Lest you think I’ve gone totally off my rocker, let me explain. Last night, I received an interesting phone call from an old friend of mine. Jim’s in his forties, has a wife and a couple of kids, and lives in Orlando, Florida.

Six years ago, when I was vice-president of a telecommunications company, I hired Jim to run a new specialty business we were setting up in his neck of the woods. He knew absolutely nothing about our business, but he was a smart guy and I felt he was the best person for the job. It was the right decision, as Jim was a self-starter and turned out to be a great manager for our new operation.

When I left the business a few years later, I suggested he consider striking out on his own, as he would do a lot better for himself. He still owes me a nice dinner for that piece of advice.

Last year, his sales were over $2 million… this year he’ll likely do four times that. He has 10 full-time employees, and he’s going to be looking for more this year. He’s quickly become the No. 1 contractor in central Florida for the type of business he’s in.