Hi Zuki

My kind of man - I have believed for years that there should be some kind of federal law that said all Americans should be required to run their own business for at least 5 years.

I have been in business over 20 years. Like everyone else I had really big plans. My field requires higly skilled and motivated people to execute the work for the clients I work for. I run a remodeling/cabinetmaking/ service type operation. Oftentime my sales exceed $100k per project. After loosing hundreds of thousands over the years trying to train and retain skilled workers, I finally said to hell with them all about 6 years ago. And no, I did not go bankrupt. I paid evey penny I owned.

The very best advice I can give you is this.

Choose something that can be done by you and you alone with possibly the exception of 1 or 2 employees that you can very carefully watch. The United States is about to have its clock cleaned by much more dedicated and highly motivated workers in China. Easy living, drugs and a host of other crisis problems are seriously hampering the ability of American companies to continue with business as ususal.

Remember that if you are self employed, what that really means is that everyone in the country would have to FIRE you before you are out of work.

For the first few years you will most likey have very little time for family, hobbies, play or anything but building your business. IT will most likely take every cent you can come up with to sustain it and grow it the first few years. Go for the highest margins you possibly can. That takes real sales skill.

You will have much more free time if you keep it very small. IF you are service based, you will have much more income if you keep it very very small. I have been big and I have been small - SMALL IS BETTER.

You should remember that the really big companies will try to derive every cent of income from you that they can before you discover how dishonest they are. They depend on a constant turnover of startups that they can rape.

Sorry if this sounds pesimistic but it is the way it really is. You will quicky develop the optimisic attitude that says - anything that can go wrong - will.

I am keenly aware that the only reason I have survived in business all these years is because many years ago I turned it over to GOD. Somehow he always works it out and evens the score. I don't know how or why.

I wish you the very best.

Danny



[This message has been edited by pianodano (edited 08-21-2005).]