Book Excerpt – "Bootstrap Business: A Step-by-Step Business Survival Guide"

When I first started at Novell, I belonged to a team headed by Dave Owens, the vice-president for Novell Labs. I had just completed my MBA and wanted more than anything to prove myself. Dave brought me into his office one afternoon and asked me one question: "Who do you work for, Rich?" I thought for a second and then answered, "You?" He looked at me and responded, "Wrong answer. I want you to go out and talk to Julia. Get on my calendar for next week." I was dismissed without further comment.

The next week, I was sitting in the same chair. "Who do you work for, Rich?" This time I tried something different. "Novell." Again, "Wrong answer." I was instructed to make another appointment. A week later, I was ready. "Who do you work for, Rich?" "I work for myself." Then Dave explained. How I behaved and the work I did would have an impact on my entire life, and although I was employed by Novell, I worked for myself. Anything I did was exclusively mine to own: it would help or hurt only me. This conversation caused me to see things in a different light, especially in regard to loyalty and stability.

Corporations are bulging with people who truly believe that the company they work for provides them with far more stability than they could ever create in their own business.

It is a lie!

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