JH> I think being self employed is the only way to go these days.
 If only he _knew_...!
 MF> A nice, short, loaded sentence.
"Loaded" it is !
Lemme see if I can help cock, aim and fire this soon-to-be "smokin'" gun...
Being `Self-Employed is NICE but only IF...
     You've got something that's truly _unique_ to offer...
     You can provide a service that's _needed_ in the Community...
     You're already `expert' and fully experienced with the service...
     You've got `Deep Pockets'...or solid government backing for when
         things are really slow...
     You're NOT hoping to become Filthy Rich in less than a year...
     You really and truly do _like_ dealing with strangers regularly...
     You personally know  the following _essential_ professional people:
         lawyer (to handle litigative mattters), accountant (preferrably
         one experienced in telling the Taxman a Red Lie...and not
         increasing your tax burden), medical doctor (to write the
         prescriptions for those `stay awake' and super-duper-throbbing-
         headache pills...without charge), cosmetic surgeon (to patch-up
         those big black eyebags around the eyes, and maybe a
         tummy-tuck for the Missus, for next-to-free), corporate writer
         (needed to `spin' company propaganda), AND...at least _one_ tax
         collector (to warn you - _ahead of time_ - when the Sherriff's
         Bailiff's are on their way with some kinda legal document that
         could effectively put the kaboosh on business). You may also
         want to know people in Real Estate, Insurance,`Head Hunting' and
         a psychiatrist ; you _already_ know your wife/girlfriend/mistress
         and the bar-keeper at the pub "down the way" very well...
     You already possess a `Love/Hate' relationship with the Taxman...
     You're absolutely _willing_ to `burn the candle at both ends' more
         times than you'd care to remember...
     You're enthralled with the idea of `wearing many hats'...sometimes
          all at once.
     You put Family _behind_ Clients for at least 5 years...
     You _never_ say "Never"... and believe that `The Customer is
         _always_ right' ...
     You _really_ like answering phone calls at all hours of the day...
Now then, being `self-employed' is GREAT but only IF...
     You've got no cash flow problems...
     You've not had to toss-off RRSP's, RESP's,  dividends on held
         stocks, interest on held Savings Bonds (or T-Bills), literally
         killed any retirement funds, or other securities or annuities...
     Your business is able to pay you _regular_ wages (from Day ONE onwards)
         from which you  are able to reap the benefits of a healthy
         disposable income...AFTER taxes, that is...
     Your Armeni (or Brooks Brothers) suits (and Gucci shoes) are _seriously_
          considered tax-deductible expenses by the Taxman...
     You can _afford_ university educations for each of your offsprings,
         current or past marriages notwithstanding...
And (of course) being `self-employed' is FABULOUS but only IF...
     Your `business trips' (in reality, `fanily vacations') can be made
         TOTALLY tax-deductible...without worries for the future...
     You still `own' control of the company even after you've diversified
         no less than seven times and taken it public...
     You can _readily_ afford:
         1.) The family mansion, the countryside cottage, your daughter's
             BMW Z3, your son's Ferrari Diablo, your own Volvo Turbo wagon,
             and the wife's "modest little" Jag...
         2.) The (bi-monthly)  wages for domestic staffs at the mansion and
             the cottage...
         3.) The "authorised repair shops'" billings (never mind the
             insurance - and licensing - tabs) for the Z3, Diablo, Volvo and
             Jag...separately or all at once...
         4.) The Winter trips to Vail, Europe, a Mid-Eastern country, Asia
             or the Carribean...
         5.) The _expense_ of your wife's "affairs of the heart" with every
             Latino man that comes into sight...
         6.) Your _own_ highly doubious "affairs of the heart" with the
             Secretary or every high-steppin' Parisian female that comes
             into sight...
         7.) Your daughter's "unwanted" pregnancies...
         8.) Your son's mid-term shifts between schools of higher 
ducation...
         9.) Anything and everything produced by Microsoft, IBM and DEC...at
             the times they are _first_ produced and marketed...
     You're asked to run for High Public Office (ie - Prime Minister or
         President) _without_ having to spend a red-cent of your own...
     You're asked to accept the award of a Pulitzer Prize for "Business
         Acumen" (who _needs_ an MBA from Harvard !?!)...
     You're _not_ ready - after 35 years of hard, daily toiling - to
         retire from the hustle and bustle of Business...
     You _honestly and truthfully_ BELIEVE that working harder will keep
         you away from your grave longer...
Mind you, there ARE _some_ negative aspects of being `self-employed', but do
I really need to spell any of these things out to someone who (obviously) has
such a fine sense of (and grasp for) what it's _really_ like to be `self-
employed' ? 
Semper Fi
RTP
~~~ PGPBLUE 3.0 
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