Really interesting reply SC. 

Congratulations regarding the construction business. What type of construction did you used to do?

I agree with your philosophy about working for yourself. I worked as an employee for 6 or so months and then took the plunge straight into business on my own, so I have that sort of entrepreneurial and risk taking mentality.

I also think that many of the x and y generation are similiar thinking in this regard. We have our seen our parents from the baby boomers generation work extremely hard as an employee only to see them being fired by new management, with a less than golden handshake. So we have thought "No way am I going to let this happen to me". It is amazing how what happens to our parents generation, affects our life philosophy.

Interested also to hear your philosophy and negative experiences of taking friends or partners into your business. I was lucky in a sense that I became business partners with a guy 15 years older with me(business partners only haha)for one business, and our different skill sets and experiences seemed to compliment each other. I didn't have any major negative experiences although I sold out my share to him a couple of years ago, and are still negotiating the payment date. Business partnerships are never peaches and cream all the time.

I certainly don't envy you. Running a construction company can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I like the idea of hiring for a percentage of profit. The crew probably needs less motivating that way.

BTW, I think you're right about partners and friends too. It's sad to say, but you should never hire anyone you're not willing to fire if you have to. I've also seen a lot more dysfunctional companies run by partners than functional ones.






Myself, I've never really started a business. I used to make and sell some instruments (mainly drums and didgereedoos). More for fun than money though, and I'm not sure how much of a business you could call it. I used to cut grass and shovel snow a lot as a kid, but that doesn't really qualify as a business (although I did make some business cards at one point).

With the help of my husband (we work 50/50), we have a thing on eBay. Though it's not an actual business, we run it like one and it's more lucrative than anything else I could be doing from home. Eventually we do want to start our own business, but it's going to be a while. I'm also a fan of business on the internet rather than owning an actual storefront location, because of the rent and the clientele. I often wonder how some mom and pop businesses make it when it looks like no one ever goes in, how do they pay the rent on their business let alone their own mortgage?

IHU, the good thing with you though, is that you have specialised skills and talents, that enable you to go solo and set up your business whenever you feel like it.  So, you always have the option to become self employed whenever you want. It is a big advantage.

BTW, it is interesting that you make digeredoo's. Can you play them? I love the sound they make, but never tried playing one.

I went with the classic lemonade stand. It's perfect when you have a neighborhood garage sale going on .

On another note, my father has successfully created two businesses (sold one off and is on his second one).

Movies or technology dealing with the movie business.

My daughter who is 16 was looking to get a job.  Maybe a clerk at the CVS pharm.

Then she thought, I can paint anime, I can do websites, and I am learning from my animation class in school.  So she is going into business helping set up websites.