Many times we miss out on great things because we are afraid to task risks. We have developed an internal "Safety Zone" and dare ourselves to step outside that zone or even let anyone into our realm of self imposed safety.

Years ago, a good friend of mine had the idea of starting his own dog grooming business. His father had always been self employed in the citrus industry and he wanted to follow in his footsteps as working for others was never a desire. A friend of mine, lets call him Curry, approached me about his idea of a dog grooming salon and asked that I go into business with him. Since I grew up in a family that always worked for others, I balked at the idea and quickly dismissed the thought as being crazy. A dog grooming salon, you must be out of your mind (I didn't tell him that, but I was sure thinking it). A few weeks later Curry again approached me and asked that I go to dinner with him to revisit his idea of a dog grooming salon. I figured what the heck, at least I could get a free dinner. Needless to say, by the time desert was being served, I had agreed to go into partnership with him, investing $1000 into the venture along with my signature on the one year lease of a building in Winter Haven Florida.

(After desert, I needed a drink to try to figure out what I had just committed to) However, I decided to take a risk, a risk on a venture I knew nothing about, I committed to go into a dark tunnel called the unknown. Needless to say, within months, A Touch Of Class Dog Groom Salon was a up and running, and becoming quite successful. Well, since Curry was a one man workforce, as business increased, he needed assistance to help groom the dogs. Well, as you are probably thinking, I took another RISK, Curry convinced me to quit my 9 to 5 management job, and became a dog groomer, (needless to say I knew nothing about grooming dogs). What a huge RISK, leave a 9 to 5 with a consistent pay structure to venture into learning how to clip (clean feet) poodles feet.

Yes, my first lesson from Curry was how to do clean feet on poodles. Well, guess what, the RISK I took by first investing in A Touch Of Class, plus the second RISK I took of quiting my 9 to 5 paid off. A Touch Of Class Dog Grooming was a huge success sustaining both of us economically. The Risk Paid Off.

In addition to the success of A Touch Of Class Dog Grooming Salon, by taking the RISK, I was nominated and appointed to the Board of Director for a non-profit Anti Drug Campaign to which I co-chaired, with Winter Haven Florida's Mayor, Winter Havens first Anti Drug Symposium, wherein Fred "Rerun" Berry, from the hit show "Whats Happening" was the keynote speaker. Curry even got in on the Symposium as the Chairperson of the Decoration Committee.

Thank you Curry for giving me the opportunity to share in a wonderful business venture, something I would have never experienced if it were not for you inviting me into your world. I'm glad I had the faith to take the RISK.

TJF