Orange County Register

Today’s tip is from Cedric Ferrell, an Orange County franchisee for The Entrepreneur’s Source, a business coaching and franchise-matching service.

Gift-giving for anyone can be a difficult task, but finding a gift for the entrepreneur can be even more

Cedric Ferrell

challenging. Entrepreneurs live by a different set of rules than a professional that works for someone else; therefore, their gift list should accommodate their on-the-go business style.

Here are 10 ideas for Christmas gifts for the entrepreneur:

1. The Amazon Kindle. This wireless reading device by Amazon.com is a revolutionary electronic-paper display that provides a sharp, high-resolution screen and looks and reads like a real paper.

Whether to stay ahead of competitors or to use for leisurely reading, the Kindle is a great holiday gift for entrepreneurs because it allows a convenient way of reading and the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines and newspapers.

2. The Sushi USB Key. This is a great catch! The Sushi USB Key combines the technology of a portable memory key that enables business professionals to move data or files easily from one computer to another – and the love of sushi.

The USB keys are shaped as different sushi delicacies, giving the humorous entrepreneur a useful gift in the shape of a California roll or another sushi favorite.

3. Spa Package. Anyone with an entrepreneur in his life knows that managing your own business can be as stressful as it is rewarding. Surprising your self-starter with a spa gift certificate for a special massage or any other type of spa treatment can be a wonderful way to help them unwind.

4. CardScan Personal. This business card scanner is ideal for today’s mobile lifestyle entrepreneur. The portable device easily synchronizes with Outlook, Windows mobile devices and smartphones. It scans cards in monochrome in about five seconds. It’s great for the beginner entrepreneur who wants to keep track of all of his or her contacts.

5. Epson EMP-TW1000 3LCD Projector with HDMI 1.3. Why not give your entrepreneur colleague, friend of family member one of the world’s most advanced and powerful digital projectors. It will literally let its user think outside the box and allow him or her to view important files and documents in a larger-than-life size.
6. Nintendo Wii. Let your entrepreneur take a break from business as usual with the most popular video gaming console out there. The Nintendo Wii is still the talk of the town with its interactive gaming abilities and is sure to get the entrepreneur’s creative juices flowing.

7. Money Tree. Until money really begins to grow on trees, you can make a sound investment with a money tree plant from 1-800-flowers.com for your entrepreneur friend who is starting up his or her own business. The plant is said to wish prosperity to all who possess it.

8. The BlackBerry® Storm. This new smartphone by Blackberry features an innovative, pressable touch screen that allows fast navigation and accurate typing for entrepreneurs on the go. It’s easy to use and provides all of the same features of a phone, with e-mail, an organizer, Web browsing and much more.

9. Luxury Car Rental. Purchasing a luxury car as a holiday gift might be financially challenging for some people, but renting one for a day is definitely more feasible.

Keep the entrepreneur on the positive road towards success and give him or her a taste of what the future will look like by renting their own Ferrari, Porsche or Corvette to make them feel like they are on top of the world.

10. Business Coaching. When an entrepreneur is just starting out, the best thing he or she could use is professional advice and help. Give them that extra push to continue with their business goals. The Entrepreneur’s Source provides such services.

If you have a tip, resource or strategy to help small businesses, click here to send it to me. If I use it, I’ll give you credit and link to your Web site.

More entrepreneur stories…

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• House vents a hazard in wildfires
• O.C. attorney makes ‘most dependable’
• Entrepreneurs sacrifice homes to save business
• Laid-off managers shy away from starting businesses
• Outstanding O.C. businesswomen ‘08 named
• Irvine firm breaks drought of IPOs
• Aktino raises $14.2 million
• O.C. firm finds simple ways to ‘go green’

More business stories you might have missed…

• Billionaire’s ex-wife sues, alleging he tried to have her ‘whacked’
• House vents a hazard in wildfires
• And now from Wall Street…bets on recovery
• Fed plan should stem credit card crunch
• Lenders did booming business in stressed counties
• Nominate an O.C. business owner for Holiday Spirit
  
• Zippys: Newport Coast takes O.C. housing’s biggest fall
• Bankrupt retailer starts liquidation for O.C. store
• How far is ‘just steps’ to the beach?
• Calif. unemployment extension checks delayed until mid-Dec.
• Burn area homeowners should consider flood insurance
• O.C. auto sales plunged 40% in October
• O.C. Santas go begging … for work
• Register settles lawsuit by newspaper carriers

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