Amen, Jon. I hope you don't mind -- I'm printing out your post and pinning it in my cube.

I haven't gone solo yet, but if I ever do, I hope I can approach it with the same attitude that you have. And if I hear of any work in NE, you can bet I'll suggest your firm.
zahid

>Thanks bud, but I have to stay where I am. I’m a noncustodial parent and will remain a steady constant in my kids lives. However, you are right. And I have started my own business, a software development firm. Reason being, I have decided not to fall prey to such things as corporate budget cuts, downsizing and the like. I will do things a little different. I will not utilize recruiting firms to find employees. That’s just too impersonal. I will not let people go to make a few extra bucks. I will pay my people what they are worth. I will not stand for my sales force or managers bad mouthing my IT crew, for they are the bread and butter of my company. I will be involved in as much of the business as possible. When I get large, I will still take the time to visit with my employees/coworkers. I will try to know my employees/coworkers on a first name basis. I will have get togethers for the company. I will make the company one big family. There will be profit sharing for
>all. I think that things like this will make for a more loyal task force, being that I will be as dedicated to my employees/coworkers and theirs as they are to me and mine. The biz is growing slowly…very slowly, but what else could I expect in today’s economy. When I start looking for people I will look to the thread first, because this is the best group of people I have ever met.