Accidental Billionaires

ink">I have to go back several years to the day when
You gotta love problems for the solutions theyI first let go of my ‘hostess job' in a fine
inspire. Here are some names you mightrestaurant and went from part-time Entrepreneur
recognize who were canned, laid off, or otherwiseto full time on the Internet. What a great feeling it
given the boot. They have joined the Pink-Slipwas to plan my own day, design my own
Billionaires because instead of finding a new job,schedule and answer to no one but myself.
they launched their own careers.Surfing the Internet for a good money-stream is
Some will call this FATE, supposedly making thesenow second nature to me, and to do this I have
events inevitable -- no argument offered. Herelearned to use the Forums. People don't hesitate
are some names you might recognize who wereto gripe about a company or a program full of BS
canned, laid off, or otherwise given the boot.and hype. They rip them up and down and others
They have joined the Pink-Slip Billionaires becausejoin their whine list. Just as out-spoken are the
instead of finding a new job, they launched theirones who like to brag about the successes they
own careers.have found, the pay-outs that are hitting their
Michael Bloomberg — New York City Mayorbank accounts, and the simplicity of the program
David Neeleman — Jet Blue Aircraftitself.
Bernie Marcus & Allen Blank — HomeI have found a few open doors that I liked the
Depotsounds of and with further due diligence, I joined.
J K Rawling — Harry PotterYou don't even have to become a member of
Of the four backgrounds I read on thesethese Forums, just spend every spare hour you
entrepreneurs, Rawling's was the most amusing:have reading them on a daily basis. Get one
discovered writing short stories on company time,money stream up and going, and start looking for
she was given her pink-slip. How funny is that? Hethe next one. Diversification, as taught by the
should have offered her a private office for aexperts, is your best insurance on Wall Street and
percent of the publishing rights.Cyberspace.
Gaining control over your life is what it's all about.Look for money streams in the form of residuals
Doing something you love or believe in is a goodor leveraged income. With some effort up front
reason to start your own career. Confucius said:and a minimum investment, get it going and coast
"Find a business you love, and you will never havewhile you look for another money stream. Many
to work another day in your life".use this strategy to build their bank account while
Maybe your day will have longer hours or oddcollecting a paycheck. Good idea if your ultimate
hours at first, but when you're having fun at whatplan is to break-away from your Dilbert cube.
you're doing why would you care about freeAs Entrepreneurs in the fastest growing area of
weekends? It's all going to benefit YOU, not them.the economy, we as the risk takers and wealth
The Internet is the biggest revelation of our time.generators might be looked upon as grasshoppers
In the past one hundred years of communication,as we search for our answers. What makes us
only the telephone and aviation equal itsjump? The simple answer and motivation is the
development. But its importance to small businessdesire to create: the desire to create. And high
is greater today than either television or radio.self-esteem adds serious fuel.
Three million Entrepreneurs every year find theMotivation comes from anyone who tells us, it
courage to start a business of their own. Otherscan't be done. We love an impossible challenge.
fight the fear of "no paycheck" resulting inWe are dreamers. We want to control our own
two-thirds of all employees hating their work, theirlives. We see things that others can not. Our
boss or their hours. But they grind away their lifedetermination is driven by high self-esteem. We
in this situation.leave a boring job to take on the fearsome
We already know that 49% of all companies areadventure with the last of our savings. We are a
now operated from the home office, so this isstrange lot. So tell me, given the choice, would
not rocket science. And did you know —you choose being bored, or being terrified?
many independent business owners earn lessYour answer may or may not qualify you for
income than the customers they serve? That's aEntrepreneurship.
fact.