Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We`ve had the chance to ask a number of very successful people what they`d do if they could start all over again. Some say, "the same thing." Some come up with a quick answer - "something completely different" from what they ended up doing in their career. Others are simply stumped. I think they freeze upon hearing the question because daily life has a way of taking over. Momentum has a way of ruling our minds and energies. We just don`t go down those mental roads after a while.

Lately, I`ve been thinking a lot about what I`d do if I started over again. It`s really hard for me to even get in this zone - I`m such a maniac about StartupNation... there are so many things we have yet to do to grow this company to its full impact! And I`m insanely committed!

But still, sometimes I think about doing it COMPLETELY differently. As crazy as it sounds, I might consider something agricultural...

If you could do it all over again, what would you do?

-------------------------

Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

If I could do it all over again, I would have never worked for the many technology companies that I did, Especially around the 9-11 tragedy, it was hard for me to find a stable job. I think if I would have started my business at an earlier time, I would already be at phase 3 of my business plan

-------------------------

Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

So you`d do what you`re doing now if you could do it all over again? just be farther along?

-------------------------

Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

This is a scary question...Before starting The Pet Set, I had serious thoughts about going to chef school....I had the application filled out and everything. 

I`d wanted to open a restaurant called "Herbs", featuring the products of only local farmers, meat and fish purveyors. 

But then one day, while walking my dog, the seeds for The Pet Set started to grow.  Luckily.

Well YES, Aside from going into depression because of so many layoffs in the semiconductor industry, It would have saved me the therapy, the money I spent would have been used to fund the business, and my business would have been farther along, or perhaps I would have taken a drastic turn and started a record label ( I`ve been in the music industry for years)

-------------------------

Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

a record label. now THAT is cool. take it all the way. why not be a "rock star"?!

-------------------------

Rich Sloan , Co-Founder, Chief Startupologist, StartupNation

You know what is interesting about this question, is thinking about the different business environments under which I could have started my business.

If the internet did not exist, I wonder if I would have been able to create my business...it almost would have had to be something else.  I wonder.

I think I would have bought Intel, WalMart, and Microsoft stock in the 1980s-90s. Maybe some Berkshire-Hathway, too.
Seriously, I would have gotten into physics or materials science, maybe nanotechnolgy. Of course, I would have actually had to have math skills, too.
My only caveat here is that I would not want my personal life affected. It hasn`t been an easy journey, but, I can`t imagine life without my wife now.
Was that a little sickening? Yeah. I was afraid of that.

Matt

I would build a beachfront villa resort in a tropical continue like Vietnam, Thailand, etc...  Something I`d enjoy doing and it`d feel like a vacation everyday.

-------------------------

Peter Nguyen Founder 2Keene Ventures, LLC. www.premiersaver.com "Even heaven has a rainy day"

Love this question. 

I definitely would *not* have gone into accounting.  I`ve been successful, but I knew in my junior year of college that it wasn`t the right fit.  And, yet, I persisted thinking "I`d grow into it."  I contemplated culinary school or teaching accounting/business in a university setting before graduating, but really was ready to be done with school and see where my wings would take me.

After a little less than 10 years of trying to learn to love accounting, I finally came to the conclusion that I was wasting my life away doing something I hated.  Harsh words, but true - I loathe my current career. 

So, here I am in the process of opening up, of all things, a wedding and event consulting business which is, actually, a good match for someone with an accounting background and a perfect fit with my interests.  I made my situation work.

Had I never taken that accounting route, though, and had money not been a factor, I would have loved a career singing or in theater...perhaps both on Broadway.  :)

I can`t complain too much since I wouldn`t have met my husband if I`d not taken the path I did...

-------------------------

MeLissa
Independent Chocolatier for Dove Chocolate Discoveries http://www.ChocoRocco.com Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ChocoRocco