Response from: Harry Goldburg (Check me out!)

Once again, what is this gentleman thinking? Don't have a business phone or address? Maybe ten years ago, the thought of having a second phone line installed and the price of long distance being what it once was, I can see why it would be expensive and impractical. But in today's day and age, where teenagers have cell phones and unlimited minutes exist, what does it cost to have a second cell phone nowadays...one that could be used as a business phone? Peanuts...it's peanuts and having a business line is critical. I don't care who you are, if you're calling someone whether it's to do business with them, hire them, buy something from them, etc. ...hearing "You've reached the office of..." at the other end of the line always sounds like you're in better hands than hearing "Hello?"...or even worse, having your kid answer the line.

Response from: Shawn Hessinger (Check me out!)

Harry, the best of both worlds is already attainable. Suggest you check out our posts on ConnectMe for anyone with a smart phone or PC. Posts start on Feb. 15 with "My cell phone's on steroids" or find them by searching the services link under categories.

Response from: Audrey Fox (Check me out!)

Why again wouldn't you want to talk with friends and family about your start-up? before I opened my current business, I had actually thought of getting into a different type of company (opening a franchise). While laying down the underpinnings for it, it was the honesty of my family that saved me from making a huge mistake. When someone else opened the same franchise months later, it closed within 6 months because the neighborhood couldn't support it. Not relying on your family's brutal honesty could be the biggest mistake on this list.

Response from: Shawn Hessinger (Check me out!)

Audrey,
Thanks for the great feedback! I think Dane's point was that no entrepreneur should spend time telling everyone he/she knows about a new venture if that time could be better spent working to make the venture a reality. The old action speaks louder than words argument. But I believe there's another underlying danger that can be inferred here. While in your case there were brutally honest family members warning you against a big mistake, in some cases (more cases than not perhaps) there can be well-intentioned family members who believe in your project and will support you because the business is yours. There are not enough of these people, in most cases, to make your venture a success by their patronage alone, but their loving support can blind the entrepreneur to real problems with a business model. This is why Dane suggests that making an enthusiastic customer out of someone you don't even know may be the real test of whether or not your business is viable.

Response from: Audrey Fox (Check me out!)

Were readers supposed to interpret that? I wouldn't have taken it that way..and obviously didn't. I hear the word "regale" and it sounds boastful, so I interpret that as "Don't brag about your new business venture", not as "Don't brag when you could be doing something about it." I think you're putting words into Dane's mouth that he didn't really say.

Response from: Shawn Hessinger (Check me out!)

Alas, embellishment has always been my weakness. There will be a rather lengthy post addressing most of these comments in the near future. Stay tuned.