Looking at both sides...or trying to.

[mapsedge]

The 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.

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.

Comments

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Gods, do I understand that one! So does Bruce...we'll be thinking of you and if you ever need sympathetic people to rail, er, brainstorm with or just to listen, we're here for you!

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.

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

Oh Boy. What a dilemma.
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...

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

Our company right now is our boss, our financial lady, Mark, and myself. Mark and I are customer support and the only redundancy.
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.

[eacole72.livejournal.com]

Let's see...

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.

Oh sweet Jesus do I understand...

[heronmarkblade.livejournal.com]

... because the game company I write freelance for basically told I me that if I wasn't enlisted they'd pay me to ship to seattle to work for them full-time. The wife and I have had the same converstation as you and Michelle several times already.

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.