Welcome!

I'm Tami Parks, fourth-generation entrepreneur and small business person. I love small business and consider it the heartbeat of America's marketplace. My family has been involved in real estate, service, and retail; we're just regular people who have a passion for serving others and being our own bosses.

My husband and I have made a committment to run our business, Great Lakes Wedding Gown Specialists, LLC, as a debt-free business. This blog is our accountability partner!

Monday, September 28, 2009

A Fresh Start & A New Direction

I started this blog this past spring with a general topic :: small business.

However, "small business" and "entrepreneurship" are such wide topics. I want a personal blog, so I've narrowed the focus of my blog to "running a debt-free small business". This is my accountability partner, but also my way to challenge conventional thinking.

Over 80% of small businesses fail within their first two years. I don't think this has anything to do with a lack of hard work, good ideas, or committment. I believe that most of the failures can be tied to poor money management and overuse of credit.

I will not borrow money or use credit to run my business. If I cannot pay for something, I don't purchase it. This committment helps me make good decisions and gives me a true compass for my business. Rather than being limiting, it is a freeing value!