Linda Patroske started out to be a teacher, only to wind up with a business career. Now, nearly 40 years later, she's finally teaching -- all about decor as an interior designer.

But many of the lessons being learned are on her part, she says, and add to her knowledge of just how much is involved in creating, launching and operating your own small business.

"You always have that thought in the back of your head that 'I'll be my own boss and set my own hours,' " she explains. "But when you look at it, you're doing everything."

Where she came from: After graduating from high school in 1969, Patroske planned to study teaching, only to be warned away by a college counselor who predicted a glut of teachers. Instead, he steered her into a business program.

After her first year, she married, had a daughter and stayed home, heading back to work in 1975 after a divorce.

She started with clerical jobs, then worked her way up to executive assistant to the president of an auto supplier, and on to several other firms.

What changed: The work wasn't bad, but it wasn't what she wanted. Instead, Patroske conjured ideas for her own business, including a bookstore and a store specializing in golf equipment and clothing for children.

Her second husband, a CPA, would work with her on business plans, and none seemed to be quite right.

Moment of truth: It was leafing through a magazine that gave Patroske her inspiration, when she found an article about Decor and You, a home decorating franchise operation.

"My other passion was design and color and decorating," she recalls. "My thought was, 'If you're doing something you love, how can you not be happy and make money?' "

With $30,000 from a home equity loan, she signed up for the franchise and training and went to work. From the beginning, she's been breaking even, Patroske notes, though the recent downturn in the southwest Michigan economy has hurt business.

Stumbling blocks: Even though she's still working toward a profit, some of her biggest hurdles have been balancing operating the business with selling and completing the designs.

Patroske says another challenge is educating potential customers about all that's involved in custom decorating.

"You can't possibly show them what a room is going to look like when it's complete," she sighs. "They watch too much HGTV. They think it's 'Trading Spaces' -- one day and it's all done for $1,000."

Words of wisdom: Doing a business plan with the help of her husband ("He is my right arm," she says) was important in understanding the business, Patroske notes, and something she suggests for all prospective business owners. That includes estimating how much money to invest in the business, including cash flow needs when things are slow.

Another key has been networking to build her business. Advertising is expensive, and requires repetition. Networking saves cash, but demands time and effort.

"Don't just sit there and then pass out your business card -- that doesn't work. "You need to get involved. And then just watch the difference because people begin to know your name."

And, for someone who wanted to be a teacher, educating clients is a big part of the process.

"Decorating is kind of a thing that you can put off, it's not something you have to have," she admits. "You have to find that certain client who says, 'I don't know how to do it and I don't have the time to run around and pull it all together.' "