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ED NAKFOOR
Special to the Jewish News

Small
Startups F

A tough economy may

be that perfect time to

pursue your dream.

Above: Alan Rosen is proud of his
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

ans of the movie Office Space have great
film using some of its catch phrases as
well as recalling its exaggerated — some
would argue truthful — depiction of 9-

to-5 life.
It's no wonder that the dark comedy's take on
rush-hour traffic, the shrinking work cube, and
management foibles has developed a cult-like fol-
lowing. Not to mention rooting for the main char-
acter, Peter, in his attempt to unknot the corporate
ties and take control of his own destiny.
To find out if Peter succeeds, you'll have to rent
the movie. To chart your own course, even as cor-
porate layoffs loom large, formulate a solid plan,
don't be averse to taking risks, and know that
there's no better time to start your own business.
Starting a new business as clouds of uncertainty
linger over the economy may sound contrary to
conventional thinking. After all, wouldn't a small
business — a new small business for that matter
— have greater chance for success when Wall
Street is a little more upbeat?
"The timing has never been better" to get a
small business off the ground says Jeffrey Sloan,
co-founder with his brother Richard of Sloan
Ventures and Startup Nation in Birmingham. The

42-year-old entrepreneur makes a solid case saying
that "there's no longer corporate job security, big
companies are slashing entire departments and this
means they have to outsource to other firms to get
things done. And that spells opportunity for non-
capital intensive business" such as service providers
or consultants.
"Everyone understands that these are tough eco-
nomic times," Jeffrey says, adding "and what better
time can you think of to take control of your des-
tiny and rely on yourself for your livelihood?"
He also makes a point of saying that having his
own company has given him an increased sense of
pride and achievement. "The essence of owning a
business is not about how much money you
make," Jeffrey says. Rather, it should be about
((creating a lifestyle of your own design, taking
control over your schedule ...
"It's pride of ownership and creating a livelihood
for yourself and your family." And ultimately, he
says, "there's a sense of pride that comes with being
such a part of the community."

Opportunities

There's no denying the importance small business
has on our economy. The Small Business
Administration's Detroit office reports that more
than 98 percent of businesses in the Michigan are
classified as small: 500 or fewer employees and less

4/25
2003

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