November 18, 2008
If it Isn’t Fun…
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Just a few weeks ago, I passed the 4 year anniversary of working for myself. Prior to that, I’d spent nearly 15 years working for someone else, always at small startup software or Internet companies, but always for someone else. I don’t regret a day of any of those experiences. I’ve worked with hundreds of people on dozens of projects in a handful of companies. Every one of them changed me in some way that has made me what I am today. I’m grateful for that.
For years I had wanted to go on my own and do something entrepreneurial, but never found the right time to make the move. Maybe I didn’t do that because I was having fun doing what I was doing. In 2004, things stopped being fun. It was time to move.
That October, I walked out the door of the company I worked for and was on my own.
Fast forward to today. The road I started down four years ago has brought me to where we are today. I co-own a small business with 5 employees including my partner and myself. It has been a blast getting here.
Now working for yourself isn’t for everyone, I’d encourage each of the people working for us to take whatever chances they’re comfortable with (or maybe even uncomfortable), but in the meantime I’m glad to have them along for the ride, as long as it’s fun.
Why am I writing this? Things are starting to become a little less fun. Just a little. It’s not a fatal condition. I’m nipping it in the bud right now. It’s time to focus again on what’s fun and fixing or eliminating what’s not.
And so I ask you to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself the same question.
Are you having fun?
this goood.
Happy Anniversary Señor Scotty. That is a good point always have fun and love what you do. Now I want to hear something from this business partner of yours. Is he more behind the scenes or what?
Wow, it's been 4-years since the triple Jangro? Or am I mistaking that event?
Congrats on your success. I agree, having fun is key to how I plan my business/life. It's a good goal to shoot for!
Thanks Jim.
The “triple Jangro” event occurred several months after I left, early 2005, I believe.
Thanks Steph.
I don't know, maybe you can coax him out. He's busy doing real work.
It's fun to be the beautiful face of the company isn't it? I sure enjoy it. lol but srsly warn him that I am going to have him come out in the limelight at some point.
I think you just did.
Sweet, mission accomplished.
My two new, big planned projects for 2009 have been designed with this exact attitude in mind, and it's been brewing for some time now. I've learned a ton by being out on my own for many years now, like you. Clarity, towards finding your own optimum direction, comes from experience and knowing yourself - and I progress on both fronts with each year that passes. It's so strange that you posted this now, I've been sharing my emerging new plans / projects with selected, closely trusted friends and when I talk about it with them, they can smell the fun gushing out of me. I look forward to talking to you in Vegas about what is coming our way on our similar paths.
excellent, Pat. I look forward to it.
Aren't we all feel down once in a while with our jobs? But I guess we just focus again on what motivate us from the start. It can help you come to your senses and have fun again.
Scott,
Congratulations you are an Entrepreneur, I think there is a natural 4-5 year itch that comes with starting a business for an Entrepreneur, it's about that time, if you do things right, that things really are “working” and don't need as much of your attention. So what's the next project???
Tell us more, what are the fun parts, and what is just not fun for you anymore?
Adam
We're constantly evolving out business, Adam, so yeah, there's stuff that's just “working” but we're also deep into the “next” projects. I've never been more excited about the stuff that we're doing. I've got some posts planned on that, so I'll save it.
What's not fun? It's just some of the stuff that comes along with running ANY business that's been a drag.
But like I said, nothing earth shattering.
Can you hire someone to do the not so fun stuff?
Sure, and we do when we can. Some if it just getting to that point. Some of it is dealing with the people hired to do the not-fun stuff, which can introduce a whole new set of not-fun stuff. Can I hire people to deal with the stuff introduced by hiring people who do not themselves introduce more not-fun stuff?
Seriously, the not-fun stuff cannot ever be entirely eliminated, not until we're so rich that I can just play golf and video games all day. I think the point is that the fun stuff needs to be the focus so the rest isn't noticeable.
Scott,
That is why my first hire was Tony as the CEO to run the business!
Adam
I need a secretary, uh, CEO like Tony!
WoW, Scott.
15 years isn't a short period and I'm happy that you've finally made the right decision here —> working for your own!
As long as you've putted on the good efforts on your online earning, then the money will come to you in the right path…
Scott,
Congratulations on the milestone - it has been fun and inspiring to be around and watch. The woes of business will always be there as you know… it is just one of those things. However, nobody asks you for a TPS Report … so you got that going for you.
I see this and it is like reading my own bio. I am happy to know there are others out there that are giving thought to what will make them happy with their lives. Happiness is what this life is all about. Well done, Scott.
I totally agree with you Scott. It's weird but I haven't enjoyed the last year much either and I'm now refocussing for some fun projects that I actually want to work on. Chasing around town on Monday to find that netbook guy was a nice reminder of the freedom that I actually have and want to enjoy as I might not have taken a day off like that in the past
Good luck for the future fun projects.
I do have fun, but not what it was before, probably its not a able process while doing our own job, however I don’t spend time for it away from job but not miss to enjoy during the breaks.
to answer your question, yes, I'm still having fun. I think it's normal to experience boredom when things have become so mundane. Good luck!
i know what you mean about how working for yourself isn't always fun. All my life i have made music just for the hell of it but over the last couple years i have more or less turned it into a source of income. at first it was 100% fun, but now i am discovering that it is ruining the music that i actually WANTED to do in the first place. I'd like to know how you "nipped it in the bud"…..