If you don’t know it already, I’m working on a business idea. The fear and terror that goes with this can’t easily be expressed. I’ve been an employee my whole life. So, the notion of trying to support a wife and two children with vapor is kinda like how I feel every time I swim in the ocean (I saw Jaws when I was very young- my own fault, not my Dad’s).
It’s important for me to be realistic, and yet be a dreamer. I have to craft a vision, and yet show the nuts and bolts of how I’ll get there. I have to hold on to my day job and boostrap as long as humanly possible, because the moment I accept money from an outside source, I’m obligated to return that money with a profit.
And yet, the other option is to continue being an employee. Here. Somewhere else. I like it here, my current day job, but it’s really not the same place as when I got here nearly 9 years ago. It’s better in lots of ways, but far less… cowboy. Does that make sense?
All this is a long lead-in to point you to two interesting things. First, Erica gave me a pointer to this site, and I found this article to be one of several interesting articles.
Second, I got to listen to Chris Pirillo pitch his business plan in front of a huge conference of people. It was terrifying, and Chris was excellent at emoting his feelings. I felt my heart and throat choking a bit at the notion of having lots of really rich and brilliant people picking apart my plans, especially when maybe my plan isn’t the kind of thing people will find useful. (And yes, that’s the doubt).
I want to close this post by saying that I’m thrilled to death that I’ve got the friends and people I do through this site, and through some of my real-life connections. Some of you have done this already. Some of you are in the same boat: peering out from your company’s doorstep and wondering if you might do better on your own.
The thing is, starting and running a business is a LOT of work (I’m understating), and there are far more risks with your money, your efforts, etc. You really could live a much nicer life just by sitting around being an employee and pouring your heart into other pursuits. But that’s my problem: my PASSION is what drives me the most in these endeavors. I’m smart, fast, talented, and creative. I’m not steady, sturdy, churning, and cog-like. It requires more for me to live than it does the average joe.
I pity the people who’ve been forced to manage me over the years as an employee. I might be doing you all a favor.
Thanks, as always, to you: the best friends I’ve ever had (provided some of my real life friends are also still reading along with the great folks I’ve met through this and other sites).
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tag: entrepreneur, gnomedex, startup, business, planning
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