Some huge commercial and financial media successes have "hard luck" stories behind them. Marc Cherry, writer/producer of Desperate Houswives had just lost close to $80K to a dishonest agent and had to ask his mother for money before his TV show was finally picked up by ABC.

Mark Victor Hansen's and Jack Canfield's book idea was rejected by 140 book publishers as "unsellable." Today, the 70 books in the 'Chicken Soup' series have sold more than 90 million copies in 39 languages!

I recently heard Gary Hirschberg, CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farms Yogurt, talk about his rise from near-poverty to the #1 organic yogurt company. For his story and other inspirational business sagas, go here.

Some of our clients want to do more "lead generation" but hate to get on the phone and make their own calls. Rejection is always awful.

Enter theONswitch! We compile lead lists, make contacts, and passed "warm leads" along to our clients. We charge by the hour, and give you early feedback on our success rate. So, we can keep dialing for dollars or "pull the plug" early on -- based on results.

You build a great new contact network and never have to hear the "click" of a hang-up or listen to bad on-hold music.

Newsletter Envy?

Some businesses have approached us about writing/producing their e-newsletters. We are now offering this service. Bring it on!

Check out our new blog.
Just click here.

"Springing" up all over are great new business ideas to capitalize on the fact that people will soon be getting outdoors, getting fit, and taking off their clothes (well, you know what we mean).

PFX Fitness, a premier training facility in Westchester, hired theONswitch to increase exposure and build their membership. We developed a "Get Fit for Prom" program that kicks off in April -- with 6 weeks of nutrition and work-out training, "celebrity" psych sessions (to help teenage girls learn how to be healthy), sponsored gift bags, and a terrific charity tie-in. PFX will be the official Westchester drop-off point for Operation Fairy Dust, a program that donates prom attire to more than 1,500 underprivileged girls in the spring. Business building AND social responsibility -- a great combination!

Tayste, a new restaurant in White Plains, opens late this month. Thanks to theONswitch, it will feature the largest selection of condiments -- more than 50 mustards, ketchups and sauces including such favorites as Smack My Ass and Call Me Sally hot sauce, Gil's Gourmet Roasted Garlic Champagne Mustard, and Tree of Life Organic Ketchup. (No, we did NOT make this stuff up.)

Catch Spring Fever -- Before it's Too Late! Business Development Institute, theONswitch and Serena Bass Catering are co-hosting a Spring Fling business networking event on April 27th at Ramscale, an incredible penthouse loft at 55 Bethune Street in NYC. Great venue, interesting guests, open bar, and amazing food. Register today! Use promo code onswitch for a $20 discount! (We're still looking for sponsors too for event drawings and brand awareness.)

"Small Business Success Stories: Insights and Secrets from New York’s Leading Entrepreneurs” on Tuesday April 25 features a panel of successful small business leaders. Afterwards, The New York Enterprise Report hosts a reception. Friends of theONswitch who register before March 24th receive a discounted price of $49 ($59 after March 25). Use promo code ONSWITCH. Get details and register here.

Book it! And you can fill out that week by learning how to become a published author. Join novelist Jonathan Tropper and an expert panel who will advise you (on April 24) how get your book idea out of your head and onto the shelves. Hosted by the Association of Women in Communications: Westchester/Fairfield Chapter.Register here.

In a slump? Get a jolt of inspiration from this website.
It's filled with tidbits from around the world about trends and breakthrough (maybe) new businesses.

Items appearing in "Random Sparks" are useful tips and tools, not paid advertisements. Contact us with suggestions for future issues -- business ideas, books and movies, useful strategies or resources, and fun things you find online.

Please send us your article ideas, upcoming events, updates and any other high-voltage news. April's theme is "Spring Cleaning."

You may think you just got the February newsletter. You're right. The short month, holiday, and other assorted life interruptions delayed our February issue to 2/28. From now on, newsletters will arrive mid-month. So, submit contributions by the first of the month, please!