Note From Paul: A statement/question that arises over and over again in my Email can be summed-up like this: "I hate what I am doing. It bores me, and I would like to ... (put whatever it is that you would want to do if you could in this space), but I am scared to death. What if it doesn't work out? Then what would I do?" Of course I cannot answer these questions for you, but I can tell you that literally hundreds of readers have written to me saying that they followed their love-of-life business part-time at first, and when it finally took hold, they achieved what they wanted ... moderate success and total happiness. This week's great idea explores one such individual's journey, Trey Woodward of Alpine, Texas.

1. Great Ideas: Trey Woodward, Rockhound & Part-Time Cattle Rancher 2. Questions & Answers: How Do I Start My Dream Job? 3. Reader Tips, Solutions, or Comments: Sell more while everyone else is selling less. 4. Book/Product Review: TEXT 5. Other Sources For Help: SCORE Provides Business Start-Up Help 6. Success Aids: Related Books, E-Books & Products To Explore

1. Great Ideas: The Woodward Ranch While looking after his cattle back in the 30s, John Frank Woodward (Trey Woodward's Grandfather) discovered some unusual rocks on his ranch (located just outside Alpine, Texas). He became interested in the geodes and agates he found, and when he discovered the worth of the exceptionally beautiful Red Plume agates (found only at this location), he did a little business in rocks. This was during the Great Depression, and there wasn't much money for jewelry, so the business never really took off. The story next jumps to John Frank Jr., Trey's dad. In 1963 (after doing his duty for our country in the Air Force), he brought his wife and five children back to the ranch to live. He felt the rock business could be a great supplement to the family income (cattle was still the main business). He built the ranch house and a show room for the agates. Now for another fast-forward. Trey (the third John Frank) began running the ranch in 1994. He thought he had it made. He could see himself becoming a power in cattle ranching ... that is until the drought hit ... twelve years of it. Twelve. The savings dwindled and things got tight. You cannot raise cattle without water, and the twelve whole years without rain was devestating. All that was left were the rocks that had intrigued him these many years. So Trey read-up, studied, opened his land to the rock hounds of the world, and fell in love all over again with the beautiful Red Plume and other unusually beautiful agates. He had help. A key to success has been his wife Jan. She does the books, provides the emotional support needed, bakes the cookies, does the dishes, cleans the house, and does all the other tasks one spouse who believes in and supports their life-partner does. It's a love story. When I met Trey I saw an affable, happy, intelligent, bouncy man tickled pink with life. Cattle are again a mainstay, paying the big bills, but the rocks put the food on the table and the spice into life. On a recent visit, Carol and I ended the day with several pieces of avsolutely gorgeous Red Plume agate jewelry and a revitalized understanding of the beauty of our world. The visit was also an affirmation of joy of becoming an entrepreneur. Following your dreams is more important than anything else in life. Anything. If you want to enjoy a different vacation this year where you might again fan the flame of entrepreneurism, or just talk with people in love with life, visit the Woodward Ranch. And yes, there's jewelry-in-the-making you can bring home. Visit http://www.woodwardranch.net or call Trey at 432-364-2271. There are catalogs and flyers available.

2. Questions & Answers: Submit your question here AskPaul@tulenko.gatorfighter.com Reader's Question (edited) Paul: I read your article in the paper yesterday. Very good. I would like to get under your mentorship. I am the right, guy, and I fit into your article. I have worked in the garment district in NYC, but most of my experience is in the trucking business: operations safety and now sales. My dad owned a Hallmark Shop or two. I am not rich. I have 3 children 23, 21, and 13, however I would love to get into a business of my own. It is a life long dream. What do you think? Thank you and regards. B.C. in Levittown, Pa. Paul's Answer B.C. in Levittown, Pa: You, as a reader, are already under my mentorship. If you are serious about going into business for yourself, you need to visit my website http://www.tulenko.com, click on the 'Success Tip Archives' on the left, and read the tips on getting started in business. While you are there on my home page, sign-up for the newsletter. It will have the 'latest' information that can help you. After you digest some of the info and get to one of those 'career' courses I talk about, send me an email telling me how you think you should proceed and I will be happy to guide and direct you. Paul Reader Answers To A Previous Question (edited) Do you have another answer? Submit it here: ReaderAnswer@tulenko.gatorfighter.com Paul: Another answer for the person wanting to start a Craft Mall. We went about this in a different way. We turned an old horse trailer into a traveling craft show, and each of the people exhibiting in the show takes a turn at driving the trailer from small town to small town here in Massachusets during the summer. We sell a lot of crafts this way. B.J.K. 3. Reader Tips, Solutions, or Comments: (Edited) Do you have a tip or solution to share? We'll print it here (along with your contact information if you wish)! NewsletterTipsAndSolutions@tulenko.gatorfighter.com Sell more while everyone else is selling less. by:John Graham, president of Graham Communications, Tennessee courtesy of George Hannye - A Greater Knoxville SCORE Volunteer, http://www.scoreknox.org When the economy is zooming selling may be easier – but it's never easy -- and today's uneven, unpredictable and uncertain economic environment only makes things harder. The following are 10 critical tasks that can go a long way toward helping you get more done and, in the process, close more sales: Plan Plan your day, week, month and year. Although this sounds ridiculously simple and basic, it isn't. If you don't have a personal plan, you can't produce results. Do Paperwork Daily The important thing is that notes and records must be kept every day while the information is fresh. Frantically retracing the past steps results in inaccurate and incomplete records. Prospect Consistently Manage your group of 50-100 carefully selected prospects with the same attention you give to taking care of your customers. Contact Customers Regularly Technology makes it easy to stay in close touch with your customers. Distribute (via e-mail) your weekly bulletin, product update or market intelligence reports to your customers in addition to making telephone contact and personal calls. Limit Time Spent With 'Favorite' Customers Resist the temptation to call on the satisfied customers. Yes, it can be reassuring to feel appreciated, but with valuable time at a premium, do they really deserve that much attention? (Don't totally ignore satisfied customers, just limit the time spent with them.) Prepare Your first meetings with clients should be planned carefully. Set the agenda and provide support information. Don't let future meetings become chaotic, thus conveying the message that you are shooting from the hip. Work by 'Appointment Only' It's as much about time as it is about money. Saving time is often more important to a customer than saving money, and it should be for you as well. Working by appointment only better allocates time for highly profitable customers. Re-Evaluate Activities Be rigorous about the way you use every minute of the day. Get tough with yourself. If a trade show is no longer productive, stop going. Anticipate Objections If price appears to be an issue, don't wait for the customer to raise it. Try something like this: "You're concerned about cost, aren't you? I can understand that. If I can show you how buying from our company will actually lower your costs, can we have your business?" Be Prepared Don't "wing it" A boilerplate proposals with missing details leaves the perception that you are unprepared. 4. Book/Product Review "How To Succeed In Business Without Working So Damn Hard " by:Robert J. Kriegel, Warner Books, ISBN: 0-446-67986-0, $ 14.95 This book is a surprise. You need this book whether you are just thinking about starting a business or trying to fix a broken one. Using absolutely brilliant comparisons, Robert turns most of what we feel are the trappings of a successful entrepreneur upside down, exposing such things as what he calls a 'Full-Tilt Boogie' (speed of everything) for what it is, a way to have to backtrack and fix what should have been done right the first time. I especially liked Chapter 10, Think Like A Beginner. Robert tells us to forget that we are an expert and direct our thoughts to what could be instead of using our expertize to limit the possibilities. This is hard to do, and you may need the help of the guy in the shipping department to help you solve a challenge. That's a real possibility of success, not a joke, because in Chapter 16 Robert presents vignettes on visiting the people who would consider buying what you sell. You have to read it to understand, then you will want to participate in similar endeavors. This book rates a full five stars. It is the least expensive guru guide with the most 'meat' you will ever pay for; and that includes material from the former masters of rhetoric we've all read. Buy this one now. (Only the Bible and the Constitution get six stars.) 5. The U.S. Government Can & Will Help Your Business The Service Corp Of Retired Executives (SCORE) provides experts who have already 'done it' and will help you 'do it'. For the office near you: (www.score.org). Visit the Small Business Administration (SBA) at: (www.sba.gov). (click on 'SBA Programs') for other offerings. Your taxes paid for these services. 6. Success Aids Related Books, E-Books & Products To Explore Please read the specific supplier's Purchase Agreement before you purchase any product or service from this list. "How To Out-Fox The Foxes" L. Williams. What lawyers don't want you to know. http://hop.clickbank.net/?tulenko/legalbiz72 "Business Cards That Talk." P. Tulenko. Your Cards Can Say: 'You Need My Services!' http://www.841book.com "Get More Business Right Now." P. Tulenko. Solutions for when your back is against the wall. http://www.841book.com "Choice Mail Spam Blocker" DigiPortal. This Is The One Paul Uses. Try It Free For 14 Days http://www.qksrv.net/click-1408383-10289909 "The Truth About Internet Marketing!" S. Pierce. How To 'Really' Make Money On The Internet http://hop.clickbank.net/?tulenko/wholetruth "Lower Your Taxes - Big Time" S. Botkin Tax Reduction Secrets from an IRS Insider http://www.taxreductioninstitute.com/index.asp?REFERER=tulenko Is Paul's Weekly Small Business Column Printed In Your Local Newspaper? Call your newspaper's Business Editor and show him/her samples of this newsletter. Suggest they contact their Scripps Howard Wire Service Representative to subscribe. Fighting The Alligators Of Failure. If you do not find an answer to your problem in this E-News, visit http://www.tulenko.gatorfighter.com, or email me at paul.tulenko@gatorfighters.com. Note: I am using ChoiceMail to help me fight-off the 1000+ per week e-trash alligators I receive, which will require a verification from you the first time you email me. This newsletter disclaims all responsibility for the advertising copy or the products advertised. You cannot rely on the fact that the newsletter has examined the product or recommends or endorses the product, unless it clearlly says it has, when you make your decision whether or not to purchase the product or interact with the advertiser. In all cases you are advised to do your own investigation before buying. Additionally, this newsletter accepts articles that we do not write or investigate the accuracy of and for which we may receive direct or indirect benefit or compensation. 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