abandon your project at this state, until and unless, you are 100% sure that you have exhausted all possible options.

Product Centric Business:

If you have a prototype product you would like to sell, the time to develop it into a working concept is now.  Attempt to create a working version, no matter the cost. If nothing else, this process will give you a full understanding of what it takes and how much it will cost to put your product together. Once completed, attempt to test it in every possible way in order to determine what types of failure(s) your product is susceptible to.  If not much develops, try to understand if you product can be manufactured in large numbers and at a price that will be accepted by its eventual customer base. A price that will also yield a profit for you.

If you are lucky enough to successfully get to this point, it is time to roll up your sleeves and start the sales cycle. Yet, unless your product is absolutely amazing or unique, don’t try to hit the ball out of the park. That means you shouldn’t approach Walmart or Costco in an attempt to sell 10 Million units. It doesn’t work that way. Most large retailers and distributors won’t even bother talking to new merchants such as yourself.  In majority of the cases, they will require a multi-year track record and an income statement showing millions of revenue before they will even bother to let you into their parking lot.

In other words, start small. I would suggest the following multi-tier approach…..

  1. Develop your own product website and sell direct. You can follow the steps outlined in the “Online Business” section above or develop your own store in a matter of minutes. There many websites services out there that can help you do just that. To the point where you can have your own store, shopping cart and credit card processing service in a matter of minutes. Shopify.com is one of the most popular services in the space.
  2. Open your own storefronts on Amazon.com and Ebay.com. While it will take you a few hours to set them up, both platforms will bring hundreds of millions of potential buyers to your product. If nothing else, it will give you an idea if your product has mass appeal.
  3. Depending on what your product is, attempt to find physical retailers in your city that carry similar product lines. Mom and pop shops would be your best bets as large corporate chains are unlikely to place your products in their stores. Approach them and ask if they would be willing to attempt to sell your product. In order to see if there is a demand.  A major selling point for you might be leaving you merchandise behind on consignment basis as opposed to trying to sell it outright. It would be great way to develop initial relationships with local merchants as many more businesses will take a risk on such an offer.
  4. If your product permits, try selling it at local fairs, swap meets and flea markets. Again, it will help you determine if your product can be sold and/or if it has mass appeal.

Once you have completed all of the steps above, you will have a fairly good idea if your product is ready for mass market. If it is, move into full scale business development model. If you are still not sure or if the product is not performing very well, don’t give up. Keep playing around with your product and sales channels until all options are exhausted.

To Be Continued Tomorrow…...(Why Am I Seeing This On A Financial Website?)

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How To Test Your New Product or Product Idea  Google

The Hunt For Tenbaggers

Book Cover

Continuation from Friday...(A Few More Rules For Finding Tenbaggers)

RULE #10: Sit Out or Get Ready To Go Short When the Time Is Right

Finally, at certain times you will find yourself in extreme overvaluation bubbles. Similar to those at 2000 and 2007 tops. It highly probable that you will not be able to find any potential Tenbaggers at general undervaluation levels in such environments. When that happens, it would be an opportune time to get ready for a bear raid on individual stocks or the overall market. If nothing else, it would be prudent to stay out of the way.

Today’s market environment, in August of 2014, presents us with a perfect illustration of that. Due to its overall extreme valuation levels, I am unable to find a single stock issue that would satisfy all of the requirements above. That’s right, not a single stock that I would invest in as a potential Tenbagger as most stocks have been driven to unsustainable valuation levels. This tells me a few things. First, the market is overvalued and in a bubble. Second, if I have any remaining long positions I should consider liquidating them now or as soon as the market breaks down (technical bear confirmation).  Finally, I should consider going short if my investment strategy allows it.

Clue #10: If you are unable to find any potential Tenbaggers at undervalued levels, the overall stock market is likely to be in a bubble. Be prepared to exit your long positions and to go short at a moment’s notice.

Conclusion: If you are to follow the steps above it is highly probable that you will not be able to find more than 10 individual stock issues, at any one time, that satisfy all of your requirements. When you do find them, make it your business to learn everything you possibly can about the underlying business and its stock price. From the fundamental, technical and mathematical perspectives. It will make all the difference between investing in a stock that does well and a stock that goes up 10X or more within a relatively short period of time. When all of your requirements are satisfied and you are confident that the underlying stock will outperform the market by a large margin……..buy as much stock as your diversification strategy allows.

And that’s all there is to it.

This book will now be edited. It should be available over the next 30 days or so. 

Z30

The Hunt For Tenbaggers Google

Most Bears Capitulate…..Markets To Surge Higher?

daily chart August 29 2014

8/29/2014 – An up day with the Dow Jones up 19 points (+0.11%) and the Nasdaq up 22 points (+0.50%). 

Yep, it’s official, even the perma bears are throwing in the towel.  Real stock correction going to blindside us: Pro 

“The day we’re going to get a real correction is when we stop parading people … saying a correction is coming, people like me who have been wrong. If we finish strong today, I’m going to ditch my notion of a correction.”

-The rest of the article is an all out Bull Party predicting a massive stock market rally towards the end of the year.

Wow, what a bear. One more day and he is out. And while traditional financial media calls these people bears, I call them weaklings. Yet, for a big move down to occur, this psychological setup cannot appear in any other fashion.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Two things. First, the stock market has been accumulating massive amounts of energy since December 31st, 2013. This energy is pointing towards a massive move (up or down) in the very near future. Second, there are no bears left. Everyone is incredibly bullish on this market and very few (if any) people expect any sort of a correction. Let alone a crash. The question is…..who is right? The majority or a few “retarded” bears that are crazy enough to maintain their stance.

If you would be interested in receiving a direct answer to this question, please CLICK HERE

(***Please Note: Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update. August 29th, 2014 InvestWithAlex.com

Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share our blog with your friends as we try to get traction. Gratitude!!!

Most Bears Capitulate…..Markets To Surge Higher? Google

A Few More Rules For Finding Tenbaggers

Continuation from yesterday……(Rules For Trading Tenbaggers).

RULE #7: Buy Fast Growing Companies After Market Corrections

If we look at all of the above companies and try to identify one trait that worked 95-100% of the time, this would it. Every one of our stocks sold off during bear market legs of 2000-2002 and 2007-2009. Most of the time at X multiple to the market.  Meaning, their declines were at times more, sometimes a lot more than the overall market. Suggesting that their eventual bounces would be more significant as well.

Further, once the market corrections were over, it was time to buy. Most of our stocks had their largest 500-2,000% run ups during bull legs of 2002-2007 and 2009-2014. Or right after bear market legs terminated at their respective bottoms.   Perhaps Warren Buffett had said it best, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”  Buy at the bottom.

Clue #7: This strategy is about as foolproof as it can get. By buying at the bottom of a bear cycle, you ensure good entry points and subsequent massive gains in your potential Tenbaggers.

RULE #8: Secular Bull or Bear Markets are Not Very Relevant:

All of the stocks above had their massive run ups during a secular bear market of 2000-2017. Proving, without a shadow of a doubt, that individual stocks can increase in value even in the hardest of times. Assuming their underlying businesses are performing well.  And while it is helpful and more profitable to have a bull market at your back, it is not a requirement.  There will be many stocks that go up 10X or more under all market conditions.

With that said and as was suggested above, all investors must be on a lookout for fast developing bear market legs that tend to appear in secular bear markets. For instance, 2000-2002, 2007-2009 and 2014-2017. It is at this time that most stocks go though their corrections. Giving us an opportunity to 1. Liquidate our long positions.  2. Go short and 3. Load up on multiple Tenbaggers at give away prices at the bottom of the decline.

Clue #8: Don’t pay attention to bull or bear markets. Instead, concentrate on avoiding bear market legs in secular bear markets. Load up on your favorite Tenbagger stocks when selloffs terminate.

RULE #9: At Least Some Diversification is Required.

While the Tenbaggers in this book offer a high rate of return, it comes with a side of extra risk associated with new product introductions, restructurings, growth, etc…. As such, it would be prudent not to bet all of your chips on one or two potential Tenbaggers.  Yet, a wide diversification here is impossible since you will not be able to find many stocks that satisfy all of your Tenbagger requirements. You can go about solving this issue in one of two ways.

First, simple add Tenbaggers to your overall well diversified portfolio. While they will have a net positive impact, they impact might not be as great is if you were concentrating on Tenbaggers alone.  Which brings us to option number two.   In this case you would develop a portfolio of no more than 10 Tenbaggers while concentrating your attention entirely on overseeing their progress.

Clue #9: Do not bet all of your money on 1-2 potential Tenbaggers as such stocks are inherently more risky and unpredictable. Instead, concentrate on developing one of two diversification strategies that appeal to you the most.

To Be Continued On Monday……

Z30

A Few More Rules For Finding Tenbaggers  Google

How Desires Trigger Stress

desire

Continuation from yesterday…..(Killing Stress)

When it comes to controlling your STRESS or STRESS associated energies, the state of NOW offers the ultimate solution. STRESS is simply impossible in a fully conscious state of NOW.  Since your mind will not be able to generate STRESS related thoughts, past or future, STRESS will vanish into thin air.

Unfortunately, very few people can be in the state of NOW 24/7. In fact, to attain this level of consciousness, a tremendous amount of work on one’s self is necessary. Enlightenment is a must. In essence, to be fully self aware 24/7 and to be enlightened are the two sides of the same coin.  And since very few people throughout human history had been able to achieve such a state, it might not be an optimal solution for you. Still, by practicing living in the state of NOW on the daily basis, you will be able to collapse your levels of STRESS associated with all aspects of your life to a bare minimum.

How?

Through the daily practice of Exercise #2.  Allocate 30 minutes per day to this practice and follow it religiously. Not only will you be able to minimize STRESS in your life, but little by little you will find yourself living in the state of NOW more and thinking less.  This will cause the thought intensity associated with your negative STRESS energies of the past and the future to go down substantially.  Only to be replaced by positive energies associated with calmness, happiness, bliss and joy.  Yet, don’t expect fast results here. It might take months, if not years, before you feel and see clearly defined results.

Unfortunately, there is no faster alternative. You must do the work.  You mind and your thought processes have been in existence for decades and it will now take some time to rewire your entire being. It won’t be easy, but it is defiantly something worth doing if you want STRESS and STRESS related energies completely out of your life.

KICK DESIRE AND CARE OUT OF YOUR LIFE

Now, only two other hurdles remain on your way to a STRESS free life. Desire and care. When combined, these two psychological traits bring an immense amount of STRESS into your life. The worst part is, you don’t even realize fact. Let’s take a look at them individually first.

Desire: Including desires for material and immaterial things. Typically, human mind works in the following fashion. If you see a good looking man or woman walk by you will immediately desire them. If you see that car of your dreams driving down the road, you will desire it. If you are a regular at a local church, you will desire god and heaven. If you friends are doing better financially, you will desire more money.  And so forth, ad infinitum.

What’s worst, it is highly probable that you don’t even think or realize the fact when your desires appear in your realm of consciousness.  Some come out of nowhere, while others linger within your subconscious for decades.  And while some desires might appear as wholesome and even admirable, others will make even the hardened criminals cringle. If you begin to pay attention and keep track, you will notice that your mind tends to generate hundreds, if not thousands of different desires each day.  Again, showing just how cunning the mind can be.

To Be Continued Tomorrow…….(Why Am I Seeing This On A Financial Site?)

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How Desires Trigger Stress  Google

How To Validate Your Business Idea With Crowdfunding

crowdfunding

Continuation from yesterday……(The Secret Behind Validating Your Business Ideas)

Ask Your Friends or Associates If They Would Buy Your Product or Service Today.

Typically, most people ask for opinions. They tend ask their friends and associates if this might be a good idea. Do not fall into this trap. Understand one profound truth.  About 95% of people you associate with will tell you that your product or service idea is the best thing since sliced bread. The truth is, they don’t want to hurt your feelings or tell you what they really think about your product. One way around this issue is to offer your product for sale as a “Pre-Order” to your family, friends and associates.

As soon as the money enters the picture you will, for the first time, get an honest feedback. If people begin to buy or pre-order, you must assume that you have a legitimate product idea on the table. Yet, if people begin to give a million different excuses, you must learn to read between the lines. What they are really telling you is…..”Your product or idea suck and we want nothing to do with it”. If that is the case you must go back to the drawing board and rethink your entire idea and approach.

Example: Create a one page flyer outlining what you Pet Smart Phone will look like and what it will do. Outline all of the benefits and selling points for the potential buyers. Include a picture of a finished product and a price. Approach everyone within your circle of influence, pass on the flyer and ask them to think about the idea for a day.  Approach them the following day and ask for their feedback. If the feedback is good, ask them for a pre-order.  If they are not ready to commit, your idea is not that good.

Build A Crowdfunding Campaign. 

If the “Friend Test” above is successful it is time to find out what others think. The best way to do that is thought a quick crowdfunding campaign. If you are not familiar, crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contribution from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.  In our case you would build a crowdfunding campaign for your Pet Smart Phone by outlining what you are planning to do, what the end product will look like, the benefits for pet owners and how much money you are looking for. In return, you would offer the completed product when ready. Essentially, you are taking pre-orders and using the money to build your product or service. To be delivered to your backers at a future date.

An important note: Do not attempt this step until you are ready and fully committed to going forward with your idea. Raising money from outsiders and not delivering on your promise or deciding not to go forward thereafter is not only unethical, it is borderline criminal.

There are a number of websites where you can build your crowdfunding campaign with ease. The two of the most popular sites are Kickstarter.com and Indiegogo.com . There are many others in almost every category imaginable. Simply Google crowdfunding to find the right website for your project. And while it is free to post your project, the sites offering the service will charge you a percentage of the money raised.

Once you have selected the site that best fits your needs, post your product or service idea on it. Outlining the product, the benefits and when you will deliver on your promise. Then use social media to promote your crowdfunding attempt and see what develops.  If people believe it is a great idea they will start pre-ordering.  The best part is, no one knows how successful your campaign might become. There have been numerous instances where entrepreneurs have tried to raise a few thousand dollars to get their projects started, only to raise a few million instead. All because others thought it was such a great idea as well.   Who knows, your brilliant idea might be the next runaway hit.

To Be Continued Tomorrow…..(Why Am I Seeing This On A Financial Website?)

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How To Validate Your Business Idea With Crowdfunding Google

Rules For Trading Tenbaggers

Continuation from yesterday……(Rules For Finding Tenbaggers)

Rule #4: Use All 3 Analytical Frameworks:

As was suggested earlier, it would be incredibly difficult to make an investment in any one of our Tenbaggers through the use of a singular analytical tool.  When fundamental, technical and mathematical analysis tools are used individually, they give very few clues that the underlying stock issue is about to surge higher. However, when we combine them and they all confirm the upcoming rise, our chances of success increase dramatically.

As was the case with Chipotle Mexican Grill in the late 2008. From the fundamental perspective alone the company was doing incredibly well and growing just about as fast as it could. Yet, the company’s stock price kept going lower throughout 2008. Mostly due to its general overvaluation at the time and the financial crisis of 2007-2009. If we were looking at the company from the fundamental perspective alone we wouldn’t be able to tell when the stock would bottom and when it would be an opportune time to go long. Yet, when we bring technical and mathematical analysis into the picture, it clears up. Giving us a number of signs that the stock price was bottoming and the time to take position was at hand.

Clue #4: When fundamental, technical and mathematical analyses confirm each other, the chances of the stock surging higher increase exponentially.  Therefore, companies that have all three analytical frameworks agree on the direction of the underlying stock price are the companies that warrant possible investment. Assuming that all other investment requirements are satisfied.

Rule #5: Wait For a Technical Confirmation:

When we initiate a position in any given stock is about just as important as IF we make an investment at all. A proper entry point can make all the difference between generating substantial gains almost immediately and losing money on the trade.  At its worst, an improper entry point can force us to liquidate a position at a loss and at exactly the wrong time. Right before the stock begins its run up. As such, it is always important to wait for a technical confirmation before taking a position. Typically, the confirmation will come in a form of a higher high after a certain bottom is reached or a break above/below a trend line.  As a matter of fact, all of our entry and exit points in this book were timed in such a way.

Clue #5: Wait for a technical confirmation before taking a position in the underlying stock.

Rule #6: Trade In and Out of Your Positions (Particularly in a secular bear market):

If anything, one proposed “Truth” has been drilled into investor’s psyche over the last 50 or so years.  Buy stocks for the long term and hold them forever.  As nice as this catch phrase might sound, it doesn’t work under all circumstances.  We deal with uncertain and unpredictable world on the daily basis. As a result we must have the ability to shift our opinions and positions at a moment’s notice.  And in doing so, we gain the ability to minimize the risk while maximizing the returns.

Further, it was shown that by trading in and out of our positions at the right times we can easily double or even quadruple our overall Tenbagger performance. Assuming a long enough time frame. All while avoiding soul crushing 50-80% declines and uncertainty associated with such fast growing stocks. In fact, trading in and out becomes the only prudent approach to investing in Tenbaggers over a long period of time. Particularly in bear markets.

Clue #6: Don’t hesitate to trade in and out of the stock when the technical and mathematical analyses call for it.

To Be Continued Tomorrow……

Z30

Rules For Trading Tenbaggers Google

What Will The Catalyst For The Upcoming Stock Market Crash Be?

daily chart August 27 20148/27/2014 – A mixed day with the Dow Jones up 15 points (+0.09%) and the Nasdaq down 1 point (-0.02%).

Some well researched bears are anticipating a quick 30-60% crash in the near future……‘Complete turmoil’ in upcoming correction: Pro As accurate as such bears might be, they are nothing but a laughing stock for most of the investors out there. For them, this bull market will never end.

Yet, both sides miss the entire point when they start talking about various catalysts that can cause any significant (if any at all) market declines.

Both are wrong. They won’t be a catalyst. Trying to figure out which catalyst will cause the stock market to decline is like looking up the horses ass while trying to see its teeth. It won’t work. The market is the catalyst in itself. It precedes ALL fundamental reasoning. And while a crash is certainly possible, no one will see it coming. The market will simply crash 30-60% in a matter of days and be done with it. It is only after the fact that financial media talking heads will try to identify the so called “catalyst”.  Missing the entire point in the process.  In other words, you have been warned.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2014-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2014-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE

(***Please Note: Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update. August 27th, 2014 InvestWithAlex.com

Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share our blog with your friends as we try to get traction. Gratitude!!!

What Will The Catalyst For The Upcoming Stock Market Crash Be? Google

The Secret Behind Validating Your Business Ideas

idea validationContinuation From Monday…..How To Validate Your Business Ideas

Company Specific Research (Competitor Analysis):

In most cases your idea will not be 100% original. In other words, chances are, someone out there is already manufacturing or selling what you would like to offer.  Find the company in question and research it to the best of your ability. Try to determine if the product or service in question is as profitable for this company as you anticipate it to be. Plus, if would be able to compete with them successfully.

Example: If another company already offers electronic gadgets for pets, determine the size of the company and the size of the market.  Ascertain what kind of revenue the company is generating in this product category. What is the size of the company and what sort of a buying power they have within the industry. Do they anticipate expanding this business in the near future, etc…..

Product Specific Research:

Study competitor’s product and determine how your product will be different from what they are already offering. Ascertain if there are patents that would impact your potential product or service offering.  Attempt to determine the cost of your product and if it would be possible to put it together without a substantial investment. Think about possible distribution channels, how your product will be sold and how it will be perceived by the customers.

Example:  Determine how your pet gadget will be different from what is already on the market.  It has to be substantially different or the chances of success diminish rapidly. Determine if there are patents that would prevent you from manufacturing or offering your Pet Smart Phone. Try to figure out how much it would cost you to manufacture one unit and how much it would cost to manufacture 10,000 units. Plus, would it sell best through the store, online or through the various distributors.

Discuss Your Idea With Industry Insiders:

Try to find someone within your network who is somewhat familiar with the industry or the product in question. Do not be afraid to share your ideas with them in full. Ask for their honest opinion and feedback.  Determine what their initial reaction was and why.  Ask for what they would do next and how they would approach this business. Attempt to extract as much information out of them as you possibly can.

Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart was famous for his masterful execution of this skill. It was reported, by countless people, that Sam would ask 5 minutes of someone’s time and then proceed to extract decade’s worth of business related experience out of such unlucky souls in a matter of hours.  One food mart chain executive had reportedly said “Sam drained me of all of the information I had after barraging me with questions for over 2 hours”.

Example: Find someone who sells pet products or pet gadgets directly to stores and approach them. Ask them for 5 minutes of their time and introduce your idea. Ask for their feedback and what steps they would take next.  Worst case scenario, they might think that your idea is idiotic.  Best case? You might get a distributor or even an investor.

To Be Continued Tomorrow….(Why Am I Seeing This On A Financial Website?)

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The Secret Behind Validating Your Business Ideas Google

Rules For Finding Tenbaggers

Continuation from yesterday…..What You Ought To Know About Finding Tenbaggers

Rule #2: Operational Improvements:

Again, just because the stock is undervalued or just because it had lost 80% of its value over the last 24 months, doesn’t mean the stock will turn around and go higher. If anything, it is highly probable that the stock in question will remain at the bottom of its trading range for the foreseeable future. Worst, it might go on to lose another 80% before the bottom is reached. Some sort of a catalyst is needed before the position is taken. Typically, necessary changes come from the following areas…

  • Restructurings, Asset Divestitures, Mergers and Spin Offs
  • New Products or Services with a Huge Growth Potential
  • Management Changes

In essence, the company in question must have something that would allow it to grow faster over the next few years. Without such a clear catalyst, an investment in the company would not make sense as it underlying stock has no chance of appreciating. As was the case in our analysis above.

  • Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR):  Introduced a line of Keurig’s coffee system and K-Cups right before the stock price began to surge.
  • Apple, Inc (AAPL):  Introduced a line of extremely popular iPods before its stock price began to surge ever higher. Followed by  iTunes, iPhone, iPod, etc….
  • Best Buy Inc (BBY): Was working diligently on improving margins, restructuring its growth trajectory and trying out new store concepts that would outperform the competition.
  • Bally Technologies Inc (BYI):  Began a divestiture and restructuring process to simplify its balance sheet and to infuse capital into its otherwise dying business.
  • Chipotles Mexican Grill (CMG):  Was already firing on all cylinders and no change or catalyst was needed.

Clue #2: Some sort of a catalyst must be present. Otherwise the underlying business warrants no investments. The company’s management must be introducing new products, restructuring or doing something that has the potential to send the company’s growth trajectory higher.

Rule #3: Bet on Management:

While we paid very little attention to company’s management in our research throughout this book, it is not an accurate representation of how this issue should be approached.  Company’s management and its CEO in particular are incredibly important. A CEO with an excellent track record, a strong drive for success and a high ownership percentage will oftentimes work miracles for the underlying business. As was the case with Steve Jobs and Apple Inc.  Likewise, a management team with no previous successful track record and/or without a stake in the company is unlikely to do anything worthwhile.

Clue #3: Successful management team with a clearly defined and executable plan of action. A high ownership percentage in the company by the management team is always a big plus.

To Be Continued Tomorrow…..

Z30

Rules For Finding Tenbaggers Google