Well, I’ve missed 2 weeks of articles, and I apologize for that. I’m trying to stay steady on my blogging. But, life happens, and when you see opportunity, the best thing you can do is seize it. This opportunity happened to be adding a dog to the farm.
Now, there was a lot of back and forth with this decision before the opportunity presented itself. After all, a dog is an added responsibility…just one more to add to the ever-growing list of responsibilities accumulating in my life. But the pros outweighed the cons. After all, a dog is a comforting companion, additional security, and a good farm dog can be a great help with livestock and chores. However, a puppy takes constant training, a huge team effort from the whole family, and you become responsible for another life’s health and well-being. That’s huge.
As I ponder these things, while nursing the many scratches and bite marks of the puppy biting stage and cleaning puppy pee off my carpet, I can see how this goes hand in hand with starting your own business.
Everyone says they want to start their own business. But it’s only the ones that are gutsy enough to take on the responsibility that make it happen. The pros? You are your own boss. Your self worth is finally actualized. Everything the business brings in is because of your leadership, ideas, and vision. The cons? Being in business takes constant training and learning. It’s a huge team effort from the whole family and anyone else you bring into the business. And, if you employ or even if you are just yourself contributing to the community, you become responsible for another life’s health and well-being.
Those who think running a business is all “I’ll do what I want” or “I don’t have to know, I’ll just hire someone who does” is fooling themselves. Those who are successful know you may not make any money for the first 1-5 years. You will probably work more hours than you ever did working for someone else. There will be no vacation until a profit can finally be actualized (see afore-mentioned 1-5 years). If you’re the one who usually makes dinner for the kids, the rest of the family had better learn how to cook. If you’re the one who normally keeps up the lawn and house, the rest of the family had better learn how to DIY. The landscaper’s yard is usually the worst one in the neighborhood, right? The tailor’s kids are usually dressed the worst.
But, then there’s the payoff. After all this hard work you finally see a profit. Your kids know the value of hard work. Your family knows how to make themselves successful. You have hopefully contributed positively to the community and are remembered well. And the business takes care of you well into your golden years.
As I nurse my scratches and bites and clean up the carpet, I look at my new puppy now blissfully asleep in his bed. He’ll be a find dog someday. And that makes me smile. There’s an old saying, “Everything is hard, until it’s easy.” Raising a puppy is hard. Living with a good dog is easy.
See you guys next week…hopefully.
Toni
Belfair Valley Bookkeeping 