Full Time, Part time?

[john_r]

Hi Paco,
Thanks for you reply.
I agree on the stress...I guess at least the stress will be different. I fail or suceed on my own merits. Being pitted against my own co-workers is one of the biggest stresses at work right now. It's so bad I'm ready to resign with no other job...I've never done that in my 35 years on this planet.
As far as the guitar, I play guitar, classical and flamenco. I have thought about making custom foot rests or guitar stands, but marketing seems to be a stumbling point. Also it's a small market. I have some other unique ideas that maybe marketable. I just don't how to get it to market...cold calling isn't one of my specialties. I have thought different customers that I could help, but what is it I would say? Hi can I cut some stuff for you? I know there are a ton of cabinet shops and Sign shops in the area...I just don't even know what I'd offer to cut for them. I used to be in sales and design, but I worked from a showroom where people (Wholesale and retail) were coming to see what we had to offer. It was easy to sale to them, I had a captive auidience <--- spelling? As far as my SB experience goes, I had a PR96 that I set up and did mostly experimenting with to see if I could learn it. I feel I have enough of the basics to make 2D parts on it. I have since sold that machine and I'm putting together a PRT120 right as we speak. I thought about getting into a plasma cutting with it but I enjoy woodworkng too much and figure if it was going to be for me It should be something I enjoy.
As far as software and what I'm comfortable with I am comfortable in Coreldraw, a little autocad, and a little 3D stuff so I think I with a little more time with the software I could cut just about anything.
I do understand good business ethics, delivering and keeping customers happy, I think I'm really trying to figure out how to market myself and a company. I think thats the major part of my concern.

John

[paco]

John,

you got the speach!... you just need to more confident about all your potential and a kick! Make samples and see what your potential customers say about it... While visiting, you'll mostly be asked "How much for this and that?"; if you don't know right away, ask 'em to send projects to quote. Better yet, start right now figuring about your fee; hourly or else. Cold call I don't like neither; I prefer "warm visit" at customer's place... I only call to say I'm coming! Do you have a WWW site to have pics available along with some desciption of your services?!... basic WWW site are VERY cheap (often FREE; ask your internet provider). Signs and cabinet buisness are good starts for sub work. As for marketing yourself, I believe you'll be your best advocate since you know yourself better than anybody else! See how other are marketing themselves around you; here in Québec, Canada, buisnees is different for some aspect such as marketing... not black and white but my wording might just be suit for anybody around the world...

I believe SB as a program about starting a SB based CNC routing buisness...

Pick up books... so you'll just read and learn... that you already know most of this! Don't forget that everyday, YOU ARE A CUSTOMER to other buisness... so, how do you think one should get in contact with you if you would be a potential?

Recently, there have been a thread named "wording" I believe; make a search and you should find it. There we're some nice tips in it from fellow Botters...

[davidallen]

John,

If you're stressed over competition by co-workers, how are you going to feel over competition by other companies?

Companies that have been there longer, have established relationships and are willing to take a short term loss in order to run the smaller, marginal shops (i.e. you) out of business?

Money without freedom is a royal pain, the only thing worse is freedom without money.

Several years ago, I was laid off and started something similar to what you're thinking. 10 months later, I was barely paying the rent and had added $25K to credit card debt. I'm still paying it off.

A lof of people have made the transition and are deservedly proud of what they've done. I'm not saying don't do it, Just listen to all of the reasons why it won't work and if you still feel you want to do it then learn to swim before jumping off the boat in the middle of the ocean.

Like you, marketing and sales were my main problems. I was technically competent but just couldn't close the deals.

Before you walk away, make sure you have the cash to run in the red for a year at least and while you're saving, take some classes or a part time job in the areas where you need experience.

Two jobs may be rough, but on your own, you will be working 12 to 16 hour days, 6 and 7 days a week.

If you're going to have to work hard and learn new skills, why not learn to cope and become a star in the area you know? Maybe your current employer isn't the best environment, but they're not the only house on the block. There are companies that appreciate first class hard workers. There are even companies that can't afford them and appreciate mediocre hard workers.

If yours is one of the jobs that's being oursourced overseas, then move to India and manage one of the outsourcing companies.

There are solutions, maybe not the solutions you want. Maybe you'll have to want the solutions that are available.

The secret to happiness is self-delusion. Chant with me now, "I am happy in my work, I am happy in my work, I am happy in my work, ....."


da

[djmcnutt]

John,

Let me tell you the corprate world is not what everyone thinks. On Dec 6 the very large company I work for decide to take away funding the pentions. One good thing at least I will get what I have but no more, then to top it off they said buy the way you won't get insurance also. So that's a big kick in the face. All of this while the CEO takes home over $13M a year. Let me tell you one thing in todays world you have to look out for yourself and don't depend on anyone else. Today I have no ShopBot but I have been in planing now for almost 1.5 years and I will say before the end of 2006 I will have a new shop and a Bot to go in it. Two years ago I decided to foucs on me and quit working 10-12 hours a day and getting paid for 8. I decide that I would take that time, plus more and foucs on my plan. I will comtinue to work but I would expect that within 3 years I will be on my own. So my advise is look for a nitch that no one else is doing and foucs on it everyday and hour you can. And your dream will come true but don't quit your job until you have to. That weekly pay check will make life much easer. Good luck....

[bleeth]

John: Get over your fear of cold-calling. Rejection is part of sales and it is not personal. It is always about the numbers-More calls equals more business. To be self employed you need to be brazen. The hardest part is actually balancing all those self employment chores that do not produce direct cash income with those that do. Learning curves involved in developing your machine and design skillls, purchasing research, shop maintainence, bookkeeping, etc. can really eat into production time in a one man show.
Not wishing to put you off-There are rewards of self-employment you will never get in the corporate world. Good-Luck

Dave

[earld]

John-
There are alot of resouces available for starting a small business.
The "Dummies" series of books are excellent and are filled with solid, common sense information and are as good as what you get in college. www.dummies.com.
Another source is "www.sba.gov", which is the Small Business Administration web site. Their main pitch is the business plan, which is not bad for working out alot of bugs prior to start up. There have been substantial resources put into small business development over the last few years and is available to help you get going after you have answered all the right questions (for yourself).
And, not to discourage you but to give you some perspective, the SBA will tell you up front that no matter how good you are technically with your trade, you will fail without business skills. Something like 80% of new businesses fail for this reason. I have worked for small companies that were enviable in their skills area, but failed because they couldn't keep the books.
On marketing- you never know where an oppertunity will come from. Usually the most unlikely places. Develop some samples and let them sell themselves. Get into a service club and meet other small business people- they are proud of what they have accomplished and are very willing to share their experiences.
And, finally, believe that you can do it. Attitude works for you and against you. Master it.
Earl

[billp]

John,
You can also contact the local office of "S.C.O.R.E" (service corps of retired executives). They will arrange a meeting for you with someone who has prior experience in running a business similar to what you envision. They act as a mentor in getting your business up and running. The service is free, and if you are lucky enough to have someone in your area with years of experience in your field, take advantage of it...You can usually find them in your phone listing, or just Google them to get a local address.

[john_r]

I want to thank all of you for your responses and for emailing me directly. This is certainly a wonderful group of people on this forum.

John