I'll Go Kung-Fu On Your Ass

[jmfargo]

Have you ever wondered how you got where you are today? How many of you actually are where you said you wanted to be when you were five or six and people asked "So, little child, what do you want to be when you grow up?" I know I'm not. I think when I was six my answer was usually along the lines of "a ninja," and when the adult would quickly correct me by saying something like "No, you can't be a ninja for a job, what kind of ~job~ do you want," I would smile innocently up at them and say "a paid ninja."

Alas, I'm still not a ninja, which I suppose is fine considering that the modern day ninja probably gets paid less than I do as a house-husband, which is room and board. I'd imagine that a ninja only gets paid in very particular circumstances that don't come up very often these days. "Ninja! I need you to infiltrate the castle of Donald Trump using only ancient weaponry and tools, steal his corporate identity with your ninja mind powers, and slip quietly out the back without being seen by people or cameras!"

Maybe not.

Seriously, though, when I was younger I imagined being something I definately am not today. I know this is true with most people, because otherwise we would have a world full of firefighters, police, and ballerinas, and while we'd be safe and entertained, I'm not sure we'd function very well as a society.

So, I'm looking at my life like a child, trying to come up with "what I want to be." It's not an easy question, and even as a kid I had difficulty coming up with an answer that really appealed to me. Even back then I knew that what I wanted to be was "rich," but you can't tell the adults that because they tend to look at you funny when you say adult-like things as a child. Then they go on to share the amusing story with other people, and pretty soon you're the kid who wants to be rich. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

What this rambling is leading up to, other than nostalgia from thinking of when I was little, is that I'm trying to come up with some ideas about how to enact my ideas. I have great ideas for businesses that I think the Buffalo area needs, but no real-world experience to put behind these ideas. I know that if I want to encourage people to invest money in my thoughts and businesses, I have to have more of a business plan than "you give me money, and I use it to buy things." I just know that's not quite how it works. The problem comes in with the execution of going beyond that.

Does anyone have hints or tips on how to write a good business prospectus, or business plan? One idea that I had is already coming to fruition, but the other plans that I have for running a store or some other kind of business are a little big-scale to be able to pull off on my own. Please, if you can help, I need it! Suggestions are more than welcome, they're encouraged!

Don't let my six-year-old self down!

"I wanna be a RICH ninja!"

Okay, let him down gently.

Comments

[evilbutcute.livejournal.com]

When I was cleaning out my stuff a few years ago, I found something that I wrote in the first grade. It said that I wanted to be a computer programmer. I totally forgot about that, but it is what I went to college for, and have been working with computers for like forever.

I'd be down with being a rich ninja.

And as I have been working on a business plan for a while now, I have a few resources that you might find useful. Bear in mind that I dion't have a complete business plan done yet, but it is getting there. I've got the URLs of some really comprehensive business plan stuff at home, so I'll send them to you when I get there.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I look forward to looking through the URLs for some helpful hints and tips.

It's very cool that you "knew" what you wanted to be just when you were in first grade. You're one of the few people I know that followed the path set forth by their younger self.

In my mind, I AM a rich ninja. :)

[(Anonymous)]

"I found something that I wrote in the first grade. It said that I wanted to be a computer programmer."

How young are you?

When I was in first grade, I wanted to be 'a pizza maker'.
I guess I really liked pizza :)

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

You know, I can get you a job being a "pizza maker," if you want. ;)

[evilbutcute.livejournal.com]

I'm 28. We had one, very basic computer in the classroom, but I was facinated by it.

[(Anonymous)]

Hmm, I'm only 2 years older, but I don't remember a computer in the classroom until 6th grade, and not one that we really used until sometime late in Junior High. Well, I don't do that much programming, but I'm on the damned things 10 hours a day. I sleep, eat and game the other 14 hours (mostly sleep though).

Stupid computers.

-tt

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- Hmm, I'm only 2 years older, but I don't remember a computer in the classroom until 6th grade, and not one that we really used until sometime late in Junior High. --

Close to ditto on that. We had one class in elementary school that was nothing but computers (a 6th grade class) and I was in 5th when we got it. Then in Junior High I was exposed to computers really for the first time, and demanded (and got) to be a computer lab aide when I was in 8th grade.

[evilbutcute.livejournal.com]

First grade or second grade I remember a game called Math Monster and we wrote stories and printed them out on a dot matrix.

By 3rd grade, there was Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego on the floppys that were actually big and floppy. Still one computer for the whole classroom, and I think we were the lucky ones (we had all the advanced level kids)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

I'm proud, and yet ashamed, to admit that my parents finally broke down and bought a new, non-dot-matrix printer. Last year.

[(Anonymous)]

I'll say one thing that is laterally related to a business plan.
As shallow as it sounds, appearance is a big thing.
You need to LOOK the part of someone who wants to manage a business to help your chances of making people believe you and want to help you out.

That’s all.

-tt

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Alright, not sure if you're calling me fat, or what, but let me just say the following:

I clean up very nicely. I have enjoyed brunch at very fancy Country Clubs in the Buffalo area, and not felt out of place dressed in my shirt, tie, and coat. I have been to restaurants that charge almost $100 per plate, and looked like I belonged there.

While losing weight would help this even more, and perhaps getting a new hair-style, I honestly believe that when I work at it a little bit, I do look the part. I appreciate the honesty in your comment, and know exactly where you're coming from. Appearance IS a big thing. When I was 16, I never would have believed that, but now I understand how the corporate world actually works, and it makes sense.

Though again ... losing weight? Yeah, a good thing. :)

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Though this does remind me that I need to refresh my wardrobe. Some of my pants and shirts have shrunk, and some have gotten bigger. I'm not sure exactly what's going on, because if it was just one or the other I'd say I was losing/gaining weight, but as it is? No clue.

[a-poets-justice.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid, I wanted to be "A cheerleader, but not stupid."

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious!

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- Even back then I knew that what I wanted to be was "rich," but you can't tell the adults that because they tend to look at you funny when you say adult-like things as a child. --

Hehe, I did that. All the time. The scary part is I'm making it happen, but it is a great deal more work that I thought. I always figured I'd be one of those lucky stiffs that wins the lottery. Figures I live in a damn state that outlaws lotteries. *Ha-rumph* Maybe that's why I'm always travelling to Vegas?

But yeah, I also wanted to be a Police Officer or work for the Military. Gee, you think the second one had anything to do with the fact that my dad was a recruiter for the Army? Start 'em young I suppose.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

Hey, it's awesome that you're making your dream happen. The hard work part goes along with my last little "sermon" as I think TT called it. So many people just don't realize to reach their dreams they need to work hard.

I think it's the education system that helps us think that we're all magical beings of light that will win the lottery some day, but that's a rant for some other time, I suppose. A time when I have a good hour to write it, edit it, and make it look good. Can't put something up there that will be used against me in 2016!

I've noticed that in most Army families, be the father a recruiter or not, the children are more likely to want to go into the Army. Now, some grow up and realize that it's just not what they want, but others grow up and go career like "good ol' dad." Start'em young isn't necessarily a bad thing, if they're being prepped for something where a life-long training might keep them alive. :)

No lotteries in Alaska? Okay, you just gave me a reason other than avalanches to not move there.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

-- No lotteries in Alaska? --

Well, there is the Ice classic, but that's not really as much a lottery as a guessing game. They put a pressure sensative clock on posts up on the Nanina Ice Flow, and people bet on when the ice breaks/thaws enough to stop the clock.

When I said there wasn't much to do up here, I wasn't kidding.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

And while paintball is fun, Frozen Paintball just isn't worth the welts.

[jfargo.livejournal.com]

the Nanina Ice Flow

Every now and then I look back at old posts. This one caught my eye because I saw it and thought "That's awesome! They have an ice flow named after C.S. Lewis' creation, Narnia!"

Then I got dissapointed.