LET DIVORCE BE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SPRINGBOARD

Original Story:  USAToday.com

Hi Gladys, I am 55 and recently divorced. I have two kids who are both in college. During my marriage I work at various part-time jobs. But I can't say that I really did anything significant. Now I am in a situation where there is nothing to hold me back from really doing something with my life. I would like to start a small business but most of the business magazines I read seem to focus on young entrepreneurs. Sometimes I feel like I have waited to long. My friends keep telling me that it's never too late. But I don't know about that. -- M. L.

I agree with your friends, it's never too late. As long as you are living and breathing there is no reason to avoid venturing into new things.

Arriving at the mid-point in life has many rewards that you can bring to the world. You have gathered information and knowledge as a result of your experience during your life. And you have come to understand many things and most often that understanding leads to wisdom. And how that wisdom can be applied is unlimited.

You say that you haven't done anything significant, but I would say that raising kids, keeping a household running and working at any type of job outside of your home is significant. I often tell people who feel like you to make a list of all of the things that they have learned in life and in nearly every case they have expressed surprise at the things that life has taught. And even more important they have found several gems in their list that can be turned into a successful business

Taking care of a family is not an easy task. Each family member has his or her own personality and traits and must be dealt with individually and yet collectively. Facing divorce or the death of a spouse teaches one to learn to cope with change and uncertainty. And to handle your household while working outside of your home also gives you added skills.

My friend Marta worked in a part-time clerical position for years while raising her two kids and at the age of 59 she decided to enroll in a theological seminary to study theology and religion. After a several years of dedication and hard work she graduated with a degree and soon after was appointed to pastor a small church.

I have another friend who returned to school to get a Masters in Fine Arts so that she could sharpen her acting skills. Also at the age of 59, she received her degree and packed up her Volkswagen after selling her house and headed to California to find her way into acting. And so far she has managed to find quite a few acting jobs and she is often hired to perform in stage plays.

Keep in mind that Margaret Mead's career flourished in her mid-life and after divorce, as did Martha Stewart's.

The important thing is to have confidence in yourself and stop questioning your ability to reinvent yourself.

Texas Best State for Businesses

Story first appeared in the Muni Net Guide.

Corporate executives rank Texas as the top state for doing business, according to a recently released report by Chief Executives.

The 2012 report is based on a survey of 650 business leaders.  Texas gets the thumbs-up for its business-friendly tax, regulatory environment, and highly regarded workforce quality, according to the survey.   The Lone Star state has ranked number one in all eight years of the survey’s history. 

Other high ranking states include Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana.  Florida moved up to the number two spot in this year’s survey, up from number three last year, due to business tax and regulatory reforms resulting in the creation of over 140,000 private sector jobs. Several established Texan businesses are relishing in the healthy economy, such as Houston IT Services provider Percento Technologies.  

At the other end of the spectrum, California, New York, and Illinois earn dubious distinction as the worst states for doing business.  California - “once the most attractive business environment” - continues to decline due to its substantially under-performing economy, says the report.  Just how bad is it?  According to Spectrum Locations Consultants, 254 California companies moved some or all of their work and jobs out of state in 2011, an increase of 26 percent over the previous year and five times as many as in 2009.

On a positive note, Louisiana had the most improved ranking over the past year, moving to the 13th position in 2012 - up from the 27th spot a year earlier.  Executives point to the state’s focus on workforce training and its attractive economic development incentives.


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Tornados Pose Struggle for Businesses

First appeared in USA Today

Nick Shelton achieved a life-long ambition in August, when he opened his auto repair shop in Henryville, Ind., across U.S. 31 from the town's school complex.

Sheldon, 42, had so much business by late February that he was ready to hire one or two employees. Then his shop was reduced to rubble by a tornado.

Clark County Commissioner Ed Meyer said early estimates are that 580 businesses and homes were destroyed or seriously damaged in Clark County in the storms on Friday.

An estimated 30 tornadoes packing winds of more than 110 mph hit the Midwest and South, according to the National Weather Service. The storms left 40 dead across five states.

Businessmen who lost everything, like Shelton, were hoping to start over. Many faced the same challenges in West Liberty, Ky., where business remained at a standstill as crews worked to restore power and telephone lines.

Linda Oakley was taking stock at her workplace, All Occasion Flower Shop, a 20-year staple on Main Street where silk flowers garnished the sprawl of glass and debris across the showroom floor.

Oakley said the tornado capped a tough year for the store's owner, Cheryl McKenzie. McKenzie's husband died in April. She lost a brother two weeks ago, and the family dog recently ran away.

"She's been through a lot," Oakley said through tears. "She's lost so much."

The building may be condemned and some of the merchandise destroyed, but "we are going to try to set up business so that we can start bringing in normalcy," Oakley said.

Officials in West Liberty were focused on restoring power to Lion Apparel, a clothing manufacturer and the town's largest employer with about 220 workers. Business was likely to resume there early next week.

"I don't know of anything that made it," West Libery Mayor Jim Rupe said. "Every business in town is down."

The New Washington State Bank branch in Henryville didn't have electricity, but around 10 a.m. employees opened the doors and began cashing checks and handling withdrawals, bank President Pat Glotzbach said.

Interest-free loans of up to 90 days also were available to those awaiting their insurance checks, Glotzbach said.

"The bank needs to be open," Glotzbach said. Transactions were being written down and taken to another branch to be entered into the bank's computer system, he said.

Linda Carpenter, 66, a Henryville resident, returned to work Monday at Tanner's, a retailer selling food, hardware, bait and other items. Carpenter said she mostly cleaned up the store to get it open.

Over the weekend, with no grocery store open in town, banks closed and ATMs down because electricity was out, she drove 7 miles to Charlestown for cash and food. She enjoyed the trip, despite its inconvenience, she said, because it was "nice not to have to see all the damage" in Henryville.