I'm Novell Certified and have been working with IT/Internet for 20+ years, no 4 year degree. I had a corporate job, but was told that I was never going to get a raise or promotion because I didn't have a degree. I started my 1st biz in 1999, made afew hundred dollars, no marketing or ads just word of mouth -pretty good I thought. Worked part-time. The I started my 2nd biz, my service: graphic design, again I got a few clients, but then came vistaprint. 3rd biz: Startup Consultant, help entrepreneurs legally form a biz and start Internet marketing, but startup business don't have money, lost 9,000 in sales that year. Then last year roof caved in on home office 7 years of business equity incl. comuters laptops, printers, phones, supplies and furniture - ruined -gone. Dissolved Company. Now on 4th biz, LLC, no clients, have a brand (me, the dot com diva), biz cards, Internet (at p/t job), no money , no hardware no software no Internet at home. Should I give up?

Hire a business coach. It is not cheap at all, but a consultant who can objectively evaluate your strengths and interests can help you craft your business into personal success. (I would not recommend this for everyone, but your situation sounds like you have a lot of potential for success, and just aren't hitting the nail on the head.) The coach also could help you assess whether you're ready to look for a job, versus creating your own company.

Absolutely not. I know it seems as though you have faced a lot of adversity, but you have a dream and obviously you have the drive. If you believe in the law of attraction, then put it to work for you. If you don't know what I am talking about or never seen the secret - let me know through my email contact here on answers... Never give up on your dreams... Please... ~jennifer Helping others create income from home through education of the system and how it really works.

You have a great story when you make it big it will be all that much better. Go watch Rocky - It is not how many times you get knocked down but how many you get back up. Keep on keeping on. Your dreams are closer than you think. Yesterday ended yesterday.

I take it you had no insurance on your office?... Living is the best way to learn. Well, I don't see why you should give up, but don't force it. I have some friends who are executives and I am convinced, and so is one of them, that they all got to where they are by having the right attitude, and a lot of luck. They are very easy going, they don't have ''please promote me!!!'' written on their faces like so many people who will always get passed up because of it. Ambition is a good thing, but it is better to show through action, than through demeanor.

Why give up? You have the time and equity invested in your name, cards, internet, etc. Keep everything as it is, do some grass routes type marketing of your company, word of mouth, networking, etc. Until things turn around, go get a p/t job that will help pay the bills. Work on contacting potential clients when you are not working. The internet and email allow you to continue to reach out to people long after they locked their business doors for the night.

Sounds like you don't have a plan - Why haven't you gotten a degree (mistake 1) Why didn't you have insurance to cover the roof collapse? (mistake 2) What kind of business has no hardware, software or internet - that's impossible to survive!! (mistake 3) My advice - get a degree, get some experience working for someone else - and then either move up in the company or start your own!

how important is this goal? Are you happy? If you did not pursue it, what else would you do?