For Business SUCCESS... Listen To The Voices of Experience

Discover the pitfalls of owning your own business BEFORE... [you make a BAD choice!]

It's really BIG dollars rather than dimes... at least that's my experience over many years. Thousands can be GONE quickly if you fail to plan and work your plan toward success. That said, the first step - baby size - should be at the 'feet' of one who has been there... done it!!

Invincible, right? If anyone can do it, I can!! Looking back over many years - 40 plus - it's written all over the decisions made during my early attempts at starting a new business. Yes, I spent most of my career as an entrepreneur, owning or co-owning a business. Sometimes for the 'right' reasons, at other times it turned 'south' and belly-up.

At the time it didn't seem like much... my first venture out of business college. 'Excited' to say the least. 21 years old, eager, energized, 'ready to roll' was more like it. NOTHING could go wrong, but it surely did. Somebody [I won't call any names] sold us a bill of goods. Just beware, everyone is NOT truthful or trustworthy in business.

You need to know... that goes for Internet gurus too. Lots of hype but not much substance is often the case. Unfortunately, distance keeps you at arms-length long after your money is gone. It's different when you have no personal [in the flesh] contact... you're usually thousands of miles apart and most often it's NO answer when you call.

Just be careful or your funds can/will be depleted in a flash. Been there - done that, too.

On the contrary, there is that 1% +/- group of Internet gurus as honest and trustworthy as you'll find anywhere. It's like ALL business dealings with homeowners - business owners - it pays to KNOW the reputation of the person and source in advance of spending your cash.

ONE MORE TIME --

Lots of stuff happened... for 5 great years, I had a wonderful BOSS who was supportive to the utmost. Held an Administrative Executive spot on the management team; super staff personnel; private office; in the days when a good cigar was A-OK [those were the days!] Today, it's beyond belief but times do change, sometimes for a cleaner office environment.

Anyway, the spark ignited again... about 6 months later, it was NOT called the 'spark', but the 'torch' or a "call to disaster" - the beginning of a sad downhill slide without a parachute. This time I had a bride and 2 sons who required food and shelter... an added challenge for sure. We made it, but certainly not on easy street as we had planned earlier.

WHAT'S THE POINT?

NOT having a REALLY good reason to start a business should be warning enough - DON'T do it!! Unfortunately, some of us think owning a business is the only way to hit the BIG time... fast cars, big houses, big income. For us it did turn out OK in the end, but many of our challenges could have been missed simply by being more patient and having a mentor team prior to our stepping off into deep water to sink or swim.

Statistics? About 90% of business 'starts' end in failure. Why? Either it's a lack of financial support; no business knowledge; no skills or talent; and you can add your own list to mine. Doesn't really matter except when it's YOUR money; your time; your family; your future; just another statistic.

My pre-retirement business venture lasted 25 years and I highly recommend the entrepreneurial lifestyle... however, ONLY if you can discover something that you'll enjoy and love doing everyday rather than thinking it's all about making lots of money. The money will come if you're doing what God has intended for you to do.

In closing, you may enjoy reading a letter recently received from Ken McArthur, an internet friend of mine who discovered an exceptional insight about business owners from Mark Joyner, likely the most successful internet guru of the decade.

To give you some idea about Mark and his expertise... other executives pay him $2,000 an hour to consult with them on how to grow their business.

Here's the link to Ken's letter: http://www.learningfolder.com/mark3.htm that I wanted to share with you for your perusal.

Don Monteith writes from experiences learned in the staffing business during his 32 years as a business owner. You'll want to check out his career path website with lots of FREE ideas to discover your dream job or new business venture.

http://www.Career-Coaching-Central.com

In The News:


Entrepreneurism Has Drawbacks Too
Forbes, NY - Sep 1, 2008
Entrepreneurialism is fundamental to capitalist development, economic growth and renewal. However, some innovations created by entrepreneurial activity can ...

How to Access Your Inner Entrepreneur
Law.com (subscription), CA - Sep 5, 2008
Develop agreement among your leaders that entrepreneurialism should be encouraged. Provide necessary time, people, funding and rewards to prove this ...

Entrepreneurialism And The Dwarf House
Corsavoo.com, France - Aug 25, 2008
To become an entrepreneur is enjoyable when you have a passion for a business idea you are passionate about. However, if you have to become an entrepreneur ...

Times Online

James Dallas: 'Dubai is like Hong Kong in the 80s'
Times Online, UK - Sep 2, 2008
What’s always stood out is this almost tangible sense of energy and entrepreneurialism. Every month brings new people and projects, so there’sa constant ...

Ernst & Young recognizes Robert H. Lee as entrepreneurial maverick
Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada - Sep 4, 2008
He personifies entrepreneurialism at its finest." With the start of The Prospero Group in 1979, Robert began what would soon become a leading enterprise in ...
Ernst & Young recognizes entrepreneurial maverick in Atlantic Canada Canada NewsWire (press release)
all 2 news articles

EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
Barron's - 6 hours ago
... because they started their successful journeys so long ago: Free-enterprise capitalism, embodied in entrepreneurialism, is all about the little guy. ...

The Entire D6 Interview With Sony’s Sir Howard Stringer (3 of 4)
All Things D Blogs, CA - Sep 4, 2008
... Ericsson cell phones and takes questions from the audience about YouTube and maintaining innovation and entrepreneurialism at a huge multinational company.

City’s jewel must retain its unique lustre
Birmingham Post, UK - Sep 2, 2008
... to secure World Heritage status on the grounds that it remains a working example of the entrepreneurialism that made Birmingham a global trading power. ...
Rising rents push Jewellery Quarter traditions to brink Birmingham Post
all 5 news articles

BBC News

City company builds new global HQ
BBC News, UK - Aug 27, 2008
"The company represents the very best in Scottish entrepreneurialism - nurturing a good idea, combined with a passionate belief in what they are offering, ...

An Education on Higher Education for the Next President
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) - 4 hours ago
This is not to say that community-college leaders should not also work toward efficiencies and entrepreneurialism in attracting resources. ...
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