Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore along the western bank of Lake Myakka, Florida, herds of wild deer and wild black pigs come down to the water's edge to drink and slake their thirst.

I have seen them up close and it is a beautiful, peaceful and inspiring sight!

Every evening as the sun sets beyond the mangroves that line the shore a horde of hungry alligators wait just below the surface and watch for their prey.

I have seen them and nature in the raw is truly an awesome sight!

It doesn't matter whether you are a gentle deer, a greedy pig or an armor-plated alligator--survival depends on your ability to move fast!

When you see what looks like an opportunity, you must grab it quick.

But even if you don't grab it, the opportunity will not be wasted because someone who is hungrier that you surely will.

We all make mistakes. That's how we learn. Consider these 10 Tips for Would-be Entrepreneurs:

1. Be constantly on the lookout for moneymaking opportunities.

2. Trust your intuition. If it looks like a good opportunity--grab it.

3. Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Big risk means big reward.

4. Be willing to take carefully calculated risks.

5. When you have little to lose and much to gain--go for it!

6. Think big but start small.

7. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.

8. Keep your day job and get paid while learning.

9. Work for yourself evenings and weekends.

10. Don't leave until your part-time earnings equal your weekly wage.

Sometimes, the opportunity you grab may not live up to it's promise. Occasionally you may even lose all the money you invested in it.

But, the lesson will not be lost. Because, in discovering what did not work, next time you will be better equipped to judge what will.

It is said that Thomas Alva Edison failed 10,000 times in his search to find the perfect filament for his electric light bulb.

"You failed 10,000 times. You are a failure," someone scornfully said.

"Not so," Edison replied. "I now know 10,000 things that don't work! The experiments failed, but anyone who tries and keeps on trying is never a failure. The only failure is to admit you are defeated!"

(c) Copyright 2005 John J.O'Callaghan. All Rights Reserved.

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