When you think of business, what comes to mind? Do you think of door-to-door salespeople who come to your door, ring your doorbell, and try to sell you cookies or cosmetics? Do you think of executives in suits conducting business around a table? Business invloves influencing people, and there are ways to influence others that do not involve selling products door-to-door or setting foot inside a boardroom.

One way is to publish online. Write about subjects that you are familiar with. What areas do you have some expertise in? Do you know about studying a foreign language, for example? Write about it! Write about the best ways to study for a foreign language class and about how learning another language can help you. A reader who reads your article might be persuaded to start studying a second language. His studying will give him an edge in the job market and could prove very beneficial if he travels to a country where people speak the language he is studying. There, he will be able to ask for what he needs and go where he is trying to go, rather than feeling helpless and lost.

Public speaking is another way to influence others. Speak to groups about issues that are important to them at a level that they will understand. When talking to a group of elementary school children, for example, you might talk about the importance of recess. Make it a fun presentation, otherwise you will lose their attention. They will talk and drown you out. They know very well how they feel after sitting at a desk for several hours. They feel restless. They want to get up and run around the room. You can illustrate this by briefly running around onstage during your presentation. They will enjoy it and remember what you said. When talking to high school students, you might talk about the importance of doing well on standardized tests, such as the A.C.T. or S.A.T., and getting good grades. By getting good scores on their tests and in their classes, they will experience the satisfaction of doing well. High scores may also help them to avoid being placed in remedial classes when they get to college. By avoiding remedial classes, they will be able to graduate sooner.

Consider online publishing or public speaking. There are people out there who are eager to learn and who want to hear what you have to say.