Unless you are prepared to sacrifice at least a minimum of three years of your life, between 12 - 18 hours per day, every day. Unless your family is prepared to provide you with support, go without a husband and father, or wife and mother, forgo family holidays, get-togethers and birthdays for the growth period of your business, then ...FORGET IT! Business is not for you.

If you are not prepared to get up on a wet and windy morning at the crack of dawn to attend a networking breakfast or to go out in the evening in the cold to attend another networking evening when everyone else is settling down in front of the TV. If you are not prepared to sink many thousands of dollars into something that has no guarantees, no assurance that it will work, no retirement nest egg then business is not for you... FIND A JOB!

If I sound hard and cynical then talk to people who have experienced the reality of a failed business, the devastation of losing everything, house, car, and family and at the extreme end of the line, even their life.

BUT!....If you have an adventurous spirit and a desire to succeed, and the patience, determination and courage to strive for the very top of the tree then we welcome you with open arms, you are not alone.

For there are many of us out there that swim in shark infested waters to achieve what we know in our hearts is the ultimate goal.... - TO SUCCEED IN OUR OWN BUSINESS. We are the entrepreneurs, the leaders and the goal seekers. Our success is not determined by how much we earn, or how much we produce, our success is measure by the gleam in our eyes, our sense of self worth, and the never-ending bouts of energy that carry us forever forward in our quest to own a successful business.

What makes us different? What is that special something that pushes us on?

Our success is that WE BELIEVE beyond a shadow of doubt that we have something special to offer the world, we have the means to make someone else's life just that little bit richer. We fear but are not afraid of change. We recognize our own imperfections and look to learn from them. We are prepared to step outside of our comfort zones, to face the unknown and conquer it. We are not afraid to ask for help because we know that it is human to stumble along the way... and we in turn are prepared to help others. We, the entrepreneurs, expect much of ourselves and those around us, but we also have compassion and understanding for those who have chosen a different route.

If, after all this, you are still determined to start out in a new business, then I would like to offer you this advice. Learn as much as you can BEFORE you make the final decision. Talk to as many people as you can. Don't be afraid to approach your competition, as they, at times, can be your greatest allies. Pay for expertise, the professionals wouldn't be there if they didn't have something to offer. Finally, value yourself and what you have to offer, for if you don't , who will? And - GOOD LUCK