optimism to get a balanced view of your prospects. What is it that makes you think you will be one of the minority of small businesspeople who will succeed? If you dont have some specific answers, you are in trouble. Most new businesses fail, and the large majority of survivors do not genuinely prosper.     Many people start their own business because they cant stand working for others. They dont have a choice. They must be either boss or bum. They are more than willing to trade security for the chance to call the shots. They meet a good chunk of their goals when they leave their paycheck behind. This is fine as far as it goes, but in my experience, the more successful small businesspeople have other goals as well.     A small distributor we know has a well-thought-out business and a sound business plan for the future. Still, he believes that his own personal commitment is the most important thing he has going for him. He puts it this way: "I break my tail to live up to the commitments I make to my customers. If a supplier doesnt perform for me, Ill still do everything I can to keep my promise to my customer, even if it costs me money." This sort of personal commitment enables this successful business owner to make short-term adjustments to meet his long-range goals. And while it would be an exaggeration to say he pays this price gladly, he does pay it. Chapter 3: Choosing The Right Business     Overview     Quick plan.If youve chosen the quick plan method to prepare a business plan (see Introduction), you need to read and complete only these sections of Chapter 3:   A. Introduction     This chapter helps you determine whether you have chosen the "right" business for you-one that you know, like and will work hard for and that makes economic sense. Most experienced businesspeople complete several steps as a rough and ready template to decide whether to complete a plan. If your business passes all these steps with flying colors, it means its a good idea to write a full business plan; it doesnt guarantee success. On the other hand, if your proposal doesnt pass, youll probably want to modify or change your plans altogether.     If youre like most people, chances are your business will pass some tests easily and fail some of the others. Antoinette faces just that problem in this chapter. Pay careful attention to how she approaches that dilemma; her method of proceeding may help you in your decision. . Know Your Business     One of the most common questions people ask me is this: What business should I start? My answer is always the same-start a venture that you know intimately already. I dont believe any business exists that is so foolproof that anyone can enter and make a sure profit. On the other hand, a skilled, dedicated owner often can make a venture successful when others have failed. Remember, your potential customers will exchange their money only for the conviction that you are giving them their moneys worth. And that means youll need to know what youre doing. While this point should appear obvious, sadly-it isnt.           Are You Choosing a Risky Business?