[TriLUG] Starting / Running a business???

[Jay Barrett]

Well I'm on my 6th start-up and I would be willing
to share war stories as well. And yes I have drank 
the kool-aid of large companies as well, so I can
tell you why the grass is brown on both sides of the
fence.

I would strongly suggest thinking about the following:
	1. Really understand WHY you want to do this,
	   hopefully it is a religious undertaking and
	   not trying to escape something.
	2. Understand that no matter what you are going
	   to do it centers around SELLING - that is
	   selling yourself first and then your business
	   and if you are uncomfortable with this, reconsider
	   or find a way to get comfortable (get a pt job 
	   selling something you don't know anything about)
	3. Plan, plan and make sure those closest to you
	   know the plan (spouses often only get the
	   sunshine part of the plan and there are going to
	   be rainy days), don't forget the contingency plan.
	4. Make a budget and multiply it times 2.5 and make
	   sure that you (and your family) can are willing to
	   afford that amount. 
	5. Stop going to Starbucks.
	6. Everything that requires working with another
	   person will take 2-3X longer than you think,
	   especially selling. Make sure that you are
	   planning you budget and time to allow for at least
	   33% of you time to be selling, of course it will
	   be 133% initially.
	7. If you work at a large company with instant brand
	   recognition that opens doors, forget it. Nobody
	   knows who YOU are or could care the less. Do you
	   have the resolve and creativity to overcome obstacles?
	8. Try to secure business before you step out (beware
	   of ethical issues), it is easier to leverage a
	   quality client into new business than to start
	   from scratch.
	9. Network and be networked. People help people that 
	   help them, so initially make more investment. Do what
	   you do best and then find others to help, even if you
	   have to pay them real $$. What is your network like?
	10.Until you have cash in hand the job is only partially
	   done.

I have been on the roller coaster for some time and it 
can be a fun ride, but you have to be a person of action
and willing to move mountains to find success. Know going into
this that you will learn about yourself, the good, the bad and
the ugly. And that failure may happen despite everything and
as long as you learn from it that's OK because it will make
future successes even better. Anyways I will quit rambling
for now, count me in for lunch or something as long as it 
is not Starbucks.

Regards,
Jay

www.skyboxx.com