Seeking Familial advice ...

[1StrongBlackMan]

Family what do you do when life sends you mixed messages?

Okay ... Here's my situation:

I have, for the past many, many years, been moved towards pursuing an entrepreneurial endeavor. I have big plans for the venture ... it's community oriented, it could put me in a "king-maker" position, and it'll be a lot of work, but a lot of fun; but I am pretty certain that it'll generate far less than I am currently earning.

It is something that I really want to do and it passing the "I'll be damned ... that's a great idea" test; but every time I make progress on making it become real, something more attractive comes up. Most recently, I had figured out a middle of the road solution ... I figured out a way to do the venture AND work my current job. I started putting the wheels in motion at 900a.m., on Friday, then at 1:00p.m., I got a call from my boss, offering my a new assignment (a promotion with a significant bump in pay), that will make it impossible for me to pursue the venture.

This kind of thing has happened several times over the past few years ... every time I take a step in towards making my thing happen, I get an offer (a more financially beneficial offer) that side tracks me. And as an "Old school" kind of guy, I have always put the financial security of my family, before my uncertain and risky dream.

Now, I am a true believer that the Universe speaks to, and guides us , if we choose to listen ... telling us what is best. I have always listened and adjusted my plans, accordingly ... and I have always come out good; but now, as I'm getting mixed signals. For example, in the past week, I woke up to a facebook message saying: "Follow your dreams ... or you will work for someone that did." Then, I got a huge professional opportunity; then I connected (out the blue) with an old friend that can, and is excitedly willing to, do exactly what I need to get my venture going; then, I got home to a financial emergency (that the professional opportunity would render moot); then, I think of a way to expand the venture to do much more for the community and take the venture over the top.

I'm so confused ... do I pursue the risky dream, or continue playing it safe?

[rdharma]

1. "Do I pursue the risky dream, or continue playing it safe?"

Yes!

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Yes, What? n/t

[rdharma]

5. Yes. Make the right decision! eom

[bravenak]

3. What is best for your family?

As parents we sacrifice our dreams for our children. If its time for he kids to be on their own I would speak with them about supporting themselves. If they are in college, I would tough it out until they finish, but at the same time work on my business plan and speak with business development professionals to get a feel for whether its viable or not.
In this country it's hard for a black man to jump back in the professional world, working for others, when you've been your own boss for a while.
I would play it safe until I had enough cash put up to pursue my goal and put a time limit on it.
If it doesn't pay off after a certain amount of time and it doesn't seem likely to pay off, it can be scrapped. Then you may have to take a job paying far less.
My former boss is also a strong black man and he started his business in the 90's doing snow removal.He was broke for a few years. Now he is a government subcontractor for the defense department with multi million dollar contracts and hundreds of employees. He just finished paying off his kids student loans recently. But it was worth the struggle for him.

[Bannakaffalatta]

4. Do you have a good wife?

If so, discuss this with her, at whatever length it takes - crack a big bottle of Chardonnay after the kids are in bed and stay up all night if you need to - and really listen this time.
Dissect the next five years, in practical, financial, emotional, social and spiritual terms. Who is on board? Who is opposed? How much harm can the opposers do? How far can you depend on the supporters?
Map out what can go drastically wrong, what can go magnificently right and what's most likely to happen. How would each of these outcomes affect the people closest to you? How long would it take to find out? What's the most you can gain? What's the most you can lose? What's Plan B? All that stuff.

[rdharma]

7. I vote this the best answer! eom

[jaysunb]

6. If you're this undecided, I'd say

stand pat....you can't succeed if there's a grain of doubt about being successful. It's hard to win when you're not all in or have your support team (family) on board.

There's an old saying from the hood :
"A scared man can't win and a jealous man can't work."

Good luck

[missingthebigdog]

8. Follow the dream!

If you are in a position where you can make it financially, it is worth the sacrifice to do that thing that will make you happy. If you don't, you will always wonder if you could have done it.
It surprises me how much less I can live on now that I am my boss and I do what I want to do. It is not always easy, but I am always in control of my destiny.