Hi everyone,
I've been lurking for a while, and have really appreciated the huge amount of experience and information I have found on this site. I have never been a business owner and my work experience is primarily in management at the municipal government level. A couple of years ago I accepted a job on the other side of the country from where I lived. Within a few months I was desperately sending resumes out all over the country, and after being in the job for only 13 months finally resigned. By the time I walked out the door for the last time I was physically exhausted and emotionally wrung out. Tough gig.
Over the past year (as I continued to send out resumes) it finally began to dawn on me that my stomach was dropping every time I applied for a job. At first I figured it was just still the regrouping I was feeling after have gotten beaten up so badly in my last job. It may have been that at first, but somewhere along the way I started to think about starting my own business. I had this idea to start an outdoor gear and clothing consignment shop.
After having worked in "real jobs" for my entire career the thought of starting my own business was daunting. Scared to death of failure, financial ruin, taking full ownership for success or failure. But the idea wouldn't go away. My significant other was unconvinced - also worried about money, lack of health care, the time it might take to begin actually making a living. Which sent me back to the drawing board time and again. But now he and I both seem to be in the same place. We have some savings and he has a very good retirement so regular income is coming in. It will be tough for a while but I think we're both ready to give this a shot.
I've put a financial plan, operational plan, and marketing plan together. We won't be taking out any loans so all of these will simply be a road map for how we proceed with this. A date to pull the trigger on all of this? We're still working through the process so date to be determined. But if I had to give a time frame right now it would be within the next three months.
Anyway, my long winded way of saying I'm glad to be here. I hope to ask a lot of questions, do a lot of reading, and maybe even contribute something intelligent to the conversation sometimes.
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