| It is very important before you go on | | | | lottery winners who win 20 million |
| your own to weigh all the alternatives | | | | dollars or more. They wind up being |
| relating to starting a small business. | | | | hated by their families and friends and |
| Having a detailed concrete plan before | | | | wind up always having to worry about |
| you start is an absolute must. | | | | their money. |
| Here are some of the things the Concrete | | | | You are going to be much happier doing |
| Plan should consider: | | | | something you love. If you don't, you |
| Why? Do you want to start a small | | | | are going to regret it at some point in |
| business? | | | | your life. So you won't drive a Rolls |
| There are only 2 reasons to want to | | | | but a Volkswagen, but you'll be happy in |
| start a business: the first one is | | | | the Volkswagen. |
| because you have to, and the second one | | | | Am I willing to make the sacrifice. |
| because you'd love to. | | | | There is always a price to pay for |
| Because you have to; again there are | | | | something you like. But be assured that |
| different shades of "having to". | | | | what initially seems like a sacrifice |
| Maybe you got laid off or were | | | | will turn into a life more wonderful |
| downsized? | | | | than you can imagine. |
| Maybe you can't find a job in the town | | | | My family If you are happy doing |
| you live in; how about moving to a place | | | | something you like, you'll be in a lot |
| where there are jobs? | | | | better mood and your family as a result |
| Maybe you have physical disabilities; | | | | will like you better. If they like you |
| again, some businesses specialize in | | | | better you'll also feel better. So now |
| hiring people with physical | | | | we have a feel better loop reinforcing |
| disabilities. | | | | itself all the time. |
| Maybe you are too old; in some places 50 | | | | What if things don't work out; then you |
| is too old to get hired. | | | | try something else. What if that does |
| But you can always get a job somewhere | | | | not work either? Then you try something |
| else as a security guard in the mall. | | | | else. What if... Etc. You are not going |
| Because you'd love to; for whatever | | | | to run out of things to do. |
| reason. | | | | Do I need additional skills; Probably. |
| Opportunities to start on your own are | | | | And getting these additional skills is |
| infinite only limited by your | | | | lots of fun in itself. |
| imagination. | | | | With the Internet you can get an MBA in |
| You can start a physical business with | | | | no time. |
| real people, inventories, skills, | | | | Think about how much better you'll feel |
| services, clients, receivables and | | | | about yourself when you realize you |
| payables. | | | | learned something useful.And you can do |
| This physical business will succeed best | | | | this time and time again in little |
| if you do what you know or like best. | | | | steps. |
| If you don't want a physical business | | | | After the Concrete Plan: Set a definite |
| make your money on the Internet. | | | | starting date with goals and goalposts |
| With the 1 billion potential clients for | | | | in the foreseeable future and then |
| your idea on the Web eventually you'll | | | | diligently work towards these goalposts. |
| find a way to make the idea pay. | | | | You'll see that things get better with |
| Knowing something or liking something is | | | | the reaching of each goalpost. They |
| of course not the same thing. | | | | reinforce each other. |
| You may know accounting and may hate it. | | | | Motivation Getting up in the morning |
| You may not know how to write a book but | | | | will be hard some days. Just put your |
| may love the idea. | | | | hand on the floor to push yourself out |
| So you know you can make money as an | | | | of bed. Once you are actually working |
| accountant but you don't know if you can | | | | you'll find lots of enjoyable things |
| make money as a writer. | | | | during the day. |
| What should you do? | | | | Getting Discouraged everybody gets |
| It seems that you should try it as a | | | | discouraged. When this happens to you |
| writer. | | | | just say: "Everybody gets discouraged" |
| What have you got to lose? | | | | and understand it is part of the human |
| Yes, but you have no money, so how can | | | | condition. |
| you survive until you become successful? | | | | Go do something enjoyable, something |
| If you enjoy what you are doing the | | | | that will cheer you up. Then go back |
| money will come automatically. | | | | slowly to the activity that got you |
| Money Most of the world's richest people | | | | discouraged. It will fix itself. |
| are unhappy. Or think about the mega | | | | |