Want to escape from your cubicle? Then read Escape from Cubicle Nation. Yesterday, Pam wrote about the difference between theory and practice in bootstrapping your own business. She discussed all the things that can go wrong and I can relate to them all – projects shutting down; cashflow issues; paperwork; family; etc. However, Pam finished on a high note, noting that attitude is extremely important:
Don’t underestimate the power of faith and optimism. While all the financial basics I mentioned above are critical, belief in yourself and the greater good in the universe is essential to get through tough times. On a practical level, you come across as a confident and positive business partner as you are wooing new clients and financial institutions. And on a metaphysical level, why not call upon all the good, magical, miraculous energy in the universe to help make things happen? On many occasions, I have witnessed unanticipated “miracles” manifested in the form of money coming out of nowhere, the right friends showing up at the right time, and new business opportunities coming from unexpected places. One thing is sure … worrying all the time will do nothing to move your business forward.
Of course, a dose of insanity helps, so I guess I’m OK ;-)
From the time I was 6, I was raised by a single mother in the days when those women who worked at all had jobs rather than careers, and they earned a pittance for their trouble.
I lost count of the number of times my mother would say something like, “I have 25c left to get me to the end of the month.” Since she had to take a bus into the city for work, we had to eat and all the usual bills had to be paid, it seemed impossible. She often used to say, “I don’t know how we’re going to make it this month.”
But somehow we did. We “made it” every month. And I came to wonder what would happen if one didn’t “make it”. I mean, what is the alternative? You make it or… what?
My husband is a much more even tempered person than I am, and very little ever gets him down. The one exception to this is money. When we’re in financial trouble (as we currently are), he seems to shrink before my very eyes. And of course, I don’t understand it. I worry and fret about everything except money, because I always assume that somehow it will always work itself out.
Perhaps I have the luxury of naievete because I’ve never been the primary breadwinner. But I do find that a disconnect with harsh reality is a great weapon in the fight to maintain one’s sense of humour.
What was that you said about insanity…?
Insanity helps :-)