Who Gives a .... Anyway

Recently I travelled to the states to see some companies and do some business. Seem as though some of the places we went to see were in remote areas we had to rent a car. The first place we went to was Sandpoint. We had to rent a car at the Spokane airport and return it there. Even though there were rental companies based in Sandpoint we could not rent in Spolane and drop off in Sandpoint at all. The weekly rental did not sound bad at $220. Per week. When we collect the rental car at Enterprise I was asked if I want the the fuel included or the insurance upgraded etc. I was never given a price and as I was tired from travelling (we had spent 36 hours travelling already) I said yes. When I returned the car I was charged $750. When I queried this I was told actually it was cheaper than I had agreed on collection. When I scrutinized the invoice I found I had been charged $500 in options. As I said to their customer services person who just through the paper work in my face "well done...

Many people dream about running their own businesses. I know I dreamt for years before taking the plunge. And it is a plunge I have taken 3 more times. So what have I learnt. Each business has had moderate to great success. My latest foray has been a little different as I have had some capital, this gave me the flexibility to really set standards. You need to be in the business because you love it. And also determine why you love it. For me I have been in the coffee industry now for five years, and my basic philosophy of only selling what I am prepared to drink was a founding principle, and even though along the way I let product creep in that made me a buck, I have closed those product lines. I find it amazing how I meet people who have taken the plunge and how much they have lost their way listen to the complainers in life. Those people who always want to provide negative criticism on whatever crosses their path. Ignore it. Those people who give positive advice are the ones you take...