[TheForge] RE: making a living

[Demon Buddha]

Bob Ehrenberger wrote:
> 
> Bob,
> 
> Thanks for your encouragement. The only way that we have made it so far is I
> got completly out of debt before quiting my day job. The truck is starting
> to show it's age but keeps on going.  My daughter is getting married this
> fall so I'm pretty much done raising my family. I have a pretty healthy 401K
> from 25 years as a software engineer, and we just pray to stay healthy as
> there is no mony for health insurance.

	Bob, have you tried NASE for health insurance?  They have a
	pretty good package.  Mine was $224/month and covered just about
	everything.  If you can swing the $$ it's worth it in case, 
	heaven forbid, anything major would befall you.  It takes only
	one good car accident to ruin you financially for good.  I had
	to drop them because I'm too broke, but if you're making a decent
	income and can swing it, I'd recommend you do.
> 
> My biggest problem is selling stuff. I never was much of a salesman and
> still am not.

	Marketing is the key to success in such a business.  Either
	you have to actively market yourself or have a location that
	does it for you.  George Cavaliere in Scottsdale runs the shop
	his grandfather started in 1909 or 1919.  It's in the heart of
	Old Scottsdale.  The business comes to him.  He has more work
	than he knows what to do with at times.  George is a cool fellow
	and he has all manner of interesting old items in the shop and
	his wife is a nice girl from the Bronx, so we had a lot to talk
	about. :)

	Anyhow, may I suggest you  hit up your local community college
	for some education on marketing for small businesses?  It's an
	investment that could return thousands of times its value.  That
	or bite the bullet and put yourself through a Harvard MBA. :) :) :)

	I know forst hand how tough this, or any other business, can be.
	Best wishes.
> 
> As I said in my last post I just got a contract for 100' foot of fence and
> the same builder wants me to bid a gate so maybe my customer base is
> improveing.  The fence is mostlly fabrication, I hope that the gate will
> involve more blacksmithing if I get it.

	Hope you bid it out well enough.  

	-Andy

	PS: I still have that crystal.  It's quite the conversation piece.