Bend, Dallas, San Diego, and Sante Fe: What would happen if office parks, strip malls, and shopping malls were to begin incorporating housing within their designs and redesigns? What would happen if we worked and lived in the same building?

We are learning the answers because there is a movement that is growing ever larger and increasingly fast. We seem to be making the circle, back to a pre-industrial lifestyle, but with knowledge tools -- the integration of broadcasting, information (technology), communications, education and publishing -- that challenge us to look deep within ourselves to craft and sculpt our unique gifts to give back to the world.

There are 19 million sole proprietors; they are all unique and most have returned home to work.

What would happen if 19± milllion people were to focus on a common task? Impossible? Not any more. And most of us who have moved back home to work, believe "Homework is good!" If asked about being lonely, we answer, "There's no time!" With instant messaging, collaboration and webcasts, our offices have become nerve centers that can change the world. Plus we help save the environment, change the balance of trade, and preserve precious energy reserves.

In this episode of the show, we take a look at eight examples of nine people who work and live within the same physical space. It has its own special challenges, and we can personally atest to some of them, because this show is produced and mostly edited from our home office.

Contact:
Who's Who in this episode of the show.

(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)

• Our small business owners from the first edition: Small Office / Home Office
  Santa Fe, New Mexico -- Dallas, Texas -- Bend, Oregon
  
  
• Graef 'Bud' Crystal, columnist, writer, author, and deep thinker for Bloomberg New and others. Bud knows, as much, if not more, than anybody on earth about executive compensation. He knows the case history of all the liars-cheaters-thieves among big business.
  
  
• Bruce Camber and Hattie Bryant, Small Business School, inc.
  Tel: 619.985.8001
  Email: Click here.
  URL: You are here!
  
  
• Barbara Granneman
  Midwest School of Music, Inc.
  7243 North Audubon Road
  Indianapolis, Indiana 46250
  Tel: 317-849-9770 Or: 888-568-2272
  Email: Click here. URL: schoolofmusic.com

We invite your questions or comments

• GO FURTHER: Spend some time with the ten key points of the case study guide (just above in the green box) and each of the related transcript segments.

• The hidden economy. One of the pieces of the economy of the USA that is little studied and under-appreciated is the abundance of home-based businesses that actually generate over $1M in annual revenues. If that involved just five percent of our sole proprietors, it would be over a $1T part of our economy!
  
  As a national study, we need to learn more.

• NATIONAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS / LOCAL CHAMBERS. There are national trade associations for every industry and business sector. These associations are the most relevant resources for continuing education and networking for small business owners. We are not alone.
  
  Some of the industry types represented within this episode of the show:
  Arts: Joel Greene
  Construction: Greg Steckler and Ron Bowman
  Education: Barbara Granneman, Sue Coffman, Hattie Byrant & Bruce Camber
  Finances: Graef "Bud" Crystal
  Information: Graef "Bud" Crystal and Brett LaSorella

• CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE: To find your local chamber, click here.

• Many Family businesses: The American farmer, the manufacturer's representatives, the artists, and so many others are the family business. If you are part of this very special group, we encourage you to review these other episodes of the show.

• FIRST PRINCIPLES: Starting a business is the road to economic independence for most of us average people. Read a little more to see why incorporating a business keeps the passion of the American revolution alive!

• CASES BY BUSINESS TYPE. Click on the heading to find all the business types and then click on your type of business to check out those case studies.

• SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION:
  Become a member of your local station. If you are already, great. If not and your business is doing well, consider joining the Producers' Club ($1000).

• JOIN, JOIN, JOIN: Your professional associations in your industry are your key to continuing education, market research, collaborations, strategic partnerships, capital and so much more ... often you'll find that you enjoy like-minded people and many will become friends for life.