Howie Helps Small Businesses Grow

 

The summation of this proposal is that I need you to do what you used as your seven-second job description:  "You help small businesses to grow by doing the things they don't know how to do, or don't have time to do."  My feeble attempt to put the pictures in my head into written form below further illustrates my need for you.

 

Time Line:

 

From 1983 till 1993 100% of my attention was focused on growing the real estate business.  From 1993-1997 I dropped to 25% attention on the real estate business and 75% attention to the hands-on care of the ever-growing population of cats.  From mid 1997 (when Don disappeared) to 1998 I was scrambling to protect the business from an onslaught of people who were suing the estate claiming rights via Don's supposed promises to people claiming to be his illegitimate children wanting a cut.   I fired three office staff (leaving no one) and took over the accounts receivable, accounts payable and all other administrative duties.  The conservatorship refused to allow more than $125,000.00 to go to the care of the animals and all of my assets had been seized, so I had no way to meet the $399,000.00 budget.

 

In 1998 my mother agreed to give up her pension and run the daily operation of the real estate business.  I slept for three days straight.  From 1998 until 2002 I focused 80% of my attention on getting WildLife on Easy Street self sufficient, 10% on the real estate business and 10% on protecting the assets in the estate and trying to free those that had been mine before the marriage.

 

In the aftermath of 9/11/01 I realized that all I had done to establish financial security for WildLife on Easy Street could literally go up in smoke with the collapse of the twin towers.  My real estate business was successful because it was recession proof and WOES needed that same security.  I hired the ICC to show me how.  I've found the process beneficial because it's caused me to take a more organized look at things, but as yet, it hasn't produced any tangible benefit to WildLife on Easy Street.  The only revelation has been that ultimately WildLife on Easy Street depends on my real estate business.

 

Where I am:  I am now in a time of transitioning.  I am trying to divide my attention equally between WildLife on Easy Street and the real estate business, but sense that I am only being half effective in either endeavor.  That is causing a tremendous amount of stress because I refuse to fail, even if I knock myself out trying.

 

It took me 20 years to learn the real estate market and I am still learning every day.  Evaluating potential deals is what consumes so much of my time and yet is the hardest thing to train someone else to do because it's based largely on experience.  Anyone good at it doesn't need to work for me.

 

The same is true of the refuge.  Anyone who has mastered the art of appealing to the public to support animals is probably up to their eyeballs with their own commitments.  Anyone who has been exposed to the larger picture has come to realize that sweeping social change will not likely come about by the efforts of one sanctuary, no matter how well intentioned.

 

My life is not justified by saving 200 animals.  It wouldn't be by saving 2000.  There isn't a number that quantifies success.  I have been too richly blessed (with you, with a loving family and with supportive volunteers) to leave this planet without affecting the greatest shift in perception that I am capable of achieving.

 

Where I want to be:  I want to see an attitude of compassion and responsibility.  I want to see people treating each other and all life forms with respect.  Everything else will follow.  Many may find that desire to be naïve, but I believe it's possible.  I'm willing to be patient, because I know it won't happen overnight.  I know it means starting locally and it will gain momentum, one community at a time.  The biggest problem with animal advocates is that they