It's my 15-year anniversary!

[Redstone]

For my business, that is. Started it in October, 1992.

Started it when we had $700.00 on the bank, and a Sears credit card I used to buy my first Mac. (Remember the LCII?)

I'm proud of myself, if you all don't mind me saying so: Fifteen years of supporting my family ONLY based on my ability to deliver the projects my customers hired me to do. I took ALL the responsibility, and ALL the risk, even through those two hideous surgeries that left me partially disabled and unable to work as much as I used to be able to do.

And I have the satisfaction of knowing that the marketing programs I've done for my customers, because my work has been effective, has enabled my customers to grow and expand and provide more good, well-paid, AMERICAN jobs than they'd have been able to do without the work I did for them.

I could absolutely not have done it without Mrs R's unwavering support and hard work, of course, but I'm going to take a moment here to give myself some credit, too.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this.

Redstone

[NewJeffCT]

1. Congratulations

sounds like you've done a great job these past 15 years. Hope the next 15 are even better.

[Ptah]

2. Well done, Redstone.

[Redstone]

15. Well-appreciated coming from you, my friend. You KNOW hard times, and how

to overcome them.

Redstone

[LibraLiz1973]

3. Hats off to you Redstone!!

Good work!! (pardon the pun!!)

[bluethruandthru]

4. Congratulations!

That is an accomplishment to be proud of!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

5. Good work!

The world can be less than hospitable. It takes a lot of balls to do what you did. Bravo!

[Redstone]

16. You and I have argued in the past, so your congratulations are indeed meaningful.

DU pretty much works out to be about finding dommon grounds, doesn't it?

I like this place, and I thank you again for your good words.

Redstoen

[QueenOfCalifornia]

46. You should read

my sig line....

I usually do not hold a grudge.

I have made a couple of enemies in the DU - But i notice that they have a long following of enemies. You have worked hard to keep a self made business work.

Good for you!

[From The Ashes]

6. Congratulations!

:party: Happy Anniversary!

[DS1]

7. I'm starting an LLC

in the immediate future. My projects will be focused on boosting local businesses.

[Redstone]

11. And if there's anything we can work together on toward that goal, you know

where to find me.

That's one thing I've always done: Three-tier pricing. 1) Commercial customers, who pay full freight; 2) Local small businesses, who pay whatever they can afford; and 3) Nonprofits, who pay nothing.

20% of my working time still goes to category 3.

Talk to me while you're setting up your business. I may be able to provide some assistance, especially because I like the attitude you expressed in your post.

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. My dear Redstone!

Biggo congrats!

You should be proud!

That is a hell of a milestone!

I am proud to know such a smart guy!

:toast:

[Redstone]

17. 15 years is a long damn haul, Peg, especially at my age. Good thing that the major

aspect of my personality is that I'm utterly oblivious; it's never occured to me even ONCE that I wouldn't be able to make it work.

Though the first year, I did offer Mrs R a chance to set a deadline, beyond which I would not push it if the business didn't get to be self-sustaining. She did so, and I met the deadline.

The numbers are dizzying. Without being precise for obvious reasons, I've billed about three million dollars in those fifteen years. (I don't get to keep all the billing $$ of course; for example if it's a printing job, I only make about 20% markup.)

But it's been enough to buy this house, and to carry those two thousand dollars a month health-insurance premiums, and to do many other things.

And I did it. Through all the pain, through dealing with the MS, I did it.

Astonishingly enough. Though likely ONLY because I'm not exactly going to be capable of having a JOB anytime soon.

Redstone

[Blue Diadem]

9. Congratulations!

Makes me smile when I read how your hard work and success has helped others. Wishing you many continued years of success.

[Redstone]

14. And those jobs I helped to make possible are MANUFACTURING jobs, in America.

That's what touches me the most; being able to contribute to having actual products being made in this country.

Redstone

[lost-in-nj]

10. oh Redstone

you have NO idea... how much I can relate...

when hubby and his brother and sister took over the family business we had to stop
doing everything at about noon on fridays so we could back up our...... COMMODORE!!!!!


LOL




We did payroll on a typewriter.....

its a wonderful feeling when you see the fruits of your labor fortify....

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




lost

[Redstone]

13. Your PM received, answered, and SO appreciated...

Redstone

[lizziegrace]

12. Well done!

:toast:

You have reason to be proud. :)

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. You've had my respect for a long time, Redstone

Congratulations! Well done!

Party Time!

[Redstone]

20. We haven't talked for a while, so it's especially good to hear that from you. Yes, there's

a small celebration consisting of Mrs R and I toasting one another with an adult beverage.

Thank you.

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

19. YEAH! Cousin.

You've done well. I really admire you.:toast: :hug:

[Redstone]

23. And you could be a part of it, if you wanted to. I will call you soon to discuss that,

among other things.

You have formidable talents that are being wasted right now. And let me tell you, I'm an expert on wasting talents; I've done that for far longer than anyone, over the course of my life. I do NOT want to see the same happen to you.

Does Thursday evening work for you, for having some time to talk? I may need you. We may need one another.

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

26. YES. I'm actually OFF work Thursday.

Please let's talk then.:bounce: And thank you for what you said.

[Redstone]

29. Figure about 7 in the evening. Do we have a date?

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

32. Yes. Around 7 is exactly right for me too.

I look forward to talking with you.:pals:

[Redstone]

34. Done and done. I'm marking it on the calendar right now.

Redstone

[mzteris]

21. Congratulations!

Wow! That's amazing. What a wonderful feeling that must be. Hats off to you - and Mrs. R!!

:applause:

[Redstone]

31. You know, you go through the years, and you just do what you do, and the time

tends to slip away. Then you remember the milestones.

And then go back through your past work, as I did today (every project I've ever done is archived on CDs), and get to see how much better you've become at what you do.

I'ts both inspiring and humbling at the same time.

Thanks for your kind words.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

22. Happy 15 year anniversary!

Great work, Redstone.

[Redstone]

27. You, of all people, know how hard it is to burn through the pain and get the job done.

So I appreciate your response even more for that.

Redstone

[SPKrazy]

24. Congrats Redtone

keep up the good work, and it is work.

Don't stop communicating

keep doing what you are doing

:thumbsup:

[RetroLounge]

25. You are indeed an inspiration...

Well done!

:applause:

RL

[Redstone]

28. You know what it's like to take a chance, and say "What the hell, I'll open

a bookstore."

It may work out, or it may not, but you TRIED. That's what counts.

Redstone

[RetroLounge]

30. Thank you

I made it thru my first quarter and was somehow above break-even. That's a good sign...

:hi:

RL

[Redstone]

33. That's what you need. And take it from a veteran of the electronics business,

never, EVER look at a span of time shorter than a quarter to evaluate how you're doing.

Monthly numbers are subject to WAY too many variables. Quarterly numbers are the shortest period of time that can be used as indicative of trends.

Redstone

[LynzM]

35. Congrats, Redstone

You are an inspiration in more ways than one.

:toast:

[Redstone]

36. Good thing you're not moving to Germany right away:

We have to go out of town on Saturday, and of course Mrs R has Sunday reserved for the Patriots' game.

Bt there are several weekends between this one and Thanksgiving, and more before you guys make the move. We WILL put something together, especially considering that Mrs R cranks up the grill even during the winter.

Redstone

[LynzM]

38. For sure.

Check your PM in a sec, have something to send you :)

[devilgrrl]

37. Congratulations! :-)

:toast:

[flvegan]

39. You should be proud, sir.

THAT is the way it's done.

And that is the way it's done well.

yatahey

[Beausoir]

40. Congrats on a successful venture. Here's to many more years of prosperity for you and your family.

[mwdem]

41. Congratulations on a job well done for both of you.

You are a team, and you know it!:bounce:

[Wapsie B]

42. Congratulations Redstone!!

:thumbsup:

[Shine]

43. Congrats to you, Redstone.

you've got a lot to be proud of. :toast: :yourock:

[1gobluedem]

44. Wow, that's a MAJOR achievement

Big congratulations to you!

[bigwillq]

45. Congrats!

:toast: :bounce: