Lessons Learned from Working for Others Part 2

In the following articles I will review my experiences related to making a living. You may find that you have also had some of the same experiences.
These articles are about what I learned along the way that may help you.

It was during this time of re-evaluating my career that I stumbled into the field of nutrition and multi-level marketing, as a result of searching for health answers for my wife, I had found a new passion that combined health and a potential career. It took 20 years of trial and error with different companies to realize that to grow a Multi-level business, depending on other unskilled sales people, didn’t work for me. I always ended upon carrying the major portion of the load, running out of useable time while not earning enough to replace my full time income.

In the 5th year in the insurance field, I had a vivid dream about getting into business with a specific person and marketing some type equipment that I had never seen before. Not long after this dream, a friend asked if I would be interested in a business opportunity that he had just got involved with. I said I would be interested. He brought a man over to talk with me about the business. When I first saw the man, I recognized him from the dream, which triggered my enthusiasm even more. While discussing the business and the equipment we were to market, I recognized that the equipment was just exactly what I had seen in my dream. In the dream I was cautioned that it would take some time to get the business going. So, off we went.

Two years and 3 businesses later, overzealousness of government inspectors, theft, greed, dishonesty, lack of funds and a multitude of unfortunate events caused all three businesses to be dissolved voluntarily. In one of these businesses, four of the partners walked away, leaving unpaid loans in the amount of $70,000. Contemplating upon those three businesses I learned that it is rarely a good idea to go into partnership with others, especially friends. The other lesson is that the cost of going into business and the risk of failure are extremely high for start up companies.

Once the last business had been dissolved, I found a job working as a draftsman for a company in the semi-conductor industry. In a short time I became a Project Engineer. After two years, this company began negotiations with a large European Corporation in a buyout bid. I didn’t feel comfortable with the negotiations, and decided to seek other employment. I found a position as Chief Engineer with a manufacturing company. One month later the previous company was closed down and everyone was let go. It was a corporate take over that hurt many people.

To be continued . . .

William H. Clausen
Synergistic Solutions
synergyweb@yahoo.com
503-678-6522