Originally Posted by Gaz
Of course. But the point still stands. What exactly is the motivation of growing the business, if it's not personal financial gain?
Perhaps to:
* use his technology and knowledge to benefit others?
* increase his reputation?
* use his ability to create jobs for other people?
* avoid wasting money for the sake of appearances?
Perhaps because it is what he likes to do and he enjoys doing it regardless of the material benefits.
The best part of owning your own business is getting to make the rules instead of having to follow them. This guys sounds happy and that's the biggest benefit you can ask for.
We've chosen to keep our business a mom & pop organization because:
* We get to choose who to share our knowledge with, and when, without having to answer to anyone else.
* We can grow personal reputation through volunteer work within the industry without having to worry about making payroll.
* We didn't have to lay off anyone after the tech bust when we went 18 months without any significant work.
* We can decide which travel benefits we want and insist on those, even if it means declining business or costs the company more. And those requirements are fluid depending on the destination, the previous and upcoming travel schedule and the time of year. We do insist on the client paying for us to arrive one day prior to work, and in winter, two days prior, so we can avoid stress over weather delays.
When on the road last week, combined we spent less $45 per day for food. We flew Tango plus but stayed in a 4 star hotel (the client paid for it directly) and hated it. It took days for us to train the staff to be genuine with us and not deferrential. At a Residence Inn or Homewood Suites, they treat you like family from the moment you check in and we like that.
Next week, we are driving to YYZ (so we will land back there after the trip to spend Thanksgiving with our kids who attend college nearby), flying J because this is my first long flight since becoming disabled and I don't know how my body will react. We'll be staying in a short-stay apartment so we can get a sense of the city where we'll be working and I'll be able to keep to my health routines more easily. The second half of the trip will be on a hobby farm where we are helping a mom & pop company set their place up to be a technology training centre/retreat.
We won't make near as much money this trip as we make consulting in the US but the important thing is we are happy with what we do and feel privileged to be able to do it.