The other day one of our overseas clients called in a state of near panic, to ask a question. At issue was whether they had unwittingly violated U.S. law by transferring technical information to a joint venture partner in a European country. After hearing a two minute description, I was able to answer a resounding "Yes"! Such are dangers of operating in a global environment. The worst part is that my client had been lead into their misdeed by following well intentioned advice of a Fortune 100 U.S. corporation. One that certainly should have known better, but obviously does not. The potential penalties for such errors are daunting and ignorance of law is not a defense. For a mere administrative ("civil") infraction, penalty is up to $100,000 per occurrence. For intentional misdeeds, which are accorded criminal penalties, well, let's not even go there.

Few business executives realize that these laws apply to a far wider range of products and technical information than obvious military armaments. Computer software, including off-the-shelf commercial office programs for instance, are in many cases subject to export controls, as are many other seemingly commercial items having a potential dual use.

In addition to legal dangers, are those surrounding loss of proprietary advantage through sharp practice of intelligence gathering by competitors and even industrial espionage. Interestingly, a recent report out of U.K. placed France on equal standing with Russia as an intelligence threat, not for military secrets, but rather industrial espionage. Unfortunately, most companies believe that these threats only apply to military, space or ultra-high technology markets. Not so! Today, businesses in many run of mill industries are clearly at risk. Worse yet, many still do not realize it even after they have been stung. Business plans, customer lists, technology and other strategic assets can be lost or severely compromised without even knowing it until long afterward, if ever. Companies frequently wonder how their foreign competitors suddenly "got so smart" or why they "seem to know every move we make."

The timely delivery of vital information is one of most lucrative businesses you can have in this new millennium. I should know. I started one of most successful information brokerage businesses in country. I'm also perhaps world's most well known information broker, and I've made millions of dollars from doing it, and I'm going to show you how to easily do same.

Let me backtrack a little bit.

All my life I wanted to start my own business. I didn't care what it was - I just wanted to learn how to feed myself and not work for someone else. I even considered selling hot dogs on mall near Washington Monument. I just wanted to be my own boss. Sound familiar?

I had a string of failed businesses before I hit big time. It was while working as a computer administrator of a travel company that I learned something that changed my whole life.

The hot shots that ran company fascinated me. They were powerful individuals who discussed, negotiated and executed big deals all time. In order to get in on some of that wheeling and dealing, I'd hang around late at night when they had their meetings, and volunteer to get coffee and doughnuts, do Xeroxing -- do anything to try to learn how to be like them.

One day, they came into my office and asked me - not to get coffee - but to get information on how good or bad rental car business was. It seems they were considering making a bid to acquire Avis Rent-A-Car, and needed some good market information to go along with financial statements they were poring over. I, of course, said "Yes, yes, yes!" I was their "yes man," even though I knew nothing about rental car business and had no idea where I was going to get this information.

Well, I wanted to do this so badly I could almost taste it. This was one giant step up from coffee and Xeroxing that lucky people are offered once in a lifetime, and I didn't want to blow it. I saw myself as a young turk on way up ladder of success. But I didn't have a clue where to go for information.

I sat in my little office wondering if I could make grade. I sat there staring at my desk hoping something would pop into my head and give me magic answer. I stared at telephone and then picked it up thinking:

"Here I am in Washington D.C. needing to know about rental car business. Who can I call? Why not government? I pass all those big buildings everyday on way to work. Maybe someone there can help me."

Well, it worked! By starting with government information operator, I was able to work my way through a dozen more calls and referrals until I finally found an expert in rental car business. It turned out to be a man who used to be president of Hertz and was now in Washington - and bored out of his mind with his government job. He actually invited me to lunch so he could tell me everything he knew.

I was shocked!

I couldn't believe that in 45 minutes on telephone, I could locate a real expert who was willing to tell me everything I needed to know about rental car business. And, he even wanted to take me to lunch!

Afterwards, I was so excited about information I had just received that I burst into a meeting my boss was having with his hotshot merger and acquisition buddies. He was eager to hear everything I learned from my lunch right then and there.

They were blown away. They couldn't believe that a young turk like me, who didn't know anyone, could get such information that we had all assumed was privileged and confidential.

I got more excited about information I dug up on rental car business than with any program I ever wrote for company. I knew then that information was power. I also knew then that there was immense value in delivering timely information on demand.

I was hooked. I started a new business obtaining information for people on anything they needed. I became a consultant to people in merger and acquisition business, and I got all information they needed to make their business a success - information they were unable to find themselves.

This time, success finally happened. The business grew from just me, a telephone, and a desk in my one-bedroom apartment to over 30 employees and a million and a half dollars in sales in a little more than 3 years. Even after a string of failing businesses, I finally realized my first success, and I'll show how you can do it, too.

How to Create Money Out of Thin Air

What I learned early on is that you can literally take information that is free to obtain, but oftentimes hard for average person to find - turn around and sell it for big bucks. All it requires is a little resourcefulness, and knowledge of where to find information that is sellable.

There's nothing to it. These are only things you need: