The Story of James Robinson

Hey Shag,

Go wth Steve! Call the employment development office. Tell them your story. This way if there is a problem, you’ve already got the EDD on your side!

Is everybody missing the severance portion of your question?

Good Luck!

James in San Diego

Hey Enigma,

If you mean in any given attack – they don’t let us know until after any military action – if then.

A Janes Defense expert once said that we have approximately 25% of our bombs are considered “Smart Bombs”. Janes is usually nearly right.

James in San Diego

Hey Phillip,

I am a drinker!

Alcohol is removed by your liver! Your liver removes poison! Alcohol is by default a poison!

Congratulations, you’ve stopped poisoning yourself!

I can’t help you with the idiot stuff! I haven’t figured out that one yet!

James in San Diego

Hey Glass,

Well congratulations are in order, I guess. I have read what the others have written. Some I agree with, a little — Most I disagree with due to the fact that your settlement is not an ongoing source of income. Most Franchisers will need you to have a net worth of $XXX.00 before they will even talk with you. If you need further proof of this, just look up information on Steak and Shake — it is the standard information that franchisers require.

Keep several things in mind when you look into a franchise:

1). You must purchase ALL of your product from them. (You may see that boneless chicken breasts are available from Costco at $1.00 per pound — Great Price! But your franchiser sells them to you for $1.95 per pound — Sorry! You signed the agreement!

2). Larger franchisers decide your location – the terms of your lease – the type of P.O.S. system (Cash register) you must buy – the type and size of your signage and your hours.

3). Nearly all of your franchisers will charge you a percentage of your GROSS sales (typically 5-12%) + a percentage/flat fee for advertising.

4). In most cases, if your should not adhere to their terms, then you forfeit your location! NO REFUNDS!

So, if this doesn’t scare you, then go with a smaller, regional franchise. Some smaller ones will only charge you the franchise fee (Flat Rate) and an annual licensing fee. I’ve listed one of my favorites below:

Wings and Things has easy enough recipes, you don’t have to buy everything from them, you can operate out of strip malls, the food is relatively inexpensive and your payroll costs should be low. Your food costs will be manageable (You will probably hire teenage kids — Any venture that involves Ice Cream or other things that teens like — will cost you an arm and a leg!)

A Full service restaurant will kill you with labor and insurance costs. Wings and Things can operate with just 2 people – even when very busy. Wings ‘n Things has a low start-up investment.

If what I wrote about franchises DOES SCARE YOU! Then why not open something under your own idea. I know that you live in Ohio and from the pictures, you’ve got a couple of children — So you can eat! What appeals to you? It doesn’t have to be fancy, you don’t sound like you’re that fancy to begin with. Do you live near a college? What kind of food do college kids like? Cheap and Easy! Do you live in an area that is off an expressway? What is quick and convenient. Midwestern tastes are starting to warm up to authentic Mexican Food — Spend a few hundred $$$ and fly out to California, Arizona, Texas and try some fast Mexican food – It tastes nothing like Taco Bell! You say you are of mixed race — How about something ethnic? I know when ever I get the chance, I love to go to a place here to get me Catfish! It’s expensive, but it’s really good! You’ve got kids and you say your wife is evil. When the kids are hungry and you are married to the devil – don’t you just want a quick and easy place where your kids can be kids and you don’t have to clean. Something like Hot Dogs, Grilled Cheese, Mac-N-Cheese and a few things for the adults! Not expensive, but enough to make money and keep them coming back weekly for more.

Copy what the experts do (just not the words!) McDonald’s made a fortune telling America “You deserve a break today!” They didn’t say “You deserve really nutritious food”! 7-11 doesn’t say “Come and buy from us – you’ll save money” – they sell convenience. Look at ads and flyer’s. Your potential competition has already invested a ton of money doing market research for you! Listen to what your friends say! Especially those that seem to be like you. Remember, you’ll hear 100 things from 100 people… Only one may be worth something! Make note of it though! It might be worth a million!

Believe in You! No one else is going to do it!

Work hard! If your employees see that you don’t care — They won’t care!

Save for a rainy day! You never know when the water heater will break or if something happens to you! Whatever you think you’ll need – DOUBLE IT!

Get Insurance! Keep it up to date! I hear stories about people who had a great business and then a fire happened and it takes them years to finally get back on their feet. (You should know, they don’t call them settlements for nothing!)

Invest the $3.00 in a few notebooks! Write down everything! It sounds stupid but if you ever have a claim, you can go back and read your notes! If you ever decide to franchise for yourself, you’ll already have the information that you need.

Mostly, Good Luck!

James in San Diego

Hey Steve,

You can play one against the other.

Tell Tuesdays (University) interviewer that you have an offer with the Monday guy (don’t tell him it’s with the city – he’ll know what they pay)

Tell Mondays (City) interviewer that you have received an offer with the Tuesday guy (Don’t tell him its with the University….)

See what happens.

=o0o=

OR

=o0o=

Be a gent and tell Mondays guy that you are in a pickle and see if he will give you a few more days.

Just my opinion,

James in San Diego

Hey Andy,

I wish I could offer a catchy answer! They fine folks ahead of me already stated it:

1). Education

2). Start at the bottom and work your way up!

3). Sell Drugs or Become High Priced Gigolo!

Oh, wait, That last one shouldn’t be on there! Andy, we want everything now! With the exception of a lottery winner, everyone else has had to pay dues!

Sorry!

Follow their advice!

James in San Diego

Hey Suzanne,

Yup, I have 3, but I am confused, I was under the impression that all Ferrets in the USA had to be descented! Mine are and they only smell when they are spooked. I wash them about once every two months, it seems to be enough — They are very clean themselves! There was a comment regarding their poop/urine.. Yes, like a cat or a dog, if you don’t clean up after them, of course you’ll have a smell.

If you are thinking about adopting, GOOD FOR YOU! I have had four total! I have so much fun with them that I can’t think of how my life would be without them! They make me chase them around the house (the area’s that they are allowed to roam when they are not in their cage) and they make me laugh! Can you think of any other reason to have a pet?

Good Luck!

James in San Diego

Hey Ambie,

While I’ve never tried Perry’s Cafe (It’s the restaurant that you see at the intersection of the 5 + 8 that just says “Breakfast” on the roof, but I always see 18 wheel trucks there, so you know that it must be good and cheap.

Favorites I have tried,

Mission – North Park or Mission Beach – Mission Coffee in PB

Broken Yolk – Hhhmmmm. – P.B.

Cafe 222 – Island Ave Downtown

Omelette Factory – Santee

Bread and Cie – Hillcrest (Great Scones)

Crest Cafe – Hillcrest

St. Tropez – 7 Locations – It’s MOSTLY a hit (I’ve had a few ….)

Antique Row Cafe – Normal Heights and Lemon Grove – 7+

Keep in mind that with the exception of Broken Yolk, I have had long waits at most of the other places listed (especially on the weekends – but even before 10am during the week.).

All are inexpensive with Crest Cafe and Mission topping out the lists with $8-10 breakfast at the top. Rest are all about $6-7.

Almost all will have a coupon either in the San Diego Reader or on their website.

If someone mentions “Big Kitchen” and food in the same breath, run as fast as you can – AWAY! I have lived here for 19 years and I have been there three times and found the place dirty and disgusting – but my friends all think it’s the bomb!

Good Eating,

James in San Diego

Hey Hais,

I read with some laughter the answers regarding fruit/eggs and fruit flies.

Rarely do you get fruit flies because of fruit. Flies are Flies. Adult flies will lay their eggs in or near rotting fruit because the adult realizes that this is a good source of food for larvae. Same thing for garbage cans. Small (Baby or Fruit) flies will hang around rotting fruit and rotting garbage because the material is already decomposing and easily digested (mostly its the sugar that they are able to extract – hence the term “fruit flies”)

In the US, we rarely get a “Fruit Fly”. The last time we had an infestation of Fruit Flies, it was during the 1980’s in California. They had an infestation of Mediterranean Fruit flies that could have wiped out the Fruit harvest for decades.

What you are seeing is nothing more than baby common house flies.

Hope that this helped!

James

My first guess would be to proof-read all of their postings. You never know when a misspell might tick off a customer.

Second, I would think a good variety of items, at good prices, with a “Can Do” attitude. I hate walking into a store and when I ask a question I am told “No, I don’t think so,” (Especially when I know that they do carry something like that or have something that will work in its place.) OR, even worse, That’s not my department. I don’t care who is in charge of that department – I really don’t mind if we find out the answer together.

Just my thoughts,

James in San Diego