I have found the key to success in business is to make sure that customers have a reason to do business with me, rather than with someone else.

Choosing your contracts and associations with top notch people might be the hardest in these early days of your journey. Be certain of their character as you are of yours. A bad choice in these early days might leave you hanging with contracts to fill that someone else got paid for or worse yet, you might get hauled into court because somebody didn't do their job right and you have to explain (and defend) your part of a job you got paid a pittance for.

Standing on a solid foundation of quality in every aspect of you business will set you apart from the rest.

well it has been a few weeks, I have had some success. I was able to get 4 jobs, and might have a fith . certainly not enough to live off, but a step in the right direction.

I am finding it hader then I thought, mostly because of people issues. some of the people I was going to use, aren't able to help me now.

Oddly, the company that I parted ways with (regeratbly on what I felt was very bad terms) called me yesterday to talk about contracting for them.....

anyway , I am goign to try to find a way to keep my own company going even, if I end up working for someoen else. We will see though.

Kev.

Of course Money is tight... it's a new business! If you have faith in yourself and your product, and give people real value for their real money, you will be OK. You may even become wealthy beyond your wildist imagination. Sometimes having to pull the occasional all nighter or a string of 18 hour days to meet deadline sucks, but when you look at what you accomplish, there's NOTHING like being able to say, with pride in your voice (and dollars in the fist)...
"I did THAT!"

Soooo.... its been 3 weeks - any revelations? Success stories? Enquiting enterpreneuers want to know!!!

Congrats kevinem. My wife started a business selling body wraps just under a year ago and it has been slow growing, but growing nonetheless! If you have something people want, then all you have to do is deliver what you promise. Keep up the good work and good things will happen.

Welcome to the business world. Outside of gummint regulations, the water's fine. I have been in business for many years. I wish I could say one did it all but that's just not the way it happened. Some have been successful and some have failed. But every time I tried, I learned. It's OK to make mistakes but keep doing it. R. Buckminster Fuller was a failure before he found success. He bought an insurance policy for his family and was going to kill himself by jumping off a bridge. While he was standing on the bridge he gave himself one last chance to survive. If he couldn't find something to do or think his way out of his dilemma, he was going to jump. He went on to invent the geodesic dome, the Concept of Synergy and developed a whole line of thinking called Dymaxion. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the modern age. Every time he found himself in trouble, he would assume his metaphorical "Think or Jump" mental position just like he did on the bridge and soon an answer would emerge that would solve the problem. When you find your back against the wall, which you will in business, try to remember this. When all around you seems like disaster, this idea may help. You never know. But stick to it and you will find your market.

Congratulation. And good luck.

Good luck Kevin. And, congrats on taking the leap.

Congrats! It is always nice to see news like this. People talk about the going on strike part. But, its the doing something for yourself part that I am more interested in. Granted, going on strike will eventually be doing something for yourself. In the meantime its nice to see that people are taking the plunge. I will bee doing my LLC paperwork in a few months ( I have a lot of code to write yet. ) In the meantime a buddy of mine just announced his fruit wine company.

congratulations to you as well, irose. let us know when you launch. good luck.

good luck with your new business kevin. That realtor will remember the rush job you dis and give you referrals. what city are you in?