[Daniel J. Bertelsen]

Originally Posted by dmetcalf50

Sorry to hear what happened.

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2686...-Las_Vegas.jpg
That's motivation.

The book Good to Great is good. I like to just go to the book store and browse. I also just picked up the book The Tipping Point and I'm fascinated with it.

I would like to read those - could you tell me the name of the specific authors for each book?

[SOCMiles]

Tipping Point is by Malcolm Gladwell and really is a fantastic book! I would also recommend Timothy Ferris' book "The 4 Hour Workweek"

Remember... We are here on earth to stay in a state of joy... Or enjoy ourselves! We have no obligations, simply opportunities. Do what you enjoy doing, and everything else will 'work' itself out.

[Peter.j.bea]

The second thing ANY investor will look at (after the exit strategy) is the CEO or founders background. If you have a track record of this investor buying out or investing in your business you are gold for further capital, even in a recession.

I would recommend simply writing a few business plans, testing some of the grounds of the products or services and start putting your head out there for Angel Groups who want to be VC or even VCs themselves.

As far as motivation, you shouldn't need it. Look at it this way, you did and are still doing something 99.99% of this population couldn't manage to do on their own. You are a business man, not a web media self proclaimed entrepreneur that gets kicks from blogging and telling others how to be successful at the age of 21, you have been there done that.

Its not going to be a book that makes a true man of business feel better, its an example of your own surroundings that will help you see it for yourself. Don't EVER stop that train from moving in your mind.

Good luck to you! And start writing those business plans!

[davidqi]

Hi everyone, I come from China and I just log in and this is the first article i read.

Regarding the bad thing happen, it's really bad person to do like what you meet. But I think almost people are good. I hope you will keep up and I am sure your clients will come back soon and you will beat the bad person soon. If the bad person did what you meet, I am sure he will not change and will keep hurtiing lots of persons. When these persons know how bad he is, then they will come back and keep buy your products. Then you will win. Of courese the world economy is slow now, pls do your best to keep up! hope to get your good news soon

[BusinessAdviser]

What's your business.

[Proph]

Peter is 100% correct on how to move forward, However I completely understand where you are coming from. I have been feeling the same "funk" you are feeling for awhile. It is hard to explain to someone else but the analagy of depression is a pretty good one. I usually explain it to people as confused, i just kinda float day to day but when it comes to having a plan or even knowing what i want to do, i just don't know and the motivation isn't there. In talking with other people they have said it sounds like a mid-life crisis. I guess it comes earlier to some people than others but i don't think buying a corvette and getting a new wife will make me feel better and get back on track.
Wish i could help more but i haven't quite figured this one out myself yet, but you aren't alone in feeling this way.

[Usman Sheikh]

I think you have learned an extremely critical business lesson at a very young age. Getting cheated on or betrayed by a partner or investor is unfortunately quite common. When business picks up and the money starts flowing in the dynamics of a partnership change. I have seen this time and time again when partners, investors or even suppliers take advantage of this situation anyway they can.

In most cases we learn these lessons later on in life and as we become older the harder they become to swallow. This experience will probably enable you to navigate future situations similar to this one with much greater confidence and knowledge. Document everything that happened and why it happened. At what point could you have done something differently?

Given that you are much stronger now, there is no doubt that you will pick yourself and get started with another venture. There is no such thing as failure only feedback. When you begin to look at it from that perspective things will begin to fall into place.

Hope this helped.

Contact me on twitter @usmansheikh if you need any other assistance. I have a lot of information regarding equity splits etc that may be of interest to you for future ventures.

[fullercustoms]

I think you had a great learning experience, The fact that you were so successful with your first business so quickly is amazing. If you haven't I recommend reading some Books by Robert Kiyosaki, who became a millionaire then lost everything because he didn't bother with getting a patent. He has many books that are all great and very informative I learned a lot from them.

[iammci]

I went through a stretch like that for four years before I recovered. It wasn't until I really found what I loved that it really didn't feel like work anymore.

Sometimes you just need some time off, but most of the time you really have to push through it and stay on track.

[Jenie0109]

chill and relax your mind at least for a day...Light up your mood and improve your good sense of humor by watching,reading those not so serious stuffs

[Gator]

you need a break, take some vacation at the beach for couple weeks, clear tye head and inspiration might come back (for new biz project)
Just giving advice from my personal experience

[admorri]

Depression is one of those disorders which most people face in there life as some stage for one reason or the other. If it's children the pressure of studies gets over their head and if it's adults the pressure of work attracts depression. Xanax is one of those medicines which help in relieving anxiety and depression, but this medicine should only be used for small duration as this is habit forming drug and sometimes the withdrawal symptoms can be more depressing. The withdrawal from this medicine is a slow and gradual process rather than abrupt. Xanax works by slowing down the nervous system and hence relieves anxiety. The best way to get over anxiety and depression is to take a break from your regular schedule, go out, and take good sleep. This helps in clearing the mind and try consulting a specialist who can suggest you as how you can get over your problem.

[chrismaynard]

my brother and I purchased a company when I was 27. We had been working in Alberta in the oil patch rich for a day and poor for 2 weeks...as you say...long story short...an opportunity presented itself for pennies on the dollar (the previous owner was 85) so we jumped at the chance. We inherited 7 vehicles that were literally falling apart, 5 employee's and a building with holes so large in it that we had to build the floor up 4 inches to keep the product from being soaked when it rained.

Within 3 years we had moved to a 15,000 sq/ft building and employed 33 drivers/office personnel who serviced over 280 communities. We were moving at a pace, knocking down every goal set before us without any thought of failure...we WERE the name. We had essentially ALL of the market in our field.

Then one day I received a phone call from our largest customer telling us that we had lost the contract to, ironically , the government provider of the same service. Over night we were wiped out...the brakes were thrown...everything was spinning.

We fought and scrambled and bled almost all of our cash until finally we got the ship turned upright and sailing again. We're back to 27 employee's and growing and I have a 1000 ideas to grow, but that fire/hope is gone. I fight to find it but it's like sobering up the day after an awesome party.....

[chrismaynard]

your not kidding...we did a mild audit of potential/actual monies lost/unrealized over those three years and all I can say is "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice..."

[chrismaynard]

yeah...and while your at it stop in to see the wizard...it's just that simple....how long have you been an employee?