What was I thinking?

Standing backwards on the edge of a cliff deep in the Mexican jungle I could feel my chest rise and fall in anticipation of what waited behind me. Breath blew across my lips and I wondered if it were possible to mount a little wind turbine under my nose to generate electricity. What a great idea for people with sleep apnea. Instead of having to plug in a machine, I could invent the world’s first self-powered breathing aid.

“Tres . . .”

Sweat normally reserved for my forehead, underarms and neck sprouted from the palms holding nylon rope. I wondered how fast a body my size would fall. I mentally calculated which bones I could break and still get back home to work. Legs were expendable. I needed arms and fingers for the keyboard.

“Dos . . .”

Jaime’s voice interrupted my processing. I know what comes after dos. My heart reminded me with an extra large push of blood through the chambers somewhere deep inside. What do they tell you? Don’t look down? I looked up. The sky was blue with a smattering of white clouds. I wonder what it’s like to fly?

“Uno.”

Before Jaime’s tongue touched the roof of his mouth to pronounce the n, his calloused hand forcefully pushed me on the sternum and my feet suddenly had no ground underneath them. I was airborne with a limp rope technically wrapped around me. Still looking up I saw Jaime walk away without a second glance. I was on my own. What did he tell me to do next?

Day Two of starting your own business feels like rappelling. Each day’s activities come so fast and you have react quickly to stay in control. The phone rings—could be money waiting for you. An order comes in—prove yourself and deliver. The first invoice goes out—just how do you use Quickbooks? The phone doesn’t ring—time to get the word out. The first hire interviews—I-9s, background checks, tax withholding.

Two years later your business is now your job. It’s not quite as comfortable as the ratty flannel shirt you’ve worn since college, but it’s not stiff like a new pair of leather shoes either. You report to you. You make it happen and if you don’t make it happen, it doesn’t happen. The feeling of exhilaration you experienced over 700 days ago has long since metastasized into daily activity.

Your accountant gives you the news about what you owe in taxes. On the drive home your mental calculator starts tabulating the information. You worked how hard for how much money? You need to get away for a break. The mental calculator quickly adds up how much money you won’t be able to bill if you don’t show up at work. You decide to rent a DVD instead. The Bahamas will just have to wait.

Rappelling down the side of owning a small business quickly loses the initial exhilaration and fast becomes daily. Stop. Look where you came from. Look where you need to get to. You have to finish well if you don’t want to break your bones. Assess. Move forward with a clear goal in mind and an intentional technique to ensure desired results. Start having more fun in your business.

_______________________

Why did you go into business?

If going into business did not achieve your dreams, what happened?

What are you going to do to get back on track?