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Starting Your First Business — Preface  Starting your own business can be exciting, but it can also be intimidating. You want the freedom that can come with owning your own business, but you question your ability to make it. You’re tired of working for someone else, yet you’re afraid to go out on your own.I can understand where you’re coming from. I started my own business in 1997 and am proud to say that I am still in business today. There have been a lot of ups and some downs over the years, but it has been a very rewarding experience. I love the freedom and flexibility that owning my own business gives me. I am not your typical entrepreneur. I had never planned to start my own business. I always thought I would work for someone else. However, when a change in my job situation occurred and an opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance to start my own trade publication for the industry in which I was working. And jump I did because, due to unusual circumstances, I had to make the decision to start my own business in only two weeks! While I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone else, I was able to make it work because I was confident in my abilities and I had experience with how a small business is run. What does this have to do with this book? Well, I learned how to run a small business from the author, Jim Sapp. He was my boss for over eight years. Had I not worked for him and gained valuable experience during those years, I wouldn’t have had the skills nor would I have had the courage to start my own business. Most people who work for someone else do not have the opportunity to learn all of the inner workings of the company.You likely only see one department or one area of the business. You probably did not have a role model to follow and learn from. You may think you know what it takes to start and run your own business, but you really need some advice to make sure you do it right. I was fortunate to work for a growing organization and to work for someone who believed in making his staff a part of the business. While working for Jim, I was exposed to all aspects of a small business because I started when the company was only three years old. I learned how to do a variety of tasks including how to deal with customers and employees, how payables and receivables work, how to do payroll, how to manage multiple bank accounts, how to set up different types of companies, and how to develop a business plan. From the description of all of those duties, you’ll probably not be able to guess what my actual job was—I was hired as the Marketing Director for the company. While I did do the advertising and marketing for the organization, I also had the opportunity to do a variety of tasks, and that gave me the chance to really learn about what it takes to run a small business. That exposure and experience are what enabled me to know what to do when I started my own business. You now have an opportunity to learn from Jim like I did by reading this book. Jim knows and understands small business. He’s been there and you, too, can learn from his successes and his mistakes. Jim is a true risk taker, something I admittedly am not; however, he gave me the tools necessary to be successful, and this book will do the same for you. As an editor/publisher of a trade magazine, I am constantly encouraging my readers to be proactive and to think and plan ahead in order to succeed. By purchasing this book, you’ve taken the first step in planning for your new business. Now it’s time to read and learn from someone who has done it—not just once, but many times—and who is candid in sharing his experiences with you. Running a business is not easy; it takes a lot of time, effort, and hard work. This book gives you a realistic picture of what to expect when starting and running your own business. Jim gives you the tools necessary to get your small business started and make it work. The freedom and flexibility of running your own company is possible, but only you can make a reality. Let Jim help you realize your dreams. Marcy A. Watson Publisher/Editor, ASO Magazine April 2004 |