On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:22:17 +0000, Scott Jensen wrote:
> Sohail Somani <soh...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> Scott Jensen wrote:
>> The concept is sound.
>
> You should get more than yourself to make that evaluation. You're very
> likely too close to be objective.
Yes, I did get some feedback, although not enough, in hindsight. The main
issue was how marketing was going to work. I am interested in letting
Google do the work for me with a mixture of so-called thought leader****p.
[snip]
> Control is NOT a good reason to start a business. In fact, as your
> business grows you will continuously lose control over it as you have to
> delegate more and more jobs and duties to others.
Understood. Making more money is why I want to start a business. I would
actually be very happy to delegate work so long as I was still getting
lots of $$$.
[snip]
> What are you worrying about?
Mostly about whether it is going to work!
[snip]
>> I don't recall ever saying that I've spent a year working on this. If I
>> did, I was lying!
>
> To quote one of your December 29th posts:
>
> "I have actually read the E-myth. Behind me is a full-year wall calendar
> where I tick off each day where I address..."
Oh! The calendar is a full-year calendar, but I have only got it about 4
weeks ago :-)
>> As far as business plans go, I think their worth is in making you think
>> things through, rather than actually following them to the letter.
>> Would you agree or disagree?
[snip]
> Putting everything down on paper in a
> business plan is the most im****tant thing a wannabe entrepreneur can do.
> When they have gotten it down as well as they can, they can then show
> it to others for input.
"Sharing your ideas is a good idea" seems to be the crux of your
statement here?
[snip]
> I will post my standard advice
> for wannabe entrepreneurs at the end of this post. It is long so get a
> cup of coffee before starting to read it. It is also and has always
> been a do***ent in development. I am always fine-tuning it. Reading it
> through today, I realize points I need to address in it that I needed to
> address with you. :-)
Happy to help(?) :-)
>> >> Even if it is easier to renegotiate, the long-term is still worse.
>>
>> > No, the long-term will be more secure. Starting your own business is
>> > anything but secure.
>>
>> Well with low risk comes low reward. I think that is the bottom line.
>
> Not always. I know of a lot of businesses that started without taking a
> single risk and haven't really ever taken a risk. Many of them are
> highly profitable. As a business owner, you always should be trying to
> reduce your risks as much as possible.
Yes, I should hope that I can get away with no risk. Can you tell me what
these businesses did?
>> > You need people skills to make a business succeed. I know that is
>> > hard to believe as a Technician, but it is nevertheless true.
>>
>> Could you please point out to me where/when these skills are needed?
>> That way I can determine how I have done when these are needed.
>
> I would then need to know a great deal about your business to do so.
> That you cannot think where people skills are needed in your future
> business should be a major red flag for you.
You are right. Of course I do know when they are needed for myself but
was just curious about if you had any general ideas. I guess it is a
stupid question!
[snip]
>> Anything is possible, but plan for the worst and expect the best is
>> what I'm told.
>
> Plan for what can be expected, make contingency plans for the worst, and
> hope for the best without giving that hope time to put down roots in
> your head. Be realistic! Always be realistic. It is probably the
> hardest thing for a wannabe entrepreneur to be but that even more the
> reason why they need to be it.
Is an example of managing these something like:
* Expected number of new customers/month: 100 => Do XYZ
* Worst case: 0 customers/month => Crap, do ABC
[snip]
> Plans should be flexible, not fluid. They should be step-by-step in
> nature. That's what "short-term objectives" and "long-term objectives"
> in business plan are essentially. The steps you think you will need to
> take to make your business a success.
So you are saying that rejigging of the steps is normal but rewriting the
steps to go a different direction is probably bad?
> As for marketing, it will be
> crucial to your business' success. If you cannot get a marketer to join
> you in your venture (which, for you, would probably be ideal), you need
> to devote a lot of thought time to this. And then after you do, you
> need to run it past an experienced marketer in the industry you want to
> get into and hear what he thinks of your marketing plan.
Fortunately, people who have known me in previous lives are interested.
[snip]
> No, what I am saying is the majority of the reasons why you say you want
> to start a business can be better achieved by being an employee and
> either re-negotiating your job contract and/or hunting for a better job.
But at the end I'm still working... That is the thing I want eventually
more than anything. Is to work hard now so that I can let my money pile
later without having to do much work. Is that wrong? Maybe it hasn't come
across to you but you are helping the truth come out...
[snip]
> What most Technicians who dream of being Entrepreneurs want. Blind
> encouragement.
But wouldn't I just ignore you as a troll otherwise? I think I would...
>> > But you're not showing this thread those mindsets. All I see is a
>> > Technician.
>>
>> I won't disagree that is a large ****tion of me. But I am training the
>> other personalities.
>
> I do see that you are making some headway in this. I am just not sure
> it will be enough nor do am I sure you can cut off what still clings.
How do you mean "what still clings?"
>> >> > Think about it.
>> >>
>> >> Well your mind is made up!
>> >
>> > And your mind seems closed. Take a deep breath. Relax. Lower your
>> > defenses. You're getting free advice from an experienced pro. This
>> > isn't a fight. Contrary to what you're probably thinking, I am
>> > actually trying to help you. Right now, I see your two biggest
>> > problems going into business as wrong reasons and wrong mindset. I
>> > am trying to get you to see that. Those two things can be changed IF
>> > you see them for what they are. They are not your only problems but
>> > they are your biggest.
>>
>> To be honest, I thought you were just having a good time until I read
>> this paragraph. I very much appreciate your thoughts and I can tell
>> that there is sweat and blood behind it. I apologize if I was
>> close-minded.
>
> Let us just say your lip was securely fastened. ;-) However, I do see
> you trying to crack it open. That's an improvement. You still got a
> long ways to go but you're not hopeless. If you were, I would have
> stopped replying a while ago. That you engaged me and didn't just
> attack meant I could reason with you. That a rarity in these
> newsgroups. Oh, by the way, your original post was more appropriate for
> misc.business.marketing.moderated newsgroup. When you want to start up
> another marketing thread, I would suggest you do so in that newsgroup.
Thanks :-) I'll make a note of it for next time.
> Now for my standard advice for wannabe entrepreneurs.
Wow! I'll have to read this carefully (haven't yet!)
[snip]
Thanks again for your time. Have a great new year.
--
Sohail Somani
http://uint32t.blogspot.com
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