When I started, people didn't trust a woman in this business. And at the time I think I weighed 90-some pounds, and there I am, out there picking up patients. I had to be visible and I had to do it constantly. Even though I hired people after the first year, for four years I was on most of the calls, then I would go out and do PR. You have to do it all. |
Baltimore, Maryland: Most small businesses today are in the service sector. No service could be more important than what is done many times a day by Absolute Care Ambulance. The founder/owner/operator, Vickie Rosellini, started her business in 1977 by charging the purchase of her first ambulance on her credit card.
UPDATE: In 2001, Vicki was named as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women.
What does it take to start something from scratch, make it work, and on top of that, become wealthy and wise in a manifold number of ways? Vickie says, "Something has to drive the business owner. There has to be something, whether it be self-confidence, or a need, a passion for a particular business. I mean, I was determined that I was gonna make it, I was gonna take care of my family and myself and my mom, and that we were gonna have a decent life."
After over twenty years of running Absolute Care, Vickie was approached by a publicly-traded company, Rural/Metro out of Scottsdale, Arizona (but operating in over 20 states), and she sold the business. She went back to another love, construction, and started Rosellini & Associates Custom Builders & Remodelers. Congratulations, Vickie!
BIG IDEAS:
- The kitchen table is a good place to start a business.
- To build a multi-million dollar business, you don't need a college degree or an MBA.
- Positive word-of-mouth recommendations from customers will build a multi-million dollar business.
- There's more than one way to present a direct marketing message.
EXPLORE FURTHER:
- READ THE
TRANSCRIPT
All the words of this episode - no charge! You are attending Small Business School. - BUSINESS BASICS: in this episode of the show Jeff Slutsky of Streefighter Marketing offers ideas for developing a three-month marketing plan for a new business. Jeff has contributed to other episodes of the series and you can read his advice here.
- GO TO SCHOOL: If you enroll in
Small Business School, you can watch this show as well as
learn from over 130 other entrepreneurs. It is all online. It requires DSL or
cable connection with no firewalls. If you answer the questions in the teaching
notes and study guide, you may qualify:
- to get listed within your business type and within your state's listings,
- to be profiled on a show (local or national),
- to generate automatically a business plan for debt financing and/or a SCOR for equity financing,
- to be listed within a Small Business index, and
- to qualify as one of the "best of small business" within a business category.
- OTHER SEGMENTS IN THE SHOW. We turned to several other small business owners who have become leaders in their field; they give us some tips in these segments:
- AT YOUR LOCAL COLLEGE: Check this list of schools (partial). Also, check for classes with your local Small Business Development Center, Chamber of Commerce, and Economic Development Commission.
- LOOK AT STEPS 1-8. Think about where you are and where you want to be.
- STUDY BUSINESSES BY TYPE.
- WATCH TV!
- To find out what is airing in your market, usually on your local PBS-member station, click here.
- Click here to see this show online (requires DSL or cable connection with no firewalls).
We invite your questions or comments.