“The business of America is Business” (Calvin Coolidge, US President, 1920s). What will save America and save our economy is the small businessperson. So why aren’t the Repubs getting off their butts and doing something about this instead of whining about social issues. This party (BTW, in true “Lone-wolf” fashion, I am non-party affiliated) has a PRIME opportunity to make sound economic growth the cornorstone of its policies for the next 100 years, and all it does is whine about social “issues”, which are nobody’s bloody business to begin with. If you need to pull this, JD, as I know you are non-committal about politics, I will understand, but Geesh! I look at this country’s “economic downturn” and I see OPPORTUNITY. You’d think some political party would get it, wouldn’t you??

And you’re right, it’s not for the money. Nor am I a risk-taker or adventurous person in most areas of my life. In fact, I think eventually I’ll have a salaried job (once I get into the field I want)…but I’ll still work on the side a few hours a month because I get a real kick out of what I do and I love the freedom of it all.

But the end result is that between that and taking four years and counting away from the workforce, and now being a single mom to boot, the employment deck is seriously stacked against me. Again, it is what it is. So, for me, figuring out what to do for self-employment is as much about not being *able* to find a job as it is about not *wanting* to work for someone else.

Now, I’m not going to go as far as some of the other commenters here and claim that you can make “as much money as you want” in self-employment. You can sure WORK as much as you want, but in the end you have no ultimate control over whether someone purchases your product or service. Still, there is something to be said for knowing you’d hire yourself even if nobody else wants to. In fact this is probably one explanation for why there are so many independent businesses in minority neighborhoods.

I’m intrigued by the statement that entrepreneurs are less likely to have mentors. My understanding is that successful business owners are more likely than other business owners to have great mentors, support networks, advisors and so on. In fact, I just read a research report on this.

My parents always instilled the entrepreneurial spirit in me. I started my first business when I was in grade school. I had a very successful popsicle & chocolate business. My parents gave me seed money, but after that all expenses came out of earnings and I had to donate at least 10% to charity and save 25%, the rest I could spend on toys of whatever I wanted (or more supplies to grow my business). I had such a successful business that a lady on my street tried to start a similar business as a work from home job (I beat here out, my popsicles were better). I eventually had such a large business I had to have my own freezer in the garage. I made great money and saved most of it. I’m thankful for all the lessons they taught me, they have been more valuable than any other education I have received.

White ?? I thought “Immigrants are no more likely than their non-immigrant compatriots to start their own businesses.” Which means the color of one’s skin does not matter ?