The Fish Pond . . .

Knute · Oct 1, 2003

( My quarrel is with the outrageous nature of the way this is structured.)

You might want to blame the hundreds if not thousands of unscrupulous telemarketers who exploited the system so badly and for so long that the public was driven to this point. If they hadn't pushed and pushed and pushed people wouldn't have signed up in droves for the "do not call" list.

Opting out from a particular company sounds like a good idea, but why should we have to be bothered by them in the first place? Many people will not, ever, buy something from a telemarketer - period. Since that's the case why should they have to specifically tell thousands of companies "I'm not interested, don't call" one at a time when a list like this does it for them?

As for the fine for violating the "do not call" list it may be steep, but if the punishment for violating it isn't severe then companies will call anyway.

Is it unfortunate that honorable businessmen like yourself are caught in the same net? Of course, but that doesn't change the fact that most people would rather run the risk of missing your one call for the sake of not geting 200 or more calls a month from the rest of the telemarketers.

MossRoad · Oct 1, 2003

JEH,
Good points. I like hearing the other side of the story.

they depend on the owners to provide them with work. 

I've often thought about going into business for myself, but can't stomach it. I trust my employer to make the business decisions for me. I'm comfortable with that decision at this point in my life.

MikePA · Oct 1, 2003

To no one in particular, but everyone in general...

Please keep this discussion civil or one of the TBN Fish and Game wardens will have to post No Fishing allowed at this discussion pond. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

MossRoad · Oct 1, 2003

We gotcha, Mike /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Libertine · Oct 2, 2003

Mossroad:
I've often thought about going into business for myself, but can't stomach it. 

Ha. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Being an employee gives you less hassle, less responsibility, often, especially if you deliberately stay "small", more income, and, of course, less security. There's nothing wrong with being a hired hand. I tried working for someone else in the 60s. Realized after a month I wasn't fit to work for anyone else. I'd rather earn peanuts and live in a tent and have the freedom. But that's just me.

On the other hand . . . (there's always an other hand isn't there), if you can put up with the grief (if you can develope the stomach for it), you have more freedom and inner security. If you try to "grow" a business (I have deliberately not, consciously deciding to keep a low profile and be less of a target) you can make huge amounts of money.

You say you have "often thought about it". I don't know where you are in your life cycle, but you might consider a specific time period. Say take two years off and try it. If you are young enough, it would delay your career but not finish it. If it works out, great. If not you go on with your life knowing you gave it a shot. Also, once you've been there you will definately have a diferent perspective AND you won't spend the rest of your live "often thinking" about it. You will have tried it. One thing though be sure you set a specific amount you can loose (if that's the way it goes). Don't mortgage your whole life to try it. Hope for the best, plan for the worst - the reality is often somewhere in the middle. I will give you a piece of advice I gave an acquaintance who went into business manufacturing computer systems in the late 80s. He still reminds me of it because he said it was very useful to him. That is: count your money every day. Practically, that means keep a decent set of books and study it. When you run out of cash you're out of the game. Finally, and remember this, ALL BUSINESS, without any exception involves buying things at one price, adding labor and transforming them in some way, and SELLING those transformed things. It doesn't matter if you are manufacturing automobiles, computer programs or shoe shines. That's what ALL business involves. Buying, transforming and selling. Anyway, good luck.
JEH

MossRoad · Oct 2, 2003

Thanks for the advice. Funny things is, I practice most of those things when running our household(with my wife, of course). We know exactly where every penny is and where the next ones are going, whether it be savings, college fund, food or monthly expenses. We were both raised by great economic minded sets of parents and were surprised that we were both given the same advice... don't spend more than you make! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif It works well for us. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I am fortunate that the company I work for is very good to its employees. They are so good to me, that I feel compelled to watch out for them, doing a good job, watching expenses, etc... when an employer is good to their employees and leads by example, the employees become fiercly loyal to the employer. Too bad this isn't the case for everyone.

Going into business for myself would yeild great rewards financially, but more importantly, mentally. Nothing like doing something yourself. Great feeling of satisfaction. I have no regrets about my current lot in life, though. There is a level of security that I don't want to give up, yet. If I get out now, and my business fails after my time period is over, I will not be able to get back in at the level that I am. I don't want to take that chance(stomach again) with young kids and a marriage. After the kids are out of college my mind may change.

Again, thanks for the advice.

BWa · Oct 4, 2003

JMHO , I find Telemarketing calls a total waste of both mine and the callers time , first they call when it is best for them not me , and they call with products / services that if I was intrested in I would be calling them to begin with . I find it very rude to be called asking to buy , for example lets say windows when I may have already put in new windows .... No to me telemarketing is saying I do not know what I need or where to get and if that is the case then I should suffer for my ignorance , thank you very much ...

Don't call me I'll call you ..There are far to many ways to get the word out that your product or service is worthy of my money ...
Bill g.

MossRoad · Oct 4, 2003

I wonder what the calls to sales ratio has to be to make it profitable? I suppose it depends on the product you are selling.

RanchMan · Oct 5, 2003

Grim -

Very "cute" story. Perhaps you believe it was clever to veil your insults, condescension, and disdain of others on TBN in your "home brewed" fable. Neither your esoteric story nor other follow-up posts on this thread show the deference that has been requested by the moderators.

You can complain about the mental capacity of those who disagree with you. You can make sensational assertions that have no basis in fact. You can provide erroneous information that helps to cloud the issue. You can even self anoint yourself as the all knowing businessman.

At the end of the day, the fact remains that when you are confronted with valid counterpoints made by other TBN members, you rely on misdirection and sensationalism to respond because you are unable to present a successful rebuttal. Implying everyone out there who doesn't agree with you lacks your mental ability to “think things through” and/or has little to no experience in running a business (whether you do it in a "cute" way such as presenting your “fish story” or not) is both offensive and inaccurate.

If you want to have a respectful, logical, and thoughtful discussion on the subject of telemarketing - that’s fine - but please drop the euphemistic camouflage along with the wholesale denigration of those who do not share your beliefs.