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Entrepreneur, June, 2002

Read No Evil

I would just like to start out by saying that I think your magazine is great. The stories have helped me to keep faith and hope alive that my business will be successful. I would like to say, however, that I find your stories tend to leave out the hard times that entrepreneurs go through to become successful and realize their dreams. I love to hear success stories, but I am sure that I am not the only one who would like to know that there are plenty of us struggling to realize their dream. My business partner and I have basically funded our business on credit cards and home equity lines. I had to sell my home. We gave up close to six-figure salaries. Your stories almost make it sound too easy by glossing over the hard years in a sentence. I feel it would help entrepreneurs greatly if they could identify with others making these sacrifices to be successful. Although there are overnight success stories, the majority of entrepreneurs have struggled for a number of years before reaching success.

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Thank you for the help your magazine provides, and I look forward to the next issue.

STEVE CoNTINO, CEO

EasyDraft

Charlotte, North Carolina

We've Got Personality

After reading countless articles on entrepreneurship, I find Entrepreneur magazine hits the nail on the head when it comes to understanding the "entrepreneurial" personality.

SAHANA DHARMAPURI

MEDIA MANAGER

Ashoka

www.ashoka.org

I Want My MLM

I am somewhat upset due to the lack of validity, credibility and faith you offer about multilevel marketing franchises. I myself work for Excel Communications and we are about to boom from our recent merger with VarTec Telecom (the largest nationwide provider of local phone service). I've been with Excel for over a year and have seen a return of investment and then some.

Every time I get to the "B.Y.O.B." section of your magazine, I anticipate seeing something on any type of MLM or network marketing, since it is the most logical of marketing systems, but to my chagrin, I find none, even though the start-up costs are considerably less than that of all others.

AARON BARKSDALE

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Editor's Note: You can find our exclusive listing of network marketing opportunities at www.entrepreneur.com/bizoppzone.

From the Mouths of Babes

I agree that 9/11 may have inspired a new generation of children to become entrepreneurs ("Child Stars," April). One of the few positive things to come out of the tragedy was my 12-year-old daughter's response the day after the attacks. She told me she wanted to do something to help the victims in New York. She got a bunch of her junior high friends together, and they organized a benefit car wash the following weekend. They may not have raised thousands, or even hundreds, of dollars, but they worked harder than they've probably worked in their lives, and they learned the value of serving their community and their nation.

I'd like to take the credit for this "entrepreneurial" action, as I've been a business owner for most of my daughter's life. But I believe this is something that came completely from within my daughter. As I think of the pride I saw on her face during that weekend, I can only hope that this planted some seed in her that she'll remember as an adult. She'll make not only a great entrepreneur, but a great person.

NAME WITHHELD

Austin, Texas

Editor's note: Your daughter might be interested in our new TeenStartUps Web site at www.teenstartups.com. It's a great way to get your teens interested in entrepreneurship.

No Contest

I can't believe that your response to the idea of the International Federation of Competitive Eating ("Flash," April was "Do we smell supersized sponsorship opportunities?" How can you encourage your readers in any way to be a part of something so disgusting as competitive eating? Particularly in these sensitive global times, a pastime that's as wasteful, indulgent and trivial as this should be rejected by all entrepreneurs, not celebrated as another opportunity for them to make some money.

STEVE RAMSEY

Arcadia, California

No Reason to Fear

Thank you for your article on risk ("Game of Risk," April). While I've always considered myself to be risk-taker, starting a business has always seemed like the ultimate risk. Whenever I'm on the verge of starting a business, the idea of taking on that much risk always scares me. It was encouraging to read tin stories of other entrepreneurs and know that I'm not the only one who's facing these fears. It made starting a business seem possible for me. Thanks again, and keep up the good work.

KATHEY SAENZ

Chicago

Google-Eyed

Thanks, Michelle Prather, for the article on Google creators Larry Page and Sergey Brin ("Ga-Ga for Google," April). I find Google to be an invaluable resource in my business and still remember the joy on a friend's face when she first told me about the wonders of Google. I now revel each time I can tell an unknowing colleague or friend about the virtues of "Googling." Keep up the good work, Google and Entrepreneur.

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Entrepreneur, June, 2002

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