Time to Write a Business Plan

First I wrote down all of my ideas as they came to me. This weekend I need to clean them up and narrow them down to create phases of implementation to start slow and leave room to grow. I pitched the idea to my two partners, who seem to like the idea. I will share my document using google docs and let them add what they want.

I downloaded the forms I need to help us complete the business plan. We are applying for funding, so we need to follow directions. I will keep you in the loop.

I am also starting my research phase and getting my head around the idea of being an entrepreneur. I like it. Here is what I am reading today-

There's more to do, but this is step one to creating a new working situation for myself. I have less than three years to do something. If I don't, I will be knocked into a new tax regime that will cost me lots and lots of money and will probably not be worth it for what I am currently making.

My two partners feel the same frustration. It's time to think big and try something new and different that has never been done around here before.

Send us the good vibes.

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I Promise it's NOT a Doggy Bakery

Even though I'm pretty sure Italians would LOVE the idea, I'm just not interested in retail, or doggy snacks. Maybe it's more suited to France anyway.

My idea may be considered a tad crazy over here.

But I'm thinking Innovation, which has to be a little crazy to work.

I Have a Business Plan

I don't know where it came from but it did. I have a great idea for a new business and I am going to submit it to try to get funding for it. I don't want to tell you too much about it yet. I'm not afraid you'll steal my idea, of course, because I don't worry about such things. I am more worried that if I talk too much about it I will open myself up to criticism when I am feeling HUGELY optimistic. There's nothing worse than having someone pop your balloon just when you're feeling like the World is Completely open to you.

And today, by gosh, it IS!!

You wanna feel like a lousy mom?

Read those brain development books that say you only have like two years to teach your kid everything in the world they need to know for the rest of their lives.

Anybody know a good suzuki teacher in Trieste?

Reading Material for the Office Bully

The Triestino workplace (especially the University) is full of office bullies. These are the insecure folks who like to throw their weight around, give favors to their sweeties because it makes them feel more powerful (there are less and less resources, thus the office bully is losing influence, and he knows it, which makes him even beastier!), send threatening letters to higher-ups when they don't get their way, and, sadly, often do get their way because the people they are bullying want them to shut up.

Well, I realized that the problem with these bullies is they don't read enough. So, I would like to propose three books that may help them realize that treating other people badly is not a healthy way to live.

Here is my first recommendation, The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama. This is a great book for bullies, but also for their victims. Need some help walking away from negativity? Who better to explain how than the Dalai Lama!

Recommendation number two. The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. In this book we have the friendly ladybug who is happy to share her aphids with the grouchy ladybug. The grouchy ladybug wants all the aphids for himself, though, and likes to pick fights. When the friendly lady bug stands up to him, the grouchy lady bug decides she is "not big enough" for him to fight and goes off to find someone bigger to threaten. This keeps happening until he finds a whale who slaps his arse back to the same leaf he was eating on that morning. An important learning opportunity for all bullies!

And, since we're on a roll, dear Bully, here is one more book for you to try out. The No Asshole Rule by Robert I. Sutton. This one is good for the bully but also for the misguided boss who thinks that having a bully in the office is good for business. This book (yes, it was actually a Harvard Business Review Study) has a helpful formula for recognizing if you (or someone you know) is a card-carrying asshole. It's a great test. Try it!

1. Do you treat people you feel are higher in rank than you well and people lower in rank badly?

2. When you walk in a room, do the people in it leave?

If you answered yes to one or both of these questions, then you are DEFINITELY a card-carrying asshole. 

Yes, all three of these books are available in Italian.

Worst Case Scenario

If we are unable to buy this apartment then we have to think of a plan B for our little nest egg. I feel lucky that we're even worried about something like this, especially after our lousy work situations over the last couple of years which proved that it's not how much you make but how much you don't spend...

Are there any decent investments around these days? I don't trust anyone right now and got to feeling like the old Triestini, that the only thing you can count on is what they call "mattoni."  But I have had serious doubts all along, that for one reason or another, this transaction is not going to go through.

I hope I am wrong.

Buying this Apartment is like Visiting Oz the 1st time

So I went to the Wizard  Notaio with the documentation they asked for: the marriage certificate that says that hubby and my assets are separate (so that this is considered my "first house" and I get a tax break) and asked for an appointment. The seller turned in a document from his doctor saying that he is in his right mind to sell his apartment. But even this wasn't enough. Now I have to get get the wicked witch's broom  these documents:

1. Certification of Energy (whatever the hell that is and wherever the hell you get it)

2. Details of building permits (if built after 1967).

3. Details of livability (whatever that means)

Shouldn't it be the SELLER getting these documents together?

Hmmmph.