IBA, as the premier business brokerage firm in the Pacific Northwest, is firmly established as a respected professional service firm in the legal, accounting, banking, mergers & acquisitions, real estate, and financial planning communities. Periodically, we will post guest blogs from professionals with knowledge to share for the good of owners of privately held companies & family owned businesses. The following blog has been provided by Jeff Levy, author of Making the Jump in Small Business Ownership: If you have not noticed, workers live in a “New Career Economy.” In my generation, Fordham Class of ’71” we were expected to graduate from college and start a career in typically one industry, change jobs two, maybe three times and get the gold watch and fishing pole at 65. Graduates today enter a much different world. There is no expectation of company-employee loyalty and jobs change typical every 3-5 years. Is this a problem or an opportunity? As an optimist and lifetime entrepreneur, I see it as opportunity. And for some, there might not be a retirement. To take advantage of this opportunity there need to be an effective education and support system for these new entrepreneurs. Fortunately, whether you want to start a business, buy a business or explore franchising, there is a vibrant support community to help an aspiring business owner. Local resources, too many to list them all, include SCORE www.seattlescore.org , Women’s Business Center www.wbc.seattleccd.com , the SBA www.sba.gov , Seattle Public Library www.spl.org/ask/ , meet-up groups www.info@meetup.com, incubators, coaches, brokers, community colleges, all include offerings and support for individuals interested in controlling their own destiny. To help with a basic understanding of the support landscape, the Small Business Administration has affiliates that offer free or low cost business counseling. The meet up groups, easy to find on line, create regular and informal gatherings of entrepreneurs. Business coaches are individuals who can help you forum star your goals and set a strategy to achieve them. Community colleges offer credit and non-credit courses in the various skill areas for business start-up. The broker community is made up of highly trained professionals, with a state license, whom have deep insights into the kinds of businesses that might be for sale. Many libraries offer significant research capabilities as well as seminar opportunities. I work closely with the Seattle Library and that is why I gave their reference. Be sure to check out the library near you. Jeff Levy is an educator, author and business coach. You can get more of his insights at www.makingthejumpbook.com . His email is Jeff@makingthejumpbook.com