Now that I have it, I'm not so sure I want it
- Thread starter MikeJanis
- Start date
I don't know you and I don't know much about your business. Only you know how much you are making and what your options are. From the outside looking in you seem to be successful and that is always going to draw attacks from competitors. If that's what is bothering you I would brush it off and move on. All it amounts to is sharking, like Fats trying to throw Mosconi off his game because Fats knows that's the only way he can win.
If it is business related then I would give this advice. My Dad owned a construction company until he was in his 70's. The last few years he was losing money but he loved working so much that he wouldn't walk away. The company went under and it wasn't pretty to watch. He was one of the toughest men I've known, WWII veteran. Some of his competitors were connected to the mob and they tried to threaten him but he told them all to F... off. Losing his business that he built from scratch knocked him down. He would have been better off selling it before it got so bad he couldn't.
I don't know if any of that helps or not but you seem like a decent guy and I wish you the best.
If it is business related then I would give this advice. My Dad owned a construction company until he was in his 70's. The last few years he was losing money but he loved working so much that he wouldn't walk away. The company went under and it wasn't pretty to watch. He was one of the toughest men I've known, WWII veteran. Some of his competitors were connected to the mob and they tried to threaten him but he told them all to F... off. Losing his business that he built from scratch knocked him down. He would have been better off selling it before it got so bad he couldn't.
I don't know if any of that helps or not but you seem like a decent guy and I wish you the best.
mapman72
New member
MikeJanis said:
Who scheduled their big tournament first? I've heard rumors but nothing definitive. Someone set the record straight. Players have a choice (sort of) as to where they play, and I would like to know who is resorting to this cut throat style so I can make informed decisions about which tours I want to support.
mapman72 said:
I believe the answers you seek are located in post #6 at this thread
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=109536&highlight=$10,000+added
And it looks like this:
I am pretty sure these are not competing events. That event is several hundred miles away from my event and they cater to 2 different classes of players. Regarding your statement about the existing event. Jay, The other director and I spoke about these dates months ago and he jumped the gun as he knew our existing SCO ($20+K added - normally) was most likely going to be on that weekend due to the US Open moving dates. To not have as much as an impact I switched ours to Amateur only. Know what you are talking about before you make accusatory statements, please.
+ He's going after the Pros to attend his event and I am going after the Amateurs. Then again, who knows. I just saw that that tour converted six of their events over to Amateur only events in an attempt to replicate and compete with the Viking Tour. Either way it's a good thing for the players and I guarantee that if someone maliciously tries to step on the Viking Tour events we have a BIGGER foot print.
Also note that the Viking Tours SCA-A event is an Amateur-Advanced event and not Amateur Only but Pros and the very top ranked semi-pros are still not allowed to compete.
I hope you can make it to the SCA-A in November Mapman. The event is also an ATS qualifier.
Mj
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this may not be true
This may not be true. It is no small trick to get everything and everybody lined up and moving in the same direction. It is ten times harder to do it the second time with the same people if you get cold feet and then try to get things rolling again later.
Mike may well be in need of a short breather but as far as his plans, I do think that if things are indeed ready to go and he wants to do this at any time at all, it is the time to poop or get off the pot. No guaranties he will get another chance.
Hu
CocoboloCowboy said:
This may not be true. It is no small trick to get everything and everybody lined up and moving in the same direction. It is ten times harder to do it the second time with the same people if you get cold feet and then try to get things rolling again later.
Mike may well be in need of a short breather but as far as his plans, I do think that if things are indeed ready to go and he wants to do this at any time at all, it is the time to poop or get off the pot. No guaranties he will get another chance.
Hu
ShootingArts said:
Ain't that the truth.
Anyway, as you can see from my Sig line I will be moving ahead with all systems. ATS, BRRMA and of course the Viking Tour.
Thank you for all the encouragement and advice. It was well taken.
One of the big problems was, YES I am a little burned out and discouraged but I can easily overcome those problems. The bigger problem I guess was the financial position that I am putting myself and my family in (mortgage on the house to get the funding) along with the extra work involved to maintain the new systems. One of the biggest factors is that I can not do it alone so my wife Terrie will have to give up her great job as a Nurse (Great Job with a Guaranteed Paycheck every week) to help me babysit these new programs and our financial interest in them.
Wish us luck.
Mj
PS... Just in case we are not lucky and can not meet the financial burdens of the new venture. Does anybody have a cheap place we can live when I lose the house ?
Mike,
Take 6 shots of chilled Petron' and then make your decision. I find that I make the best decisions about life and finances when I'm tanked.
Take 6 shots of chilled Petron' and then make your decision. I find that I make the best decisions about life and finances when I'm tanked.
corvette1340 said:
That's almost exactly what I did vette. Except it was Cuervo 1800 and much more that 6. All I remember after that was my Wife snatching the car keys from my hand.
Anyway, I decided to follow through with the plans for 1 event at a time instead of the whole shabang. Kind of a feeler.
Also, after what my nearest competition did last week I think I may be in a better position to expand again here in the South. So hopefully if all goes well everything will work out as planned.
Mj
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All the luck in the world!
Mike,
I do wish you all the luck in the world with this project. Were you a pilgrim thinking about getting into promoting pool I would have told you to run like hell but you do know what you are getting into and I think you may well be the best man with the best plan for pool.
I have put up everything I could rake and scrape to start a business a handful of times and it is always scary. If you weren't a little nervous you would worry me.
I have a cheap place for you to stay too. A cozy little 12x20 shop I built after Katrina. It's well insulated and has AC. No plumbing but I'm sure I can find a pitcher and catcher for you. Two bunk beds and you are good to go. A little noisy dusty when I am cutting wood but the price is right! :wink:
Hu
Mike,
I do wish you all the luck in the world with this project. Were you a pilgrim thinking about getting into promoting pool I would have told you to run like hell but you do know what you are getting into and I think you may well be the best man with the best plan for pool.
I have put up everything I could rake and scrape to start a business a handful of times and it is always scary. If you weren't a little nervous you would worry me.
I have a cheap place for you to stay too. A cozy little 12x20 shop I built after Katrina. It's well insulated and has AC. No plumbing but I'm sure I can find a pitcher and catcher for you. Two bunk beds and you are good to go. A little noisy dusty when I am cutting wood but the price is right! :wink:
Hu
MikeJanis said:
My .02
I have always felt that venues are a major portion of the problem.
Some of the ones that are most successful are transient ( set up occasionally ) and when they are, they garner attention form the regular community.
Everyone hates the noobs, the bangers and noisy boisterous kids....but they are precisely the new blood we wish to court and beg them to drop the little money they have.
so.....
Why can't an exhibition or tourney be set up in a high traffic area, like a mall? I've often thought a mall would be a good place for a room, provided there was a separate section just for serious players.
Much higher exposure to new blood.
I have always felt that venues are a major portion of the problem.
Some of the ones that are most successful are transient ( set up occasionally ) and when they are, they garner attention form the regular community.
Everyone hates the noobs, the bangers and noisy boisterous kids....but they are precisely the new blood we wish to court and beg them to drop the little money they have.
so.....
Why can't an exhibition or tourney be set up in a high traffic area, like a mall? I've often thought a mall would be a good place for a room, provided there was a separate section just for serious players.
Much higher exposure to new blood.
Mr. Wilson said:
Th Sandusky Mall in ohio used to have tournaments every year. The are a great idea but the set-up of tables in the Mall area is pretty high dollar for the most part. Even if the mall donates the space, bringing in tables is a fairly high cost in itself. Then there are liability and insurance issues to boot.
But for the most part it is a great idea. Maybe in the future we can get to this level.
Mj
It always been said, 'be careful what you pray for', because then the work really starts. I don't think you would be happy not doing it, but getting some time off, step back from your accomplishment and take a different look. Maybe its time to delegate and let others who are as qualified in different parts of the country assist so you don't burn out. Most of the time, often when a business owner is soooooooooo engulfed in business, they can't see the obvious anymore, and become their own worst critic. Hang in there, family times important.
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