Lynn Portnoy volunteers for communal projects and relishes an
evening alone.

judge gave her an extension to com-
plete the renovation and move, she
said.
Gayle's Chocolates evolved out of
Steinhardt's long-standing interest in
making chocolates while growing up
in northwest Detroit. Friends and
relatives, in turn, enjoyed receiving
them as special gifts. Along\the way,
she earned an English degree from
the University of Michigan.
The hardest part of being a single
business owner, Steinhardt said, is be-
ing a single parent.
"I have no free time for a social
life," she said. "I spend a lot of time
with my business and my children.
Right now those are the most impor-
tant things.
"I've lost contact with a lot of my
old friends," she said. "But I keep say-
ing I'll have a big party and make it
up. After the busy season,
Christmas."

Gayle Steinhardt divides her time between her business and her
daughters.

Gorelick said his children are also
an important factor in his free time.
His 10-year-old twin sons and 13-year-
old daughter live in New York with
his ex-wife since his divorce four years
ago. His children spend one weekend
a month, summers and holidays with
him in West Bloomfield.
"The most important thing is
maintaining as close a. relationship
with them as I can," Gorelick said. "It
is difficult when they are living in
another community!'
Five years ago, Gorelick, 49,
began Medical Management Group,
Ltd., a Farmington Hills-based
marketing firm for medical practice
groups. He also is administrative
director for Advanced Dermatology
Centers, based in Farmington Hills.
An extensive background in business
and marketing and an interest in the
medical field led him to start the
business.

-

Being single has not been an
obstacle in starting or maintaining
his business he said. "Everyone has
trials and tribulations when they're
starting out. Everyone has trouble
getting money. When you're looking
for initial money for start-up, it is dif-
ficult to find a banker, or private in-
vestor. Once the business is suc-
cessful, investors say 'Why didn't you
tell us about it?' "
Juggling work and leisure time
hasn't been a problem, Gorelick said.
"I'm.able to balance work and leisure.
It's not that difficult to fit a social life
into my schedule?'
He welcomes situations when
clients fix him up with dates. "Not be-
ing involved with groups of other
singles, it is difficult to meet people.
It is nice to have a network of friends
who help you out!'
For Firestone, 33, there has been
little time for dating since she open-

ed Twigs, a women's fashion accessory
store in Birmingham three years ago.
"I love to read. I'm not unhappy to go
home and be alone. People who know
you can accept that!"
Firestone said it takes understan-
ding friends to build a good suport
system. "When you're involved with
someone and own a business, that
person has to understand that the
business is with you all the time,
whether you're there or not;' she said.
Firestone, who grew up in Birm-
ingham, studied photography at the
Center for Creative Studies in
Detroit. She decided to go into retail-
ing after working in the personal
shopping department at Saks Fifth
Avenue for about a month.
She felt an accessories store would
fill a void in the Detroit market. "I've
always wanted to have my own
business and I've always loved jewelry
and accessories!'
The store took all of her time at
first. "There was a lot of stress,
because I knew so little," she admit-
ted. Now she has one day off duirng
the week.
"I haven't had time for dating, but
that's what I've chosen," Firestone
said. There was one incident when a
customer tried to fix her up with a
date, Firestone said. "The guy said
`Forget it. Any woman who owns her
own business has to be hard as nails!
But I'm not that way!'
Owning the business has enrich-
ed her life in many ways, Firestone
said. "You learn to have a lot of pa-
tience. You learn to laugh at difficult
situations and at life in general.
"My friends are understanding,
and supportive. You need that net-
work. Some days I'm so stressed out,
I just go home," Firestone said.
"I'm not a frustrated single, I
don't mind being single. I get a lot of
satisfaction from my work. It becomes
your life, and that's important to me! 'o

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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