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Group admin:: GordonMiller
Created:: October 20, 2007
: 565 Members

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start your own business, home-based business, re-invent your career, work

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Posted: Jun 9, 08 8:21pm

Hi Group,

I am new to the site and wanted to introduce myself and wanted to see what this group is about. I have been a small business owner a few times in my life both in the service and manufacturing markets. I am currently working for a Fortune 500 company but am having a REAL hard time with the Corporate structure. I know I should feel blessed to have a job in todays crazy world, however that "entrepreneurial itch" is still there and am once again exploring a start up opportunity. Just curious if others have gone through the same?

Looking forward to joining the group...

bethe1

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Entreprenurial Spirit

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1 Comment // 2 Members

Cheri LaVelle

Posted: Jun 22, 08 7:28am

Hi Bethe1,

I too am new to this community. The itch that you mention is a great clue that you may need a change of some sort, not necessarily a business of your own, but a change. It is what I call "the winds of change". We run into these little signals many times in our lives. Hints that we are not satisfied in some phase of our lives. So I think you should listen to these hints and develop a sound plan of where you want to make changes and what your level of tolerance for risk is.

Take some time to reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. I make out a list of 5 actions at a time to use to progress to a new phase in my life. I am very careful about "the list" because once it's on my list I must do it!

It's a little game I play with myself that has helped me move forward in life. The changes can be both personal and professional, because all of these affect our inner happiness.

As far as business goes, here are some random thoughts to use as guides in business. These are gleaned from many years of studying business and are not original to me, they are nuggets I've picked up along the way.

A business one main purpose: To create a customer.

Everything else is necessary to accomplish that one goal of creating a customer: (Examples: products, services, marketing,sales,facility,utilities, book-keeping,taxes,employees, all the things necessary to create a customer). Without a customer there is no business.

An employee has one main purpose: to make the business money. (How many employees realize that?!)

No matter how much you love doing something: that is not a good reason to start a business. If you love doing something like arranging flowers- do it as a hobby in your off time.

A good reason to start a business is because there is a need for your product or service that is not being met. Your product or service will fill a void, solve a problem or add something yet undiscovered to the marketplace.

No matter how great your business idea is, it must make a profit to continue to exist. You are in it for the money, if you can't make money from it, then why do it?

I understand the concept of potential and start up but at some point, even IRS wants you to make a profit to continue to call it a business!

Cheri La Velle

writer-designer-publisher

Hi Bethe1, I too am new to this community. The itch that you mention is a great clue that you may need a change of some sort, not necessarily a business of your own, but a change. It is what I call "the winds of change". We run into these little signals many times in our lives. Hints that we are not satisfied in some phase of our lives. So I think you should listen to these hints and develop a sound plan of where you want to make changes and what your level of tolerance for risk is. Take some time to reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. I make out a list of 5 actions at a time to use to progress to a new phase in my life. I am very careful about "the list" because once it's on my list I must do it! It's a little game I play with myself that has helped me move forward in life. The changes can be both personal and professional, because all of these affect our inner happiness. As far as business goes, here are some random thoughts to use as guides in business. These are gleaned from many years of studying business and are not original to me, they are nuggets I've picked up along the way. A business one main purpose: To create a customer. Everything else is necessary to accomplish that one goal of creating a customer: (Examples: products, services, marketing,sales,facility,utilities, book-keeping,taxes,employees, all the things necessary to create a customer). Without a customer there is no business. An employee has one main purpose: to make the business money. (How many employees realize that?!) No matter how much you love doing something: that is not a good reason to start a business. If you love doing something like arranging flowers- do it as a hobby in your off time. A good reason to start a business is because there is a need for your product or service that is not being met. Your product or service will fill a void, solve a problem or add something yet undiscovered to the marketplace. No matter how great your business idea is, it must make a profit to continue to exist. You are in it for the money, if you can't make money from it, then why do it? I understand the concept of potential and start up but at some point, even IRS wants you to make a profit to continue to call it a business! Cheri La Velle writer-designer-publisher

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Posted: Jun 22, 08 7:28am

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Hi Bethe1, 
I too am new to this community. The itch that you mention is a great clue that you may need a change of some sort, not necessarily a business of your own, but a change. It is what I call "the winds of change". We run into these little signals many times in our lives. Hints that we are not satisfied in some phase of our lives. So I think you should listen to these hints and develop a sound plan of where you want to make changes and what your level of tolerance for risk is. 
Take some time to reflect on where you are now and where you want to go. I make out a list of 5 actions at a time to use to progress to a new phase in my life. I am very careful about "the list" because once it's on my list I must do it! 
It's a little game I play with myself that has helped me move forward in life. The changes can be both personal and professional, because all of these affect our inner happiness.

As far as business goes, here are some random thoughts to use as guides in business. These are gleaned from many years of studying business and are not original to me, they are nuggets I've picked up along the way.

A business one main purpose: To create a customer.
Everything else is necessary to accomplish that one goal of creating a customer: (Examples: products, services, marketing,sales,facility,utilities, book-keeping,taxes,employees, all the things necessary to create a customer). Without a customer there is no business.

An employee has one main purpose: to make the business money. (How many employees realize that?!)

No matter how much you love doing something: that is not a good reason to start a business. If you love doing something like arranging flowers- do it as a hobby in your off time.

A good reason to start a business is because there is a need for your product or service that is not being met. Your product or service will fill a void, solve a problem or add something yet undiscovered to the marketplace.

No matter how great your business idea is, it must make a profit to continue to exist. You are in it for the money, if you can't make money from it, then why do it?
I understand the concept of potential and start up but at some point, even IRS wants you to make a profit to continue to call it a business!

Cheri La Velle
writer-designer-publisher

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