MIDYEAR REVIEW OF INVESTMENTS AND PERSONAL FINANCE : Personal Best

We publish advice and insights from all sorts of investment and personal finance experts--much of it contradictory. So to find out what works in real life, we went to the source, asking our readers to recount their all-time best financial decisions. From hundreds of letters, faxes and e-mailings, we’ve selected a few of the most interesting to publish or excerpt. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Getting Into Business

I had been working in a job that had wonderful benefits, reasonably good pay, not much stress and security until retirement. It also had no challenges, intellectual stimulation, independence or real opportunity for self-fulfillment. So in 1982, in the middle of a recession, I quit what everyone said was a great job and started my own business. From my first job of repairing a door for $20 (which took me all afternoon!), I worked harder than ever before and learned more about the business world and dealing with people. Eventually, I got my general contractor’s license and now have employees and trucks--and other contractors and subcontractors working for me.

Ethan Greenspan

Culver City