I'm Going to Start my Own Business

When 2009 began, I was unemployed. My previous employer, a commercial real estate firm in Salt Lake, was hit hard by the recession, and they decided to trim their Software Development team down to three guys. Being the newest member of the team, I suppose I was the likely candidate for the cut.

The layoff didn't really phase me, though. I had this strange assurance that it was part of the plan; that everything was going to work out OK. And within a month, I'd found a much better position.

My new employment seemed ideal. It offered a pretty decent pay increase, and I was excited to work for a company that specialized in Web Software. Also, the company was run by two partners who were my age and had decided a year prior to go into business for themselves, and in the midst of the international credit crisis they were thriving. They were excited about their progress as a company, and seemed to have a Vision for where they were headed. I knew it was where I was supposed to be.

But after a couple of months, something started nagging at the back of my mind. I knew the source. I've wanted to start my own business literally since I was a child; its always been my dream. But as deeply as I've desired it, I've been afraid to take the plunge. Afraid of failure, afraid of what it would take.. maybe even afraid of success. Now, I was working for two guys with whom I had a great deal in common, and I began to get that "If they can do it, why can't I?" feeling.

One night on my way home from a friend's house, I was listening to a lady on a late night talk show-slash-infomercial. The program called her "Loral Langmeier, the Millionaire Maker." Now I NEVER call on these sorts of things; for that matter I never actually put any stock in them. Crackpots and schemers, the lot of them! But -- for some reason, this time, I felt inspired to call.

This post is rambling on so I'll skip ahead. After listening to Loral's materials and reading several other books, among them the classic "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill, I've felt more and more motivated and inspired to go ahead and just DO it -- to get started now, building a business and working to make something more of my life.

There are a lot of scary things about starting your own business. One of the biggest questions is, "How am I going to earn a living?" I am still working for the web development company, of course, but a full-time job makes it tough to get things done. Potential clients have to be called during business hours. Licensing and other official requirements have to be done when government offices are open. How on earth am I going to get all this done?

But there's one thing that's different, now, then all the times in the past when I thought about starting my own business. This time, I'm serious. I'm determined. I WILL GET MY BUSINESS STARTED AND RUNNING THIS YEAR. I've set myself a deadline -- September 1st. On that day, I will be a full-time business owner and 100% of my income will be dependent upon finding new clients and working with art and programming contractors, consultants, whoever is required, to get the work done that needs to be done.

Which means that August 31, 2009 will be my last day of work. Now I just need to tell my boss.