EDITORIAL

In Business, November-December, Vol. 29, No. 6, p. 3

LOOKING BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS … AND CLOSING IN BUSINESS

ON PAGE 20 of this issue, we reflect upon the early days of In Business magazine. As we wrote in the Premier Issue back in 1979, no matter what business you start, friends invariably ask questions about why you are doing what you're doing. Who and where is the market … and finally “Have you lost your

marbles?” As we explained then, we're in business because of an irresistible urge to fulfill personal goals. It's where we want to be, interpreted in many ways - serious, humorous, often all-in-the-family, sometimes far-fetched, at times over-stretched.
Originally, our editorial focus was to concentrate on “alternative” ways of making a living on your own - businesses based on solar energy, appropriate technology, natural foods, waste recycling, small-scale farming, community renewal. As we delved more deeply into the world of small business over the next three decades, we came to realize how much every small businessperson has in common - how words like “alternative” and “innovative” and “countertrend” apply to the spirit of the people and the quality of the effort. That spirit, more than the kind of business itself, is the connecting fabric we perceived for shopkeeper and builder, for printer and repairman, for publisher and plumber … for us all.
We discovered that while thousands of persons in business (conventional and unconventional) appreciate that small is beautiful, we're all in the same boat when it comes to making small survive and thrive.
Our goal was to pack each issue with information about how to reach customers more effectively … minimize mistakes … and improve bottom lines. Each issue was designed to help you find the right niche in the marketplace by using your special talents and personal interests. We tried mightily to supply a publication that blends idealism with pragmatic decision-making, so that your business is around for a long time to come.
We are proud of our longevity - almost 30 years of publishing - amounting to more than 175 issues of In Business, edited, published and circulated among thousands of subscribers over the years. And now, we have decided to close In Business. We believe that we gave you our best effort to fulfill those early goals and hope that in some small ways, we achieved those original aims. The In Business web site will remain active. We shall continue to publish BioCycle and Compost Science & Utilization along with the occasional books and reports that seem “so right for the times.” We wish all of you the very best in accomplishing your personal goals - and will always look forward to hearing from you. Thank you very much for being with us over these many years that have been fulfilling to us. Jerome Goldstein

Copyright 2007, The JG Press, Inc.