Hahn Enterprises, Inc. - a modern day Phoenix arising out of the ashes of 9/11, is my attempt to become self sufficient and not be a burden upon my family nor the government.

I spent 9 years in the Travel Industry when 9/11 came along and changed the way America traveled. I had started out in Leisure Travel and with four years of experience under my belt, moved to Corporate Travel. The fear generated by that fateful day, as I said, changed the way America, in particular Corporate America Traveled.

My job was eliminated at the end of February 2003. At the age of 72 and with 9 years of experience, I could not find a job in the local Travel Market. I remember one of the Managers I spoke with asking me how much experience I had and when I said 9 years she indicated she was looking for someone just starting out. Money was tight on all ends and I guess it is easier to train someone new at a starting salary than to pay for experience.

I thought it was time to try my hand at something new. Looking over the Internet and watching the Infomercials on late night TV, I became very wary of all the get rich schemes. I sent for information on some of the advertised - "Become a Millionaire Overnight", etc. I guess they shared their database of names, because I was deluged with mail and email on a thousand and one different programs. If I followed their simply systems I would become a Millionaire overnight. After all, if they could do it, I could do it! RIGHT!!!

One of the ads offered a FREE website. I am a sceptic by nature, so I decided to see just how FREE it was. Where was the hidden catch? FREE it was, but after you got that up and running the very next thing was - you have to upgrade to the tune of $235.00 to really benefit from their program!!!

On my way to the Social Security Office one day, I saw a large sign over a building - "Liquidators". When I returned home, I cranked up my computer and searched for "Liquidators". Some of them looked very good and others - well, if you have a bank account the size of the State of Alaska and Texas combined you could make a go of it.

By accident I stumbled across various websites selling wholesale jewelry. Again the sceptic in me set off the warning whistle. I learned that there are wholesalers and there are "wholesalers".

I was learning quickly. My knowledge base was being increased. True wholesalers are not middle men. I have found several of them who are very pleasant to deal with and are what they say they are.

As a result I have developed a website that sell Jewelry - Wholesale at http://www.HahnsJewelryWholesalers.com and am looking into developing a market for selling other types of products on another website.

Re-tooling is always difficult [we have a saying in German, "alle anfang ist schwer" - every beginning is difficult], but I know this is going to succeed. The enthusiasm and encouragement I have received tells me that.

Living alone and being guarded by a Black Lab/Rottweiler and a German Shepherd/Alaskan Malamute, I spend my time keeping my house in order, developing and maintaining my websites, and constantly learning new things about the Internet, Html Code, Becoming a Web-Master, and Marketing. Ever since I was a kid in the early 40's, I have loved the outdoors. I have raised my share of domestic rabbits, homing pigeons, canaries, dogs and cats.

Our family grew up during the Great Depression and World War II - so we had our "Victory Garden" and raised a lot of our food - potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, pickles, corn, lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, and what have you. I still do that today. Keeps me out of mischief and makes me feel good when I can sit down to table and eat food that I was able to produce with my efforts and the help of the Almighty!

In closing, I want to share a memory of the Great Depression. When I was about 7 or 8 years old, Dad and I would play a game every evening. The Railroad tracks were about a block and a half from our home. After Supper, we would take two buckets and go along the tracks picking up the coal that had dropped from the coal cars. The game was to see who could fill up his bucket first. When the buckets were full, we would take them home and dad would dump them into the coal bin in the basement. Never did I realize, at the age of 7 0r 8, that those buckets full of coal helped stretch the coal used to heat our home.

Clarence Hahn