On Business Dave Says Work Yourself Silly

My husband was laid off a few months ago. He has a degree in graphic design, and has been doing that ever since to make money. He made $6,000 during his best month, but only $300 during his worst. I’m working with him on marketing now to get more clients, but in the meantime we’re not sure if we should also get part-time jobs, or push extra hard to make this business a success.

From what you’ve told me, I think your best bet is to get out there and work yourselves silly to find more accounts and generate revenue. If this guy can turn the page from a full-time job to something he was doing on the side, and make $6,000 in a month, there’s definitely potential there.

I’d also suggest getting a book called Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson. It lists inexpensive, grass-roots ideas for marketing. You need to read that book tonight. If your husband has professional-quality graphic design skills, he can create all kinds of marketing pieces.

I’m excited about this for you! Read the book immediately—together—then set a goal of talking to about 30 good, new prospects the very next day. Just cold call them with examples of your husband’s work in hand, and tell them you’re running a special. Offer 25 percent off any graphics work done on orders placed before week’s end.

Walk in with enthusiasm, great samples and make sure you talk to the decision maker. If you’ll do this, I bet you guys will begin landing some accounts that very day!

I’ve decided to get a new job, and have heard about an investment specialist position with a financial firm. I would work independently from an office outside the headquarters, but offer the company’s products and services. So, it would be like I’m running my own business. I’ve worked in the insurance industry, so I know something about sales. Cold calling doesn’t bother me, either, if there’s enough income attached to the job and I believe in what I’m doing. What do you think?

This is an interesting business you’re considering. Some people make a good living and have even become wealthy as stockbrokers. So, the question is whether or not you’d really like this kind of work. There’s a lot of turnover in areas like stock brokerage, real estate brokerage and insurance. In fact, the vast majority of people who go to work in these fields don’t make it through the first year.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with being a stock broker. I just think you need to explore this a little more before you jump in. Talk to some people who have worked the job, and find out what made it so easy for them to leave. Also, talk to some current stockbrokers and pick their brains about the job—the good and the bad.

You always want as much information as possible before making a career decision. Especially when the line of work requires you to run the business as if it were your own!

I’ve always been intrigued by the restaurant business and wanted to open one of my own. Recently, the opportunity presented itself to open a fast food franchise. I really want to do this, but it would take years for me to save up the money. Is it okay to borrow money to start a business?

You’re right. It will take longer to save up the money and open the business debt-free, but that’s exactly what you should do. Most small businesses fail within the first five years. One of the main reasons for failure is the struggle to repay debt.

If you’re into restaurants, try starting small with a catering business out of your home. This will give you a taste of managing your own food service business, and let you know if you really like that kind of work. It will also give you the opportunity to make and save some money. That way, when your restaurant dream becomes a reality you can honestly say that you own the business instead of it owning you!

IF you can cook, you might try checking into local clubs of all kinds.

I did the main dish cooking for a horse riding club for their events. Meals were potluck, but the ‘manager’ of each event provided the MAIN dish and bottled water, along with plates, cutlery, napkins, condiments, etc. I have never seen more than himself & 3 others working his set up. He does lots of rides, cattle sorting, & branding where it is a remote location & no power is available.

We worked out a variety of items, so having one event a month, we could produce a different main dish & not constantly duplicate.

I kept the menu to simple, home style items, because on some events, riders were trailing into camp as much as 5 hours apart, and we wanted everyone to have hot food.

We used various crockpots-—which are a godsend for this kind of activity. Wjen in a remote location, we used generators to run the crockpots. Baked chicken thighs-—spagetti-—sliced precooked ham with pineapple & brown sugar baked on top & macaroni/cheese-—Pork roast w/ baked beans & molasses-—chili & garlic bread-—lasagna-—sloppy Joe’s on buns——Hotdogs & Polish sausages on buns-—and on Thanksgiving: turkeys in hot oil with all the fixings. I used packaged Ore-Ida potatoes & Stove Top dressing with the turkey because I didn’t know ahead of time how many riders we might have. We invited neighbors of the event location to eat Thanksgiving dinner with us for $5, which was a payback for not bitching about all the horses & trailers up and down the streets.

People got into the rhythym of things & would call to see what the next ‘main dish’ would be & they would bring their potluck items to match. We got some absolute dynamite desserts! One summer event used Root Beer Floats for dessert..a big hit.

I did this on a volunteer basis because I was a member of the club, but I can see where if someone is trying to find a new business, this might work.

There are more ‘clubs’ around that you might realize. Poker clubs—quilting clubs—sewing clubs—bridge clubs—boating events—even preparing for a group that is ‘tailgating at the local football game’.

I am not talking about feeding hundreds of people. Probably the largest group I cooked for was about 80 or so, but then I was doing most of the cooking alone. Keep it simple—use the foods you were raised on-—and stick to the less formal settings. Not weddings—but perhaps family reunions which are done picnic style. You can still provide the main dishes & the families can bring pot luck. This frees up all family members to enjoy the outing & no one is stuck with the ‘cooking’.

There are a couple of portable cookers on trailers in our area & one person I know can feed 400+++ with his setup. He does chicken pieces & Tri-tips in the charcoal cooker/trailer and then does potatoe salad, green salad, fruit salad/watermelon/bread & butter/and it is all served buffet style. He also can do breakfasts with ham or bacon & eggs. Lemonade—bottled water—iced tea-—whatever works. He uses charcoal & propane in his cooker trailer, which is on 2 axles behind his truck, which is filled with large coolers & ice.

None of these events had alcohol.

One thing about the portable bar b que trailer cooker—you can take it almost anywhere. I have even seen a tent 20 x 20 which was used by serious hunters & back country riders. The owner of the tent was an avid hinter & he had the most elaborate cooking setup I have ever seen for such a tent setting. Grill—Weber type ‘oven’—griddle for pancakes & eggs-—holding ovens for warm bread. It almost ran the length of one side of the tent. He even heated water for dishwashing while cooking.

Check with your local authorities & find out what you might need to do such a business.

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