Q:

Hello Doc,
Well after we talked about the IC and your feelings about it, I spoke 
to him and told him that if he was not willing to make a better 
effort then it made no sense for him to be in the office. Today he 
came in an packed his things up and left. I told him that I would get 
back to him tomorrow after I did some thinking about the whole 
thing. I am very upset but not because he did not make it and left but 
more that he effort to do well was extremely weak. My CA's even 
noticed and commented on it. Now I am in a position where he does 
not have the money to pay me for past due rent and late fees and I 
have an empty office after marketing to get someone in there and I 
have his table in my office which he wants me to take over his lease 
payments because he cant afford it. The table is very nice but  i do 
not want the payment, I would like the table or one simular. I am 
rambling on but I do not have the experience to know what to do next. 
If you could help your former student i will as always be very 
appreaciative.
Thanks again

A:

I wish I can wave my hand and make it all go away .. but this is life 
in the world of business .. partners and IC's sometimes do not work 
out. Unless you can afford the table let it go .. whatever you do do 
not agree to pay on his accounts unless you want the table ..you can 
possibly negotiate a better deal or less payments per month with the 
leasing company who may wish to keep the equipment with you 
rather than picking it up. I would still recommend you bill this IC for 
his past due rent.

Now for the tough issue .. forget about an IC and spend the energy 
getting your own practice going. Go to my webpage and check under 
Practice Tips and scroll down to anything that ends with "notes" 
which are my recent seminar notes.

Use these notes or scroll down some more and look for the 
Independent Smart Start Study to refresh yourself with my book and 
begin to get to work. It's not easy out there but you got to be 
profitable by building a solid practice

Have a Great Day

Dr. M