What a great reply you made to Sandy's post Michael. You don't preach "the secret" to others. You just seem to live it! Despite all my preaching about using the secret to remain focused on the good I still fall far short of remaining happy. My second name is Grumpy... especially before my daily dose of caffeine kicks in.

It's a rare individual who can remain cheerful for 30 days straight. I'm lucky to go for 3 hours before I find myself complaining about some small matter instead of just letting go and enjoying the ride.

And you are so right about most people being better off with a job than their own business. If money alone was the measurement of success most people would be better off with a full time job and a part time business as you suggest.

However, running your own business can force you to think, act, grow and become more of what you can be.

If it wasn't for experiencing first hand - the "FOREIGNERS SECRET TO WEALTH" that Duane mentions in this thread for myself, I'd really be miserable. I took part in that thread and was not one of the people to figure out what was the one "Advantage" that most foreigners arrive with in their new land. You even gave the answer but being told the answer I still didn't Know the answer until I lived it. So I had to learn the hard way and move to another country and experience gaining the foreigners "Advantage" myself. I'm not nearly as grateful as I should be..

Even today I think that I would be better off working a real job by day and doing one or two photo sessions per evening. But I'm so spoiled and lazy now I just want to sit in front of the computer and dream of riches without actually doing much of anything.

Without the advantage of your "Success Factor" I'd be up the creek without a paddle. Left to my own motivation I'd surely sink than swim. On my own I would take it easy and only do one or two shoots a week and goof off at the beach the rest of the time.

I thank God that my wife cares enough to give me the swift motivational kick in the rear I need to get going and stay on track. Without her and the certain advantages we now enjoy by joining forces and masterminding our talents together I'd probably be on welfare or driving truck cross country and not having the luxury of staying in one place so I could work part time hours at something that can produce full time income.

I couldn't do what I do now without her unless I hired several people to help me. But without her I wouldn't even have the motivation to do that.

I'd just be content being a so called wage slave and would just continue to dream while doing little. But my wife deserves more and I'm determined to increase my awareness and my income because (you know what).

I'll still continue to preach "The Secret" but without my wife and "The Success Factor" along with a little action - I wouldn't have much of a life.

Cheers,
Steve Shulenski
www.AntiquePhotographyBusiness.com

PS... What are the 9 lessons as you see them and what is your 2nd announcement of a commercial nature? Curiosity has captured my attention.