Vent

This is an old fashioned run-of-the-mill unedited complaint post.  I consider myself an entrepreneurial day laborer, which is a politically incorrect way of saying that my startups do not quite pay all the bills.  That means I do other things, too.  Honestly, I think that should be the way it is until a startup takes off.  Too many new companies burn founders' and investors' cash.

But tonight I'm tired of it.  All I've wanted to do is get a short review of Wall-E posted on my blog.  Still not up there.  And I think I'll have to give up the hope of writing something too meaningful.  As I'm not employed nor experienced as a movie critic, the Wall-E review will just have to wait a few more days and go online, like Wall-E himself, a little rusty.

And the Wall-E review is hardly the most important part of my life getting the short end of the stick.  Presently I've got a wretched commute.  No longer am I jogging three miles a morning with my dog.  He's sad, and I'm a sorry excuse for an allegedly fit human being.  I don't like sucking wind on a short jog like tonight at 9:30 PM.

And my family takes a hit, too.  It's hard enough for parents to remain present with their kids when everything's smooth sailing.  Throw in a lot of work, desires of our own, the boredom of summer vacation, and you've got the makings of neglect.  And that drives me nuts!  I want to be attentive to my kids.

And one final grump.  My eyes hurt.

Comments

[DeborahW]

Ouch! I have a small business, too, and it's a continual strain to keep up with all that needs to be done. In my case the kids have left the nest so at least I don't have that added stress (at least not often, they do appear now and then)! I'm intrigued now about what you do for your startup, and what other things you do to pay the bills. I've been following your blog for just a few days now; guess it's time to dig deeper and find the answers to my questions. Good luck, and don't lose faith!

[EDW]

My clients are a start-up, and I see them struggle with the same things. I agree, there should be some awesome, easy to access, funding program out there.

[Travis Prinzi]

Nice vent! I almost wrote something similar last night, actually, and then decided against it. Trying to find my place as a writer, being patient, and trying to find the energy to write well and often enough to make some extra money (and eventually transition eventually into full-time writing?) - it's exhausting. And last night, I was just tired.

And my eyes hurt last night, too.

[Katherine]

Thanks for ranting! Can I add my own personal gripe? I hate it when you're trying to work a part-time job to pay the bills in addition to entrepreneurship, and yet people keep DEFINING you by that bill-paying job, rather than what it is you're really trying to do. I was walking dogs to help pay the bills and even my friends referred to me as a dog walker at times. The world does not understand the entrepreneur, the small business owner, the self-employed.

[Dave Bruno]

@katherine It seems to me that the sad (but sometimes appropriate) reality is that our world rewards accomplishments over ideas disproportionately. I'm kind of an idea guy. And I even get some of my ideas going. That creates some interest in some people. But until I deliver the goods, I notice friends and strangers alike focus on what's been done, not what's possible. I wrestle with whether or not it should be that way.