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mapsedgeThe question was posed to me: do you want to make bopper-weapon covers and tights full-time?
That's a hugely complex question, and one that I've been wrestling with for some time. Michelle and I hashed it for four straight hours on the drive down to White Hart on it's last weekend.
Short answer: yes, that's a goal.
That's a hugely complex question, and one that I've been wrestling with for some time. Michelle and I hashed it for four straight hours on the drive down to White Hart on it's last weekend.
Short answer: yes, that's a goal.
Believe it or not, I could quit my day job today and go full time, not hurt for work, at least for a month just playing catch-up, and come close to making what I make at my day job, if not more!
Now the complex part: if I were single, I'd have already done it. But, having a family changes the mix. Without reserves and plenty of debt spread around, that's a harder jump to make.
We'll probably scale our offerings way back once the faire season is over to just making tights, try to find some retail outlets and become a manufacturer/wholesaler, even to the point of farming out the construction to jobbers. Not just for faire tights, but for more generic offerings as well. The faire circuit has been good to us, but the volume isn't great enough and, to be perfectly frank, much of the target market can't afford the product.
As to the computer job, I implied to my officemate last week that the company needed to see some sales or it would lose me to tights-making. He was SHOCKED when I told him I could more than replace my income and benefits. Probably put the fear of God...or at least codpieces... in him.
The advantage to staying with the company is that, should this ship ever find land, it will have the greatest return for the least amount of effort: once software is written it's written, and you can sell it over and over and over. The disadvantage is that there is someone in control of my finances who doesn't share the same values I do. If you've been reading my journal in the past, this will not be an unfamiliar issue to you.
The cons to leaving: my office mate gets screwed. I'm not worried about CFO. He, unlike my officemate, has multiple income streams. He starts and closes companies for lunch.
When I go, so does 1/3 of the company, and neither CFO nor my officemate can do what I do. I don't have a lot of depth of professional skill, but quite a lot of width. Jack of all, master of one or two.
The advantage to leaving is simple: my schedule, my destiny. The entreprenour's dream. There is less of a guarantee of income than even with CFO, but what is me controlling my destiny myself worth? It's not a question I find easy to answer. Of course not, or I'd have already done it.
Pros and cons on both sides, and it's frustrating.
Now the complex part: if I were single, I'd have already done it. But, having a family changes the mix. Without reserves and plenty of debt spread around, that's a harder jump to make.
We'll probably scale our offerings way back once the faire season is over to just making tights, try to find some retail outlets and become a manufacturer/wholesaler, even to the point of farming out the construction to jobbers. Not just for faire tights, but for more generic offerings as well. The faire circuit has been good to us, but the volume isn't great enough and, to be perfectly frank, much of the target market can't afford the product.
As to the computer job, I implied to my officemate last week that the company needed to see some sales or it would lose me to tights-making. He was SHOCKED when I told him I could more than replace my income and benefits. Probably put the fear of God...or at least codpieces... in him.
The advantage to staying with the company is that, should this ship ever find land, it will have the greatest return for the least amount of effort: once software is written it's written, and you can sell it over and over and over. The disadvantage is that there is someone in control of my finances who doesn't share the same values I do. If you've been reading my journal in the past, this will not be an unfamiliar issue to you.
The cons to leaving: my office mate gets screwed. I'm not worried about CFO. He, unlike my officemate, has multiple income streams. He starts and closes companies for lunch.
When I go, so does 1/3 of the company, and neither CFO nor my officemate can do what I do. I don't have a lot of depth of professional skill, but quite a lot of width. Jack of all, master of one or two.
The advantage to leaving is simple: my schedule, my destiny. The entreprenour's dream. There is less of a guarantee of income than even with CFO, but what is me controlling my destiny myself worth? It's not a question I find easy to answer. Of course not, or I'd have already done it.
Pros and cons on both sides, and it's frustrating.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 17:17 (UTC)I'd love an evening on your deck with some music and good conversation...preferably when it's not 101 degrees outside, however! Just not sure when, dammit.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 17:57 (UTC)The evenings get real nice about the middle of September. The moonflower's in bloom and the summer heat has finally broken. I'm thinking we might fire up the grill, too.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 18:00 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 14:38 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 14:40 (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 17:29 (UTC)And I understand this one. Even though I've only been a step-parent, and that for a short time, I came to realize that the greatest travesty I could inflict on those kids was to prevent myself from following my dreams.
The gift I wanted to intill in them was for them to see how essential it is to follow dreams. If I couldn't do that, I would have felt like I'd failed as a step-parent.
I've never been happier and worked harder and found more joy than I have doing what I love to do no matter where it takes me.
I know our circumstances are vastly different and yet I believe our hearts are more similar than perhaps even we are aware.
I hear you and will continue to listen as often as you need an ear...
no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 14:37 (UTC)Ouch. Painful to admit, but true. A thought I have often had in those moments late at night when no one's listening, not even me.
I've never been happier and worked harder and found more joy than I have doing what I love to do no matter where it takes me.
You know, you've been someone who comes to my mind any time this issue comes up. It comes to a question: what is satisfaction worth? To answer it, I think about you, and the general tenor of your posts when you write about the work you do from your home. It's not like I'm wearing a "WWSD" bracelet, though. :)
I know our circumstances are vastly different and yet I believe our hearts are more similar than perhaps even we are aware.
Maybe not in so many words, but the thought has occurred to me, more than once. But that's a discussion for another venue.
*snicker* "WWSD" bracelet
Date: 2006-07-18 19:31 (UTC)What is satisfaction worth? I don't know. The question I kept asking myself was, "what amd I worth"? That one became more important the more miserable I became.
I vowed to be happy and give myself, my step-kids, my friends/family and the world the Star everyone deserved.
It's not easy and I'm not always happy and sometimes I'm so scared I can hardly breathe. But not matter what I am no longer miserable and therefore I have the ability to weather the storms that my emotions/fears/thoughts create.
I cannot imagine what it is like to have others truly dependent on you for so many things. I have been blessed and cursed in some ways to only have myself for the majority of my life. It has made me much more trustworthy and confident as I have grown older.
I am all for another venue. I would say anytime but the reality of our lives is that's not really possible. Know, that when we take the time to create the opportunity, I will cherish it as the priceless treasure it wil be.
~S
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 17:44 (UTC)Even in that, He can do everything I can do, and many things I can't.
If any of us pulls out of this little venture, it would likely be a mortal blow to the company and a real problem for the other 3.
The boss has to steer the thing and do sales/management.
The financial lady is the only one who can do what she does.
If I left, I guess they'd survive but nody would ever get to have a day off.
If Mark left, the areas of his expertise (networking, SQL, our premium service) would go with him. We might fly for a while, but the crash would be inevitable.
I really understand the minefield of being a very small company.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-18 14:07 (UTC)I sort of where Mark is. I don't have a huge depth of knowledge, but a breadth that would mean hiring three people to replace me, which this company absolutely could not do. There's not enough cash flow to even pay Mr. CFO (though that's no great loss to him), let alone a DBA, programmer, and Windows Sys Admin.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 18:09 (UTC)Two small children means you MUST have health insurance. Would you if you went full time in the clothing business? I won't even let Ray & me go without it, which probably means at least one of us will always be working for someone else. You never know what will happen tomorrow that could mean you have to use it.
Setting aside your concerns about your officemate getting screwed ... Would he have the same concerns if he had a chance to jump ship for something he really wanted to do? It's admirable that you have those concerns, but most people really are in it for themselves.
If you can answer those kinds of questions in such a way that satisfies you, then yes, go for it.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 23:17 (UTC)If I were able to devote the kind of energy required to make that happen, yes, we would, and probably better than we have now, at least in terms of Rxs, our heaviest expense just now.
Would he have the same concerns if he had a chance to jump ship for something he really wanted to do?
I don't think he would, no, and that's the misery of it. We've all had opportunities, one way or another, but there's always been an "us against them" attitude that's kept the company going.
He's doing what he wants as a career; I'm no longer certain I am. I followed my nose to where the money was, and now I'm sniffing in another direction. He's pretty much where he ever wanted to be.
Oh sweet Jesus do I understand...
Date: 2006-07-17 20:21 (UTC)And we havent come to an answer either. Admittedly, I have at least 3 years before it becomes an issue, but it's still very real to us right now.
In my prayers as usual, just more specific this go-round. Wisdom to figure out where He intends you to go and discernment to hear His voice through the spiritual radio-frequency jamming equipment.
Re: Oh sweet Jesus do I understand...
Date: 2006-07-17 23:12 (UTC)*g* Michelle and I have a phrase for that. We call it "Listening for the thunder, but missing the whisper." Sometimes His voice is quiet, and in my dotage and cynicism that's something I tend to forget.
Thank you, my friend. Remind me to have you and the family over for dinner the next time you and yours are in town.
Re: Oh sweet Jesus do I understand...
Date: 2006-07-17 23:37 (UTC)Re: Oh sweet Jesus do I understand...
Date: 2006-07-18 14:39 (UTC)