Comments on: Jump to the Future and Ask This Question http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/ Start, Run, and Grow Your Business Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:41:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Tim Berry http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-119 Tim Berry Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:26:50 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-119 Suzanne, wow, you should explain that question or give it a context, because it stands there as written it seems like a throwback to the prejudice of maybe 100 years ago. Why would anybody even ask this question? Tim Suzanne, wow, you should explain that question or give it a context, because it stands there as written it seems like a throwback to the prejudice of maybe 100 years ago. Why would anybody even ask this question?

Tim

]]> By: SUZANNE http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-118 SUZANNE Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:52:32 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-118 Should women really become entrepreneurs? Should women really become entrepreneurs?

]]> By: Bill Boehm http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-117 Bill Boehm Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:44:25 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-117 Tim, your basic point was correct...and I mentioned myself that it's just a matter of time. I suppose I did some things right that perhaps your friend did not, which have allowed me to last a little longer. I'm realistic enough to admit that my business will probably be gone in a few years. That's OK though, it's not my life's calling, I will just find something that makes me even happier when that time comes. I'm still young. Takeoffzone is correct, in that it would definitely not be a good startup idea today. The glory days are over for this business. I survive now off my loyal regular customers primarily, and also by dealing in DVDs as an increasingly large percentage of my revenue. Even though my business is bound to eventually die, I am proud of my accomplishment, and I find no shame in its demise because I know that the things that have caused it to die were entirely out of my control. I guess I feel like I'm successful because I made it this far and hopefully a little farther! Anyways, enough babbling. Back to surviving for another day! Tim, your basic point was correct…and I mentioned myself that it’s just a matter of time. I suppose I did some things right that perhaps your friend did not, which have allowed me to last a little longer. I’m realistic enough to admit that my business will probably be gone in a few years.
That’s OK though, it’s not my life’s calling, I will just find something that makes me even happier when that time comes. I’m still young.

Takeoffzone is correct, in that it would definitely not be a good startup idea today. The glory days are over for this business. I survive now off my loyal regular customers primarily, and also by dealing in DVDs as an increasingly large percentage of my revenue.

Even though my business is bound to eventually die, I am proud of my accomplishment, and I find no shame in its demise because I know that the things that have caused it to die were entirely out of my control. I guess I feel like I’m successful because I made it this far and hopefully a little farther!

Anyways, enough babbling. Back to surviving for another day!

]]> By: Takeoffzone http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-116 Takeoffzone Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:49:50 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-116 The sales of used CDs have been strong in places like half.com (ebay), Amazon and others. I don't think it would be a good startup idea nowadays. Used CDs are sold for pennies and it's a quite saturated market. You'll need to sell many CDs in order to produce a fair amount of profit. The sales of used CDs have been strong in places like half.com (ebay), Amazon and others. I don’t think it would be a good startup idea nowadays. Used CDs are sold for pennies and it’s a quite saturated market. You’ll need to sell many CDs in order to produce a fair amount of profit.

]]> By: Tim Berry http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-115 Tim Berry Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:36:42 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-115 Wow, thanks Bill for the reminder, which embarrasses me a bit because it's such a clear counter-example. You caught me making quick assumptions, and I apologize. I have no doubt that making a decent income, buying a nice house, and putting somebody through school is a good measure of success. So in your case the fatal flaw lesson I intended doesn't hold up for that business, even if it was the case with my friend. Your experience pitted against my quick assumption also serves as an excellent reminder that 1.) there are no absolutes, every case is different; and 2.) bootstrapping and ending up owning the business and making a good living is a really good thing. So thanks, excellent comment! Tim Wow, thanks Bill for the reminder, which embarrasses me a bit because it’s such a clear counter-example. You caught me making quick assumptions, and I apologize. I have no doubt that making a decent income, buying a nice house, and putting somebody through school is a good measure of success. So in your case the fatal flaw lesson I intended doesn’t hold up for that business, even if it was the case with my friend.

Your experience pitted against my quick assumption also serves as an excellent reminder that 1.) there are no absolutes, every case is different; and 2.) bootstrapping and ending up owning the business and making a good living is a really good thing.

So thanks, excellent comment!
Tim

]]> By: Bill Boehm http://upandrunning.bplans.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-114 Bill Boehm Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:25:15 +0000 http://upandrunning.entrepreneur.com/2007/12/14/jump-to-the-future-and-ask-this-question/#comment-114 I started a used CD store/website (www.thecdexchange.com) back in 1998, and it's still doing fine. There are billions of these things floating around, and there is still a pretty strong secondary market for them. I'm just glad I didn't ever get into selling NEW product, that's where the real hit has been taken. Used CDs (and also DVDs) are still doing OK. I started my business with almost nothing, and made a decent income over the last decade or so. I bought a nice house, and put my wife through school, so I would say that I've been successful. I'm realistic about it, and I know it won't last forever, so I'm already spending time thinking about what to do next. I figure I have a few more years left, perhaps more. I hope there will always be people who prefer the superior sound and tangibility of CDs over downloads. I started a used CD store/website (www.thecdexchange.com) back in 1998, and it’s still doing fine. There are billions of these things floating around, and there is still a pretty strong secondary market for them. I’m just glad I didn’t ever get into selling NEW product, that’s where the real hit has been taken. Used CDs (and also DVDs) are still doing OK.

I started my business with almost nothing, and made a decent income over the last decade or so. I bought a nice house, and put my wife through school, so I would say that I’ve been successful. I’m realistic about it, and I know it won’t last forever, so I’m already spending time thinking about what to do next. I figure I have a few more years left, perhaps more. I hope there will always be people who prefer the superior sound and tangibility of CDs over downloads.

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