Free Business Ideas - Including Games

As a libertarian, I'm all about everybody making a profit we can all those amazing things we want to with the money.  To that end, I hope these provide some opportunity for someone to make some money.  The only think I ask if you do succeed with one of these ideas is you give 10% of your net profits to a charity that refuses taxpayer dollars.

Game Changer

PURPOSE

To help all of us get a regular dose of the reality about who we are and what we say.  Small, pen-like recording devices are currently available and can be discreetly sported on a jacket, coat or purse.

RULES

Before play begins, the Leader of the Game (the one doing the recording) ascertains whether those "in play" are interested in seeking truth and finding out more about themselves.  It's no fun if you spring it on them and they get mad...you might lose a friend or two.

The Leader records the conversation between themselves and one or two other people without the others knowing the conversation is being recorded.  It is very important The Leader never leaves the situation before "the reveal".  All credibility and trust is lost if they do.

At the end of the "recording time", while the recorder is still going, the Leader reminds them of their desire for truth and finding out more about themselves.  They then "reveal" the recording device and ask all participants "Do you want to know what's on the recording?"

Unless there is 100% buy-in, The Leader erases the entry in front of the others and the game is over.

If all agree to listen....play the recording and let the game of Changing Who We Are begin!

NOTE:  It is very important that nothing else be recorded on the device and it is obvious what just happened is entry ONE of only ONE file on the device.

Living History

PURPOSE

If I had a dollar for every time I wished I had listened to my grandmother's stories or paid attention to my family's chaotic and eclectic ramblings about their lives and times past, I could buy Trump Tower.  And the unkindest cut of all; had I taken the time to ask about their lives and recorded what they said, the loss of those precious souls and the mystery surrounding their part of my own history would not sting nearly so deeply as the biggest regret of my entire life.

DESCRIPTION

Capturing the stories and histories of our families is a lot easier with a specified set of questions.  There's little point in listing those here as every family historian knows the ropes and the internet will provide all.  The difference here is to get the family talking and arguing and remembering and feeling and laughing and sharing and just having a rip-roaring good time being...a family.  It's amazing what happens to the dynamics when you get different parts of the family together...and sometimes talk about the other parts of the family.  Just remember....everybody will be listening to all of it.

While "Voice to Text" is a no-brainer today, it's still a bit iffy for conversations between lots of people so stick to tried and true recordings.  If your choice is CDs/DVDs, get the archival ones which reported last up to 10 years.  The normal ones bomb out in about 3-5 years.  Tape is still the winner in the longevity sweepstakes and I'm a big fan of dictaphone transcription.  Boy, do you get to really know and understand stuff when it goes through your brain and heart.

Final Record

PURPOSE

Whether solemn and subdued, tearful rituals of piety or joy filled crazy celebrations of the departed and their lives, funerals are always a little stressful for everyone to get through.  And nobody usually thinks to preserve what what said or done.  This would be a permanent keepsake for those attending and for future generations of curious progeny who never got a chance to meet their ancestors.

Families put together video/slideshow of the life being honored but what if it were a plug and play system which made it easy for any family, regardless of grief or stress, to have a lasting memory of their departed's "final life event".

Needful Things

PURPOSE

It's the business of getting for others exactly what they want.  Sort of the ultimate surrogate shopper.  Russel Turner came up with the idea and actually tried it out but didn't get any takers.  I still think it's a great idea I doubt he'd care if I gave it away.

Defining Times

PURPOSE

To encourage and proliferate an understanding of the meaning of words, their proper use and how important enlarging your vocabulary really is.

DESCRIPTION

Not really a fleshed out idea, just a thought for a trivia style game which can be played two ways:

1. Give people a definition of a word and have people come up with the actual word.
2. Have a "Meaning-Bee" where, instead of spelling the word, the contestant has to give an acceptably accurate definition of the word to the judges.

You already read the "suggested reading" :-)