Launching my business

Hi folks,

At 63 I find it necessary to be working hard to scratch out a decent living. With no real retirement income but still vigorously healthy, work stretches out to the limitless horizon. So, along with working as a part-time college instructor and trying to hustle teaching gigs on my own, I'm starting a new venture this summer. Four of us old salts are trying to start a beach day camp for both kids and adults. We're three guys (ex-lifeguards and paramedics) and one real good looking gal water safety instructor. Our business plan looks great on paper and the idea is applauded by everybody we talk with but the first two months have been bleak with zero response to our initial marketing efforts. Watch my lips -- zero response!

We're based in La Jolla, a well-off community on the north edge of San Diego. We see a need for this service of making folks safe when they play in the turbulent ocean. Seems a shame no one else wants to play!  We want to offer triathlete training, area tours, anything that will get us out on the water. We're real good at this ocean stuff...just have to convince a sluggish economy to break loose some customers!

Nothing ventured, as the saying goes.

We shall see what we shall see.

Mark Brown, M.A., NREMT-P
San Diego, CA

Advice for others

Start early.....