Trials Of Starting A New Business-Part 1
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With the economy as it is the thought of starting a new business has crossed the mind of more than one of us. In fact it has probably crossed the mind of almost everyone who has had a bad day at work, watched a fellow employee lose his job or had their hours cut. The problem is that no matter what we may believe about the jobs we hold as being “ours”; in fact they belong to our employers and as such they control the most basic aspect of our lives, the ability to earn a reliable living. It always wasn’t so, in fact until the industrial revolution most people in this nation worked for themselves, usually on small farms or in the shops that they owned. Yes, we had employers, but the vast majority of the population made a living on their own using the brains that God gave them. Unfortunately, during the last few decades, we have all become accustomed to the “golden age” in which we live with readily available jobs that left our wits withering in the wind. Yet, with the last paradigm shift in our economy, or as our esteemed economists refer to it, “the jobless recovery”, we no longer can let us or our wits wither any further. To do so, would leave us at the mercy of our politicians to legislate a policy of theft from those who produce a surplus leaving us no better than the cattle of the local farm. Livestock that is to be slaughtered or fattened depending upon the needs of the farmer. So as I found myself entering the Christmas season, I discovered that my hours from my employer of several years no longer available, in fact they had been cut in half leaving me with the need to generate a plan of survival for myself and family for the new year.
To begin with, my family and I have always lived below our means, doing things to stretch our dollars and invest in the future. The good news, that other than the house we lived in and our rental properties, we have no debt, a situation few in this nation enjoy. So not being pressed to find an immediate source of income, we decided that we needed to branch out and build upon what we had started and build a business of our own that would allow us to control our destiny well into the future. I know I am not the first to say that I will start a business, and in fact other members of my family gave me that “look”, you know that look where they are wanting to say that you’re crazy, but out of politeness, refrain from doing so. So the search began, what business could I do within the limitations that we had at hand?
To begin with I have always be able to work well with others, but in fact I am not a person who plays well with others and if given the choice, would rather work alone if at all possible. Second, though we had no debt, we weren’t flush with cash and as such any new business opportunity would require either a low start up cost or none at all. Third, the company I would start would have to allow for my advanced age and as such must be either one with low physical requirements or none at all. With these three requirements, the first that came to mind was one of mowing the lawns of those around me. Furthermore, we have a rather high-end community nearby that consists of people with 2nd homes or were retired with good incomes. After consulting with the Boss of the family, (read wife), it was explained that some mowing would be acceptable, but by no means was it to be the direction of where the business was to go. Apparently, my dropping dead of a heart attack in the summer sun of South Georgia was not an acceptable idea to my wife. Thus after much deliberation, we came to the conclusion that something that allowed me to earn a modest living, but gave me the chance to stay indoors most of the year was the best option. So with an idea in mind, we began our first steps towards financial independence! Wait! What was the idea? Well you will just have to wait for part 2 to learn that!
Enjoy!
