Have decided to close my 'Business': Heartbroken!

[mgirl]

For the past year i have been dreaming, planning and paying for things to set-up my own home business. Just to make it clear, i have been living for this and looking forward to it so much. It was my future and part of my dreams. I was also excited about it, because i know i have the ability to work for myself, or to run a business.

 

As a result, i have been working in a mundane (part-time) job for the past year, so that i could earn money and have the time to plan this business.

 

I have forked out $16,000 in start-up costs, which i guess isn't much, but i don't want to lose anymore.

 

So now that everything is in place, i have realised that it's just not viable to enter the sector i was going to sell in. The market for it is shrinking every day. I would have to outlay $1,000 worth of stock each week and if i don't sell anything, then this amount would eventually add up and i could end up more in the red than i am now. Imagine losing $25,000 worth of stock, on top of the start-up costs you have forked out?!

 

I've worked really hard to have a house and i don't want to lose it over some stupid business venture.

 

So, now, i am back to square one. No job (well, not one that i like anyway it's part-time and unreliable hours), few dreams and no real plans for the future - except that i want to be happy and i don't know how. I feel gutted...

 

I have spent the best part of this week on the couch, feeling sorry for myself, almost depressed, almost unable to move.

 

I went back 'work' (my scummy job) yesterday and am prepared to go in today.

 

I just know, that i am back where i started... lost, worried about my future and virtually unemployed. I never really imagined this for myself, i just feel sick.

 

I don't know what to do. I know i've got to go back to point zero and then work out what i want to do. I wanted to do a chef's apprenticeship, but now i am too old.

[Kiwi_Sweet]

You sound like a highly intelligent person. I think something will come to you again. Just give it time. Until then, live life and be grateful for what you didn't lose. Something will come to you. I just know it WILL!

 

=)

 

Good luck!

[LostInMyThoughts]

okay first of all you aint too old.

 

Secondly, you've done what most people only wish. You've tried to start a business and it didn't work out. At least you tried. Most never do.

 

So what to do next. Evaluate your options.

 

Has this business venture soured your tastes for running your own business? Have you considered trying a different venture?

 

Have you considered looking for investors to help keep your business afloat as you search for a different market?

 

Lastly, if you want to be a chef's apprentice, then by all means go for it. You're never too old until your dead.

[mgirl]

okay first of all you aint too old.

 

Secondly, you've done what most people only wish. You've tried to start a business and it didn't work out. At least you tried. Most never do.

 

So what to do next. Evaluate your options.

 

Has this business venture soured your tastes for running your own business? Have you considered trying a different venture?

 

Have you considered looking for investors to help keep your business afloat as you search for a different market?

 

Lastly, if you want to be a chef's apprentice, then by all means go for it. You're never too old until your dead.

 

Just what i needed, a male point of view, left-brained! (left-brained = 'rational'). Lol.

 

Yes, this venture has soured my taste for running my own business, in the short term. I can see myself running a business, but due to the losses, i figure that i need to lay low for a while and not spend anymore money. I couldn't take another loss right now.

 

Hopefully in the future, i will try another venture. I think with a partner next time. Doing it on your own is hard.

 

I have considered looking for investors, but the market i was going to be in is shrinking, so there is no real hope. It is like when Beta video moved to VHS. Nobody wants to use Beta anymore.

 

Re- the chef's apprenticeship, i am 38. I feel too old. I don't feel too old physically. In fact, i am quite agile for my age. I will think about it though. There is a recruiter in my city that concentrates on re-training old people and i know they (say they) encourage older people, like me, to do apprenticeships.

 

Edit: you're right. Maybe i'm not too old for the apprenticeship Food for thought.

[Kiwi_Sweet]

You would do great in an apprenticeship...After you all you think like a "man"...=)

 

Good luck!=)

[mgirl]

Yeah, i'd have to think about:

 

Money

 

Could i possibly do it? I'd have to live off my investments, which aren't much, but even an extra $5,000 per year would be good as the first year wage is very low. My rent is high, so i would have to subsidise it somehow.

 

Ugh, food for thought. I don't think i could take something on for 4 years unless i was completely SURE about it.

 

My parents would be like, "X, you're not doing something else AGAIN are you? When are you going to settle?".

 

Gosh, i just need to sit down and evaluate my options. I need a clear head.

 

And, i shouldn't care about what other's think. But, one thing i know for sure, is that i haven't got time to be wasting and i don't want to start something, only to drop out 2 years later, because of the opportunity costs.

 

But, then again, you have to live for now.

 

Ugh, so confused!

[glegend]

Just work your scummy job for a while, start some sort of side business which you would like to do and take it from there. Start slow and then business start booming then make it your full time career.

[mgirl]

Ha, yeah! I decided to work my scummy job for a while, because even my scummy job isn't that bad! At least i'll make some money, unlike my business. Lol.

 

I've decided that i need to just chill out for a while and let the dust settle.

 

I know it sounds strange, but i feel a bit liberated. Now all i have to do is tell the people who most pressured me into doing this, the web-developers. It should be interesting, i have backed down to them so far, so now i must stand up for myself and refuse to go any further. Going any further is just going to cost me more money, money that i don't want to spend.

 

And already i am thinking about my next idea, but i am not going to jump in to it so fast. I am going to research ALL my facts first and do it on the cheap, because i believe if you've got the right idea, people will flock. There is no need to spend expordident amounts of money.

[mgirl]

Latest update: just posted on a topic-related forum (to my business), asking whether there is still a demand for my product. Most people said "no"..., so it looks like it is gonna close for sure.

 

An important lesson i have learned is that you should stick to your original ideas and trust your instincts. I let myself get talked into something that was too broad for me, and now i am paying the price.