Wow has this thread ever changed. It went from Maximus on Solaris to our
personal lives heh.  Luckily there is no moderator in this echo. 


 ML> Sounds more like a dilemma to me.

 ML> If you want to start a business, you need to form a business plan. 

 ML> You should be toying with a plan right now. 

I have had many ideas for years and been building up skills on how to
operate a software company effectively.  I don't have a product idea, and
the only niche market skill I have would put me in compitition with my
current employer.  At this time, the only way I can see myself running a
software company is freelance work.  I have recently met a number of
freelance developers.  Some years they make more money than I do in 4-5
years!  Other years it is not so good.  I think I'm going to stick with my
present employer as long as there is a job for me.  When I'm done working
there, I may try freelance work for 6 months and see how it goes.  I don't
think I can do freelance work while I have a full time job, because
freelance work is also a full time job. 

 RdL> Are you speaking from experience?

 ML> When I was 10, my parents started a hot bread shop. 
...

Wow, I really can't say that I understand what that is like.  I'm happy to
see that you have done well for yourself and will hopefully be able to
retire young. I can relate to your story about being conned out of money
for those rims... except in my case I was so stupid I cashed a really big
check (thousands of dollars) when I was in my late teens, his check bounced
and he dissappeared.  I had to get a lawyer and have him repay me over a
period of years.  He paid back only a fraction, then stopped. I have no
idea where he is now.  I am really cautious with my money now. 

Not every business will succeed or pay well, such as your parent's hot
bread shop or your hot dog stand.  But there are small business owners who
do succeed and love what they do.  My boss for example.  He used to run a
motorcycle repair shop when he was younger and was able to fix a certain
kind of part that all other shops would replace.  People from all over the
country were shipping their broken part to him for repair, and he did very
well.  Later he bought an apartment building, and other commercial real
estate. He and his brother became the largest commercial real estate owners
in the town.  He worked other jobs such as construction, and eventually had
an idea for a software product.  He started this company and grew it over
the last 10 years.  His idea was a hit and is sold internationally. He owns
two airplanes, motorcycles, and has done very well for himself.  He once
told me that he retired at 29, bought a huge house on a private island (I
think) and lived there for 30 days. He got bored, sold it all and went back
into business. He must be the type that loves to work.

A number of people in my family have started and successfully operate
businesses.  Grandpa owned a hotel, uncle runs a large textile embroydery
shop, aunt owns an antiques store, dad is the exclusive north american
distributor for steam showers from a company in China, etc.. As far as I
know they are are doing well.

I have seen small businesses from a different point of view.  Those with
good ideas (that people want), with a plan, and who know how to operate the
business CAN do well.  I don't expect to start a successful software
company without a plan. I have been preparing myself for this since I was
12.  Every job I've had, every book I've read, every course I've taken,
every conference I go to, etc... is all to ready myself for the day I'm
ready. Who knows, the boss may want to retire one day and maybe I'll end up
running the place. 


 ML> Me. I open up a trading forum on the web with my 
 ML> browser, find out which stocks are the most talked 
 ML> about in the last 5 hrs and I run after them. 
 ML> http://www.hotcopper.com.au. Research is overrated. 
 ML> Except when trading futures markets, which I typically 
 ML> do well adhering to the insto's advice.

I think you have convinced me to focus my attention on stocks a lot more. 
My dad is always pushing me to be more active with my investments and I've
always said that I don't have time to keep on top of the stock market like
he does.  Maybe it's not so time consuming after all. 


Thanks,
Ryan


 

--- Maximus 3.01