Entrepreneur: Keep sharp objects away.
Aug. 3rd, 2017 07:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_sn0wygoose"when you become an Entrepreneur, keep sharp objects away from yourself"
Quote attributed to James Altucher.
Sometimes, that line has more meaning than I would care for; and far more truth than is spoken. When my colleague and friend suggested I partner with her and join her startup firm, I enjoyed the sound of carving your own way and genuinely helping people change their lives was the sort of drive my passion needed. For the first three months, financially and emotionally speaking, it was great - new clients being helped, my living expenses were covered and we were making a difference. We were "crushing it", in the business parlez.
Now at the eighth month, it's a different picture. Months behind on many living expenses, my colleague ill and falling behind, the economy soured and we have clients who are not paying and few new clients are too much of a risk.
What has changed? Life. Something that every business school fails to truly install in its' students. Sometimes the picture changes; sometimes, unforeseen events "crush" your firm. It is truly something that makes the heart heavy and your shoulders droop. Seeing only failure and ruin. Hence, keeping the pointies away.
And yet, despite the financial challenges, we have made a difference in people's lives. We have won Court cases in which there was little chance of prevailing, yet we did. We have patently waited for the right moment and then proceeded with a heady mixture of confidence, chutzpah and quiet civility and won the day. We have forced uncouth and unethical lawyers to think twice and then run away. Sometimes with determination, sometimes with quiet resolve and sometimes grabbing the sod by the collar and explaining the unvarnished facts (yes, to my embarrassment, I did this).
It is in this I am grateful and have an abundance of gratitude. And should we fail, we fail financially.
And I'll keep the sharp objects for later.
Quote attributed to James Altucher.
Sometimes, that line has more meaning than I would care for; and far more truth than is spoken. When my colleague and friend suggested I partner with her and join her startup firm, I enjoyed the sound of carving your own way and genuinely helping people change their lives was the sort of drive my passion needed. For the first three months, financially and emotionally speaking, it was great - new clients being helped, my living expenses were covered and we were making a difference. We were "crushing it", in the business parlez.
Now at the eighth month, it's a different picture. Months behind on many living expenses, my colleague ill and falling behind, the economy soured and we have clients who are not paying and few new clients are too much of a risk.
What has changed? Life. Something that every business school fails to truly install in its' students. Sometimes the picture changes; sometimes, unforeseen events "crush" your firm. It is truly something that makes the heart heavy and your shoulders droop. Seeing only failure and ruin. Hence, keeping the pointies away.
And yet, despite the financial challenges, we have made a difference in people's lives. We have won Court cases in which there was little chance of prevailing, yet we did. We have patently waited for the right moment and then proceeded with a heady mixture of confidence, chutzpah and quiet civility and won the day. We have forced uncouth and unethical lawyers to think twice and then run away. Sometimes with determination, sometimes with quiet resolve and sometimes grabbing the sod by the collar and explaining the unvarnished facts (yes, to my embarrassment, I did this).
It is in this I am grateful and have an abundance of gratitude. And should we fail, we fail financially.
And I'll keep the sharp objects for later.
