most of their friends do not. "All
my friends are professionals —
traders, brokers, attorneys or doc-
tors," says Ryan, 26.
"There is more stability in be-
ing a professional, but as a busi-
nessman, you're your own boss,"
he says. "You don't put in two
politics that go along with that,"
he says.
In his second year of law
school, Ryan, with his brother,
Jay, now 28, opened Lone Star.
The idea came from Ryan's un-
dergraduate days at the Univer-
sity of Michigan. "I'd wake up
every morning, get a cup of cof-
fee, read the paper," he says. At
the time, back home in West
Bloomfield, there wasn't any
place to go for a cup of coffee.
The key to a successful busi-
ness? Among others, "the prod-
uct has got to be great," says
Jay.
While Rebecca and Steve
Jasgur's story is a little differ-
ent, they are likely to agree. The
owners of Joe Cornell believe
that their business is success-
ful because they treat clients
like members of the family.
After working at Joe Cornell
throughout high school and col-
lege, the brother-sister team
bought the Jewish dance and
disc jockey company.
They were also inspired by
an entrepreneurial-minded fa-
ther and older brother.
Although they did not start
their own company, the Jasgurs
are grappling with the same is-
sues and stress as their self-made
peers.
"I think it's always nice to be
able to be the boss, see your ideas
PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPITT
PHOTO BY BILL HANSEN
FULL CIRCLE page 7
tive at the commission. The in-
quiries that come in, she says, are
fielded from males and females.
David Rubin, 26, credits his
dad with instilling in him an en-
trepreneurial drive.
While Mr. Rubin always want-
ed to open his own business, he
took a more traditional route —
law school. But you won't catch
him in a courtroom any time
soon.
Mr. Rubin stumbled upon the
idea for Dakota Bread Co. out
West, where he met a man-whose
bakery exuded the idea of whole-
some life on the plains among lo-
cally grown grains.
"I wanted something trendy
Above: Melissa Talon and Will Slatkin
go through their paces at Joe Cornell
dance studio.
Right: Mindy Ruben: "If I'm not going to
have fun, I'm not going to do it."
that may not be here forever.
One of the hottest concepts,
[where] barriers of entry were
not high," was a retail outlet for
freshly baked breads. Dakota
Bread sells 20 different breads,
muffins and fat-free cinnamon
rolls.
While Jay and Ryan Rosett
had the entrepreneurial instinct,
weeks' notice to take a week off
— but it may take a lot longer to
get vacations."
The Rosetts own the popular
Birmingham coffee shop called
Lone Star. While Ryan earned a
law degree, he says he never
wanted to practice — "I didn't
want the corporate lifestyle and
come to life," says Ms. Jasgur.
Her brother cautions that not
everyone does it for the right rea-
sons. Some open businesses be-
cause they think the hours will
be more lenient or because they
want to make a heap of money.
"A lot of people are concerned
"There is more
stability in being a
professional, but as
a businessman,
you're your own
boss."
with what will happen in 10
years if it doesn't work, if they're
behind where they want to be in
life."
Owning a business is a 24-
hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week
move — "it's our life," says Mr.
Jasgur.
Mr. Rubin says you can't start
a business without extensive sup-
port.
"If my parents weren't back,
ing me, if I hadn't saved money,
I couldn't take a risk," he notes.
"If you don't have a support be-
hind you —because you are tak-
ing a risk — you need to make
some serious sacrifices." [1]
BUY ONE
GET ONE FREE*
Buy one pair of Women's or
Children's Shoes or Boots
at the Sale Price.Get the
Other Pair at the same Sale
Price or less FREE!
654 prs.
*Table & Rack Shoes & Boots only.
All sales final. No refunds or exchanges
Greg
SHOES
Showroom Hours: Monday-Friday 11-5 • Saturday 11-3 • or by appointment
3160 Haggerty Rd. • West Bloomfield • 48323 • 810-624-7300
ORCHARD MALL
Orchard Lake Rd.
North of Maple
W. Bloomfield • 851-5566
Serving the Community for 40 Years
• BLOOM and BLOOM •
• Registered Electrologists •
By Appointment Only — Ask For Debby
Near 12 Mile Road between Evergreen and Southfield
810-559-1969