5 Phases Of A Start-up

About 15 months ago my partner and I started a business we knew nothing about.This

business exists in a highly regulated industry in which we had no experience and in which we (personally) lacked the professional licenses demanded by nearly every government known to man.In our business, success often comes as a result of referrals from other professionals within the industry.Professionals who we didnt know and who didnt seem too interested in knowing us.

Nevertheless, 15 months later Revita Rehab,a specialized physical and rehabilitation therapy clinic, is still open for business. Through a lot of hard work.Even more prayer.Not a little bit of luck. And an unwillingness to cry uncle, weve kept the lights on and are now moving quickly into the next phase,our third, of this start-up. Over the next few posts I want to share our journey. If only to remind myself of where weve come.And perhaps to help anyone reading this to hang onto their own start-up dreams.

First some background. Ive been consulting for a long time and am living proof of the saying, Those who cant do, teach. And those who really cant do but are too inept to teach, consult.Several years into it, I took a detour from the world of independents to the more structured world of public accounting. Although they may not be willing to admit it, I worked for a time at Moss Adams, a fine (and fairly large) company filled with CPAs and governed by a non-sensical need to measure billable hours to validate success. Its a goofy system that no one seemed to like including both clients (why am I always charged for these phone calls) and professionals (I know that my clients hate it when I charge them for being on the phone).I became unfunded which had the same effect of being laid off, and went back on my own.

In all this time I worked with engineers, architects, law firms, financial advisors, manufacturers, contractors, retailers, butchers, bakers and candlestick makers (okay Im stretching things a bit) but never anyone in the medical field.My experience there was limited to a twice yearly visit to my dentist (who always seems to find things to fix that cost right at the amount of my insurance coverage) and a rare visit to get a physical (where my doctor didnt even buy me a drink before ).

My partner, Steve, had even less experience than me. He was however a lot more enthusiastic. And he still is. Which is sort of like having a happy paddler in front of the canoe when closing in on a waterfall.You know youre going to die, but dang, before you do youll have the time of your life! Steve keeps me excited about what we are doing. I keep him grounded.

In August of 2009 we looked at a company needing some money to expand.They had been in business for 20 years and asked us to help them raise a half-a-million dollars.That should have been a warning, right? Why does a 20 year old business need private equity investments to grow when the costs are at least two times more than debt? We met with the CEO and looked over the business plan through eyes clouded over with the promise of making a bazillion (or more) dollars.And for our efforts,we asked for the rights to develop therapy clinics using the companys recently patented equipment.Ill talk about that next when I cover Phase 1:The Big Idea.

by: Paul Brown

POST COMMENT

How To Write Winning Professional Resume Objectives Life In The Village Of Langton Green Pinot Noir Vs Nebbiolo Chooseing Best Quality Of Filter-cloth Cash Loan No Bank Account- Get Cash Without Any Bank Account How To Use Your Old Bike Again Buy-to-let Fund Hearthstone Gets Go-ahead From Fsa Vast Demand Of The Ads Of The World On The World Wide Web A Cup Of Tea: The Best Of Bringing Peace Back Into Your Life Saving Money With An Applicant Tracking System Get Your Personal Motorcycle Accident Lawyer-hell Help You Get Your Claim Useful Facts Of Scuba Teen Adventures Charter Bus Fun