On the road to entrepreneurship: Realizing this great American dream demands a sense of responsibility and willingness to work eight days a week, 26 hours a day

If you have ever thought of starting your own company, you have probably envisioned yourself enjoying wealth, prestige, and the freedom to run your own business as you see fit. We've all seen advertisements that show executives relaxing on their yachts or wielding power in luxurious offices. The business press abounds with stories that make achieving this great American dream seem as easy as sleepwalking. As an entrepreneur who has started both successful and unsuccessful companies, however, I've learned that unless you know how to go into business and what is involved in staying there, the dream can quickly become a nightmare. Even successful entrepreneurs seldom attain the leisure and luxury you see in the ads. Of those who do, nearly all have spent many years establishing their companies by working around the clock, involved in every aspect from buying paper clips to making capital investments.