[billium]

Boy, what you said!

I was the senior lending officer in a commercial bank for a number of years. I can't begin to count the number of times I'd have individuals apply for business loans to start a new business. When we'd discuss backgrounds, knowledge of the business they were starting, etc., too many times I would get some variation of this theme:

"I want to be my own boss, make my own decisions, set my own hours, take time off when I want to", etc., etc., etc. Usually, the best side of being a business owner.

To the best of my recollection, not even one time did the conversation go like this:

I want to be responsible for all problems, whether I caused them or not, I want to be the first to work and the last to leave, I want to have to fire bad employees, some who I personally like, I can't wait to have to explain to my spouse why we have to cancel our vacation AGAIN or why we need to take out a second mortgage for new equipment, I really enjoy telling customers that I can't do another job for them until they clear up payment for the last two.

It is very difficult to explain to people the realities and "dues that have to be paid" to get to the better parts of owning a business.

Bill

P.S. - I had a friend who was a small business owner who had a sign behind his desk that said something like "The buck stops here, whether I want it to or not". Sounds like you can relate.