I've always wanted to have my own business. There is one for sale here where I live. It has been for sale for almost a year. From what I've been told, the business does quite well, but the owner is an older man with health problems. He just can't handle running the business anymore. It is an antique mall located in a really neat old stone building that was built in 1869. It's located in our town's historic downtown district, that is currently beginning to have a rebirth.

I went down there yesterday (I have been a customer there since it opened). The owner wasn't working that day, so I just took a stroll around looking at the inside (bought a really neat antique piece while I was there too). I called and talked to the realtor, and she is going to set up an appointment with the owner next week.

Back to my original question.....how do I know it's right? Initally I was very excited about it. After alot of negative feedback from a family member, I began to doubt myself. Now I'm in a state of confusion.

Advice please?

Hi Kazzie!
Congratulations on this exciting idea. The way I figure out if something is right is by putting one foot ahead of the next. I just keep taking the steps toward what it is I want and it starts flushing out whether its a good idea or not. The evidence of the universe knowing more about what I need than I know - usually shows up in obstacles and facts that are showing me its not in my best interest to continue. But I think it is so important to keep moving toward what you want (your CMI)(like the appt that is set to talk about buying the store)because it is only then that the paths can open up into what is usually way better than we think it can be. Keep us posted!!And keep looking at your CMI for faith focus and feeling!
Have a great day.
molly

Thanks for the good advice, molly.

The funny thing is, I just went thru the LL about CMI in the past week. I forgot to write down anything about owning my own business, even though it has been a dream all my life.

Maybe the universe IS trying to tell me something. I will keep moving forward and see.

Thanks for posting, Kazzie and for your reply, Molly! This cleared up a lot of things for me, too! You're SO right. I tend to sit and ponder "shall I do this or that", while of course, it's just to decide, take the step and then see what happens!!

Hi Kazzie
Just wanted to quickly add something - please don't let "negetive feedback" from someone else sway your decision(s). Remember the bit in SOGR when Mr.Wattles says that economic conditions may be doubtful (or words to that effect)but that this cannot be true for you - you are above fear because you are creating what you want. Also that you cannot know all the combinations the universe has set in motion on your behalf. A non-science of getting rich sudent might not succeed in this business, but if it is part of your CMI and you move forward with faith, it will work for you! If it feels right for you, don't worry about others 'take' on it. By the sound of it, they are not coming from the creative mind set. Another thought - if you decide to go ahead and are amazingly successful you will definately be conveying the impression of increase!!
Best of luck (which you don't need of course)

Hi Kazzie,

Congratulations on finding this new opportunity. How does it make you feel? When you gut instinct says, I am not sure, then I would dig a little deeper to learn where that thought is coming from. My only actions I lived to regret, were based on decisions where I ignored or reasoned away my gut instinct.

The negative feedback from family member? That is their belief and it is all about them. Not about you.

I have a good friend and I love her very much but. I think I will have to let her go. She is living in a state of fear. Her world is very small and she has no desire to expand it. Her way of supporting me is always "be careful. Better keep things the way they are because any change is too frightening." About getting rid of one of my bad habits, "that is ok, everybody slips up every now and then." I do not need that. I need someone who will keep me accountable so I can get rid of that bad habit!

I know she only wants what is best for me.
But what she is wishing me (without knowing it I am sure) is what would be best for HER.

I wish you much wisdom in your decision.

Caroline

Thank you all for your encouragement.

The biggest doubt I have is my own ability to run this business for 2 reasons:

1. I've never run a business before
2. I have my own health problems (getting healthy is one of my CMIs)

I am taking your advice and taking baby steps forward. I have an appointment with my banker next week. I will also tour the property next week. I have all ready started doing research on the internet about this type of business (found some really good stuff too) and began reading a how-to book for business start ups. I also started a gratitude journal (I need all the power I can get).

I can visualize things I would like to do there....ending up owning the whole block and making a little antique district. I think it would be a good tourist draw for our town.

One more thing, then I'll stop. The old stone building is very cool. It has 3 floors. The first 2 are being used as business space, and I have never seen the 3rd floor. I bet it could make a really neat apartment.

Update:

I went to see the building today. I was overwhelmed. It's HUGE. I was questioning whether I could take on something this big, but still moving forward.

Then something happened....

I had a minor fender bender in a McDonald's parking lot. I haven't had an accident for over 25 years. It was no big deal and the other guy involved and I were talking while the police officer made his report. Turns out that we have some business interests in common and may do some business in the future. He told me that everything happens for a reason (referring to our minor accident).

But that's not all.....

I had to take a copy of the accident report to my insurance agent (who is an old friend and has lived in this town all his life). I was asking him about business insurance. Turns out that he knew much of the history of the building. It used to be a warehouse used to store pesticides and fertilizer. EEEEEK!!! It could have BIG environmental problems. Needless to say, I am dropping the idea of purchasing.

The minor accident DID indeed happen for a reason. The Universe was guiding me to the person who could keep me from making a BIG mistake.

I'm a TRUE BELIEVER. Happy ending. I will move forward in another direction.

How amazing! Ask, and you get the answer you need!

StellaP
http://www.elefteres.blogspot.com

Update #2 (this story just keeps getting stranger and stranger)

I called the realtor this morning and told her that I decided not to buy the property because I felt that it was too big of a project to take on by myself (true).

She called me back this afternoon. It seems that after she called the owners and told them of my decision, they called back and told her that they wanted to talk to me. They said that they had an offer to make me that I couldn't refuse.

OMG! Now what to do?

So I called an engineering company that would inspect the building, including an environmental assessment at a price I can live with. The enviromental engineer told me that he doubted if there was a significant problem, but it would of course depend on their inspection.

Now I'm back at square one. I haven't talked to the owners yet. I don't know what to do.

Any opinions?

quote:

Originally posted by Kazzie:
Now I'm back at square one. I haven't talked to the owners yet. I don't know what to do.
Any opinions?

Hi Kazzie,

Seems like you're in for quite a ride!

That's a good thing, right Kazzie?

You say you always wanted your own business and were at first very excited about this opportunity.

I would suggest that you take some time - even if it is just half an hour or so - to focus on and think about what it is in owning this business that gets you excited. Does it really get you excited or is it actually something else that you're after?

When you have done that and you decide to make the next step in this deal, go ahead and talk to the owners. Listen to what they have to say. You can mention that you might have this engineering company inspect the building and state that regardless of the outcome of that you will need some time to reach a final decision.

You can make a CMI for this whole transaction the way you would like it to go as well. Have you done that? Remember to have FUN with that!

From ENJOYING your CMI comes Inspired Action!

Let us know what happens in Update #3!

Lucky
I think, I create, I succeed!

Hi Kazzi,

Personally I would listen to your inner self. So many times in the past I have blanked it out thinking that it wasn't the right answer. So and so would say I should do such and such. But look at me now. If I'd listened to myself, I would not be in the mess I'm in.

It is no use telling the universe what you want then backing out at the last minute because you don't think others would approve.

Let go and let God lead you

Love and success to all
Gwen

Hmm. Here's what I'm trying to do with my business (I also am taking on a very big ambitious project with what some may say is not enough experience):

I'm keeping my CMI in mind while also keeping in mind that THIS particular business plan is the HOW -- which means I don't need to get attached to it. The HOW is the universe's domain, not mine, and could change any time.

Same with you -- you want your own business but it doesn't have to be THIS business. So you can maintain your focus, faith, and feeling about the CMI while simply "waiting to see" whether this particular HOW is going to be the HOW that the universe is providing that's going to work.

So you go on taking steps towards it but you don't get tunnel vision about it. You just keep checking it out and taking the steps because you want to explore any and every opportunity that might turn out to be IT -- and even if this is isn't it, one of the steps you take might lead you to it.

I hope that made sense

Ditto what the others said -- dismiss your family member's negativity. Only worry about what your own insides tell you. At least, that's what I'm trying to do.

Yet another update (are you getting tired of this yet?):

I spent last evening researching historical preservation on the internet. It is possible that the building could be eligible for some grants.

I went to the mall to talk with the owner this morning. She wasn't there, but her husband was and he got her on the phone so we could talk. She came down on the price 30%. I will have a face to face meeting with her on Sunday.

My brain is exhausted.

After I rest a bit, I am going back to the CMI LL and focus on this one thing and see what I come up with.

Sleep on it, Kazzie! Go to bed, and ask for an answer in your dreams...Just be sure you'll remember it when you wake up!

Your first post about this business sounded so enthusiastic, about making it a tourist attraction in your town and maybe live on the top floor. Maybe the car accident happened to make you do more research than you'd normally would have done?

I always say it's better to do something and regret that, then NOT to do something and regret that. This is BIG and of course it's scary. It's ok to be scared, butit's sad if fear stops you from doing something that could be just fantastic! What's the worse that could happen?

Life's an adventure...

Good luck with your deciscion - keep us updated!

StellaP

http://www.elefteres.blogspot.com

Kazzie,

My dh and I bought our own business about 2 1/2 years ago. The one that we have is not the first one that we made an offer on. The first one we thought was the perfect one for us. We actually made an offer on it but they had accepted another contract that same day. Then they came back to us about a month later to see if we were still interested because the other person's finance had not come through and they were tired of waiting. So, we made a second offer. The other buyers received the financing the morning that we made the second offer so it was rejected again! Sheesh! Anyway, the business that we wound up buying we made the offer and it was a done deal within two weeks. I also know that we weren't the highest offer that the previous owners got. They also financed the business for us, let us split the down payment up to make it easier. We both totally feel like everything fell into place so easily for us in the purchase of this business because it was the right thing for us to do. kwim? Have faith that if it's the right thing it will work out and if it's not for your highest good then the deal will fall apart.

Best wishes,

Taryn

Another Update.....

I met with the owners Sunday. We had a nice chat and I was told that they would do whatever they could to work with me. I am giving myself this week to think things through. Next Monday, I will either make an offer and proceed with the due diligence phase, or back out. Right now I'm pretty sure I will make that offer. I'll let you all know.

Thanks for all your input. It has helped more than you know.

BIG UPDATE!!

I'm so excited! Tomorrow I will make an offer on the antique mall (and OF COURSE it will be accepted)! I had a meeting today with a lady from an organization that promotes businesses in the downtown district. She said to me "I wish everyone had your confidence and enthusiasm! Where did you get it?" I said "You need to read a little book called The Science of Getting Rich." LOL!!! Isn't it great?

In my mind I all ready own the place and I'm doing renovations to the building, re-organizing the business, and planning events for our antique district. It's a done deal. All I have to do now is go through the physical actions to make it happen. I can't wait to get started!

When I first wrote my CMIs, I didn't include this, yet the Universe presented it to me. It's like DUH, I have said all my life that I wanted to own my own business. I just had to have it slap me upside the head.

This didn't just happen by chance. I firmly believe that acting and thinking in the Certain Way has brought this all about. I have a zillion ideas in my head about what I want to do and what I want to accomplish. When I come down a bit from this high, I will begin to write it all down and organize my thoughts into steps. Right now I just want to enjoy it for a day or two.

My gratitude is boundless!!!

Congratulations to you, Kazzie! Very brave!

I'd love to come and visit your shop one day.
Love
StellaP

http://www.elefteres.blogspot.com

CONGRATS KAZZIE!!! Blessings and the very best wishes on your new venture. Sometimes we have to remind our heads to listen to our hearts instead of the other way around. The Universe obviously wasn't interested in what was in your noggin but what was in your heart. I wish you all of the very, very best success - which is obvious, isn't it!!!