<HTML>In a message dated 4/16/2003 11:18:52 AM Eastern Dayli= ght Time, tito@philbondi.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Ok..I've read most of the posts= regarding this current subject, and I want to chime in on it.. Yesterday was my 7th year aniversary in the business, and that day, April<BR= > 15, is special not because it was the first day of business for me..it is<BR= > special because it was the first day I started doing contract work for a dealership here that I STILL do contract work for today, and will continue<B= R> to do work for until it isn't feasible for either one of us. When I was hired to do this work, this dealer said to me, and I quote: "In 3-4 years, you'll be busy enough where you won't have time to do my work= anymore." Yes, I am busier than the 1-armed paperhanger in a hurricane, but I still<BR= > make time to do this dealer's work, at reduced rates..why? 1. We have an understanding about his floor work and his Warranty Tunings..the floor will have to wait if I have the opportunity to double my<= BR> income instead. 2. He really is a nice person. 3. See #'s 1&2. This dealer got me going in a big way 7 years ago, and I am eternally grateful..he's happy to have me, and I'm happy to work with him. win-win. We should all be that lucky. -Phil Bondi (Fl.) </BLOCKQUOTE> I've had this arrangement with a dealer for 16 years and am still going stro= ng. On those rare occaisions when my "outside" work slows down I enjoy the c= hance to get him caught up a bit. will wickham</HTML>