5 ms·

After ten years of muddling through, I'm finally coming to the conclusion that I was never meant to run a business. By this point, the mere thought that I might

by girzel 8y ago

After ten years of muddling through, I'm finally coming to the conclusion that I was never meant to run a business. By this point, the mere thought that I might give this up and work for a company that would pay me a regular salary and provide health insurance, where I would have colleagues who would support me and take care of all the things I'm no good at... just imagining that scenario brings tears of relief to my eyes. I'm not a programmer: I work in publishing, promoting Chinese literature in English. I am supposed to split my time between actual translation and editing, and running projects to promote our books and publishing consulting jobs. Project management is horrible; continually worrying about the direction of the company is horrible; four and a half hours of writing emails in the morning is horrible. I am supposed to be spending half my time translating and editing, but it doesn't happen. I am desperate to fuck off with a book and a dictionary into a quiet room and work, but there's an endless number of niggling details to take care of. If it doesn't give you a high, don't do it. If it takes your high away, DON'T DO IT.

graeme 8y ago
Would I be right in thinking that the revenue from this is not particularly high? I think I might be happier working a 40 hour a week (remote) job if the pay were similar. But, after running a business for eight years, I am pretty sure I'm making more money than I could earn from such a job. The income is also largely passive. I need to upkeep the business, but sales happen without active involement. So I can downcycle when I want. Leaving this as a qualification to your comment. Not all bootstrapped businesses are equal. The OP described challenges of a successful bootstrapped business - even that is psychologically hard. But it's even harder if the business doesn't work, or only sort-of works. (My day sounds nothing like yours, not all bootstrapped businesses need that much email, or it can be delegated)
- girzel 8y ago
  > Would I be right in thinking that the revenue from this is not particularly high? Boy, would you! > Not all bootstrapped businesses are equal. The OP described challenges of a successful bootstrapped business - even that is psychologically hard. But it's even harder if the business doesn't work, or only sort-of works. And I think my first and most fundamental failure as a "businessperson" is a failure to recognize what works and what doesn't. Everyone I come into professional contact with is extra stoked about what we do. Everyone is complimentary, everyone is glad we exist. Very few people are willing to pay us. In the end, that means I've done my job wrong.
  - graeme 8y ago
    Sorry to hear that - "not quite failing" is perhaps an even worse outcome than failure. One thing that may help is changing what you ask. "Would you buy this today?" And "why not" if they say no are the best way to figure out actual interest and get useful feedback. Translating chinese literature to english sounds cool! Easy to get on board with. But, I also wouldn't pay, since I'm not in the market. I got that tip from the four hour workweek btw. That book might just be a life changing revelation for the business. Or, it might affirm you should just leave. But, I would highly recommend it, since you've spent ten years at this. (I designed my business around that book, more or less)
    - ak39 8y ago
      I agree! Purgatory of not quite failing. Dammit, I wish I could share a drink with all the commenters here! :-)
toast_coder 8y ago
I'm desperate to start a business. Over 20 years of working in lead software dev positions and understand the grind that occurs in almost all organizations. The counter point to your 'horribles', is that the support level you get inside organizations doesn't match the increase expections of a team, and that on larger teams the general level of aptitude approaches average. Occasionally having to work with people who are down right bad at their job. The very effect you espoused of 'company that would...' do all these things for you draws in alot of people who see it the same, and work it like, well, a job (not a calling, or career, or personal investment). I don't think there is anything wrong with that. A regular wage from a company making money is a good thing, but a strong part of my being believes that I could be successful doing it on my own, and do it to the point of it being art. Different people at different times in their lives might be more or less suited to one path or another. While i sympathize with the stress you might feel running a business i think there is alot of stress in working for an employer. The people not feeling stress inside companies are people who are coasting. When you're coasting, the part of your being that manifests itself as your work ethic, and professional skill dies a little every day.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- girzel 8y ago
  Thanks for this. I think my current feeling is definitely a bit "grass is greener", and I'm overestimating how much help a larger company structure would provide. But I can't help thinking: running a company requires about nine different skill-sets/areas of expertise, and who has all those? If the job also involves time spent deep-diving into particular work (and literature is even more absorbing than coding), I don't see how one individual could balance the two. But it's nice to see someone (presumably at a similar stage of life) heading in my direction from the other side. :)
  - RobertRoberts 8y ago
    I got a business coach, and took a small business course which connected me with other small businesses in my area. It was an invaluable lesson. I was forced to read the book "E-Myth Revisited"[0] as my course material. It gave me incredible insight into delegating and many of the fundamental issues with running a small business. Without my accountant and a few key, incredibly supportive clients, my business would have gone under a long time ago. My business coach had started and sold a number of businesses, and was able to advise me on things that I would never have done on my own. Look for someone like this in your life, even if only temporarily. My wife started helping with some aspects of the business as well, and I couldn't do it without her. You need help, period. I've trained 2 of my kids to build websites, one has moved on to college in some other industry and the other is interning at a bigger company (building websites). And I plan to teach my other kids as well, and have them help where possible. What this taught me was that I can't do everything myself, and I don't want to anymore, it just sucks to do it on your own. The best thing that happened recently is making friends with another local business owner, who also builds websites, but our business interests don't conflict, and we respect the others perspective a lot, so we get to hang out from time to time just to talk and have coffee. We understand the world in a way most others cannot. The struggle, the freedom and preasure, etc.. Keep looking for answers to your specific problems before giving up on your business. [0] https://www.amazon.com/-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280 https://www.amazon.com/-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-Abou...
cortesoft 8y ago
It sounds to me like you need to hire an employee. If you don't have enough revenue to support another person, but your company requires the work of two people, you are going to have a bad time. The hard part about having your own business is that you have to figure out if your work/income ratio is appropriate... if you have to do the work of three people just to make what you would as an employee of someone else, you might need a new business model or it might be time to be an employee.
- girzel 8y ago
  > if you have to do the work of three people just to make what you would as an employee of someone else, you might need a new business model or it might be time to be an employee And that's precisely the realization I've (finally) come to.
  - anoncoward111 8y ago
    I'd love to help out on the promotion side of things! I'm US based and I have an immense respect for anyone who wants to make an independent business work but doesn't love the frustration of back office and PR stuff.
- gt_ 8y ago
  If you’re in the US, labor is dirt cheap these days so it might be worth looking into. If it’s not technical, you can pay people next to nothing. The real minimum wage has dropped a ton and as long as you don’t need a full time employee (you can always hire multiple part-time ones) you can hire people with virtually zero risk and not even pay them on time. There aren’t any hard and fast rules and if they’re working for a low wage, they’re helpless at hiring an attorney anyhow. There’s seriously nothing to lose. Always remember they need your reference for future jobs so you can get away with a lot. If it’s not entirely manual labor, make sure you plan the hours ahead of time and do all the communication outside of those hours; this way you won’t have to pay them for all the time they spend emailing and stuff like that. You can end up getting away with far below minimum wage if you do it smart, and at the end of the day, you can feel good about yourself becaue you are helping to fight unemployment!
atlih 8y ago
I know where you're coming from. I had the same problem and it all got better when I learned to trust others and delegate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qptyt0-S9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qptyt0-S9U

by girzel 8y ago

graeme 8y ago

Would I be right in thinking that the revenue from this is not particularly high? I think I might be happier working a 40 hour a week (remote) job if the pay were similar. But, after running a business for eight years, I am pretty sure I'm making more money than I could earn from such a job. The income is also largely passive. I need to upkeep the business, but sales happen without active involement. So I can downcycle when I want. Leaving this as a qualification to your comment. Not all bootstrapped businesses are equal. The OP described challenges of a successful bootstrapped business - even that is psychologically hard. But it's even harder if the business doesn't work, or only sort-of works. (My day sounds nothing like yours, not all bootstrapped businesses need that much email, or it can be delegated)

girzel 8y ago
> Would I be right in thinking that the revenue from this is not particularly high? Boy, would you! > Not all bootstrapped businesses are equal. The OP described challenges of a successful bootstrapped business - even that is psychologically hard. But it's even harder if the business doesn't work, or only sort-of works. And I think my first and most fundamental failure as a "businessperson" is a failure to recognize what works and what doesn't. Everyone I come into professional contact with is extra stoked about what we do. Everyone is complimentary, everyone is glad we exist. Very few people are willing to pay us. In the end, that means I've done my job wrong.
- graeme 8y ago
  Sorry to hear that - "not quite failing" is perhaps an even worse outcome than failure. One thing that may help is changing what you ask. "Would you buy this today?" And "why not" if they say no are the best way to figure out actual interest and get useful feedback. Translating chinese literature to english sounds cool! Easy to get on board with. But, I also wouldn't pay, since I'm not in the market. I got that tip from the four hour workweek btw. That book might just be a life changing revelation for the business. Or, it might affirm you should just leave. But, I would highly recommend it, since you've spent ten years at this. (I designed my business around that book, more or less)
  - ak39 8y ago
    I agree! Purgatory of not quite failing. Dammit, I wish I could share a drink with all the commenters here! :-)

toast_coder 8y ago

I'm desperate to start a business. Over 20 years of working in lead software dev positions and understand the grind that occurs in almost all organizations. The counter point to your 'horribles', is that the support level you get inside organizations doesn't match the increase expections of a team, and that on larger teams the general level of aptitude approaches average. Occasionally having to work with people who are down right bad at their job. The very effect you espoused of 'company that would...' do all these things for you draws in alot of people who see it the same, and work it like, well, a job (not a calling, or career, or personal investment). I don't think there is anything wrong with that. A regular wage from a company making money is a good thing, but a strong part of my being believes that I could be successful doing it on my own, and do it to the point of it being art. Different people at different times in their lives might be more or less suited to one path or another. While i sympathize with the stress you might feel running a business i think there is alot of stress in working for an employer. The people not feeling stress inside companies are people who are coasting. When you're coasting, the part of your being that manifests itself as your work ethic, and professional skill dies a little every day.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
girzel 8y ago
Thanks for this. I think my current feeling is definitely a bit "grass is greener", and I'm overestimating how much help a larger company structure would provide. But I can't help thinking: running a company requires about nine different skill-sets/areas of expertise, and who has all those? If the job also involves time spent deep-diving into particular work (and literature is even more absorbing than coding), I don't see how one individual could balance the two. But it's nice to see someone (presumably at a similar stage of life) heading in my direction from the other side. :)
- RobertRoberts 8y ago
  I got a business coach, and took a small business course which connected me with other small businesses in my area. It was an invaluable lesson. I was forced to read the book "E-Myth Revisited"[0] as my course material. It gave me incredible insight into delegating and many of the fundamental issues with running a small business. Without my accountant and a few key, incredibly supportive clients, my business would have gone under a long time ago. My business coach had started and sold a number of businesses, and was able to advise me on things that I would never have done on my own. Look for someone like this in your life, even if only temporarily. My wife started helping with some aspects of the business as well, and I couldn't do it without her. You need help, period. I've trained 2 of my kids to build websites, one has moved on to college in some other industry and the other is interning at a bigger company (building websites). And I plan to teach my other kids as well, and have them help where possible. What this taught me was that I can't do everything myself, and I don't want to anymore, it just sucks to do it on your own. The best thing that happened recently is making friends with another local business owner, who also builds websites, but our business interests don't conflict, and we respect the others perspective a lot, so we get to hang out from time to time just to talk and have coffee. We understand the world in a way most others cannot. The struggle, the freedom and preasure, etc.. Keep looking for answers to your specific problems before giving up on your business. [0] https://www.amazon.com/-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280 https://www.amazon.com/-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-Abou...

cortesoft 8y ago

It sounds to me like you need to hire an employee. If you don't have enough revenue to support another person, but your company requires the work of two people, you are going to have a bad time. The hard part about having your own business is that you have to figure out if your work/income ratio is appropriate... if you have to do the work of three people just to make what you would as an employee of someone else, you might need a new business model or it might be time to be an employee.

girzel 8y ago
> if you have to do the work of three people just to make what you would as an employee of someone else, you might need a new business model or it might be time to be an employee And that's precisely the realization I've (finally) come to.
- anoncoward111 8y ago
  I'd love to help out on the promotion side of things! I'm US based and I have an immense respect for anyone who wants to make an independent business work but doesn't love the frustration of back office and PR stuff.
gt_ 8y ago
If you’re in the US, labor is dirt cheap these days so it might be worth looking into. If it’s not technical, you can pay people next to nothing. The real minimum wage has dropped a ton and as long as you don’t need a full time employee (you can always hire multiple part-time ones) you can hire people with virtually zero risk and not even pay them on time. There aren’t any hard and fast rules and if they’re working for a low wage, they’re helpless at hiring an attorney anyhow. There’s seriously nothing to lose. Always remember they need your reference for future jobs so you can get away with a lot. If it’s not entirely manual labor, make sure you plan the hours ahead of time and do all the communication outside of those hours; this way you won’t have to pay them for all the time they spend emailing and stuff like that. You can end up getting away with far below minimum wage if you do it smart, and at the end of the day, you can feel good about yourself becaue you are helping to fight unemployment!

atlih 8y ago

I know where you're coming from. I had the same problem and it all got better when I learned to trust others and delegate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qptyt0-S9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qptyt0-S9U