When Is It Worth the Risk?

We offend ponder this question when faced with a BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY that may never come again, to wit:

1. Should we risk till it hurts? Or, pass on the chance for the Kill?

2. When we take a chance, is that the same as gambling and thus, we must be prepared to lose without regrets?

3. At what point do we stop? Do we touch the kids' savings?

4. Should we borrow from the loan shark or the relative who charges usurious interests (there are!)?

5. There is no such thing as s SURE THING and therefore, there will always be a risk.

6. If you do not risk till it hurts, will you ever improve your situation?


This is a blog post of QUESTIONS. Let me know what you think.

To Partner or Not to Partner?

At the start of a business or when a business opportunity presents itself, a small business owner would have pondered over this question.
What if you did your homework and found the business opportunity to be sound but you are short of cash, would this be the best time to seek a partner?
Take for example this situation and tell me what you think?
1. Partner A has close ties with the Purchasing or Procurement dept manager as well as the department end use of a product that you intend to supply and advised Partner B of the business opportunity
2. Partner A is well-versed in the prospect's Bid Process
3. Partner B does most of the grunt work like
a. Search for suppliers & negotiate the best price
b. Handles costs of communication between the suppliers,
company end-user, purchasing dept as well as keeping
Partner A updated in the transaction
c. Transportation and meal expenses are borne by Partner B
as he is the one with his own personal car (though Partner
A agreed to offset the costs against the project's income
d. Prepare the quotations, emails and other Back Office work
4. Profit will be shared equally minus receipted and agreed expenses

Would you consider this a fair and equitable partnership?

My take is that if I need to increase my business income, I would consider this to be FAIR considering that if Partner A did not advice me of the opportunity, I would be earning ZERO PESOS.

It's Lonely at the Top

How many times have we heard this? Do we really know what it means?

On one hand when business is good, you as the owner, top honcho or The Boss, gets to keep all the profits and it certainly is a nice feeling. But when things go negatively the other way and you need to make painful decisions like firing your best staff, cutting back on the airconditioning and the free meals or some such other unpopular moves, you wish you had somebody supporting you or at the least, understanding why you have to do it but alas, there is no one there guarding your back.

Such is the lot of the small business entrepreneur and the sooner he realizes he has to do it, the better for the small business, In the end, it is hoped that the small business entrepreneur made a good call and the company will come out stronger and ultimately, the people, at least those remaining, will understand.