Warning. I'm planning to start making a profit this July, and from then on.
I've been preparing this for months. Getting the store fully stocked at the same time as paying off all the bills. Running a business really is like turning an ocean liner in the middle of a canal; it can take months, even years to prepare.
So that's great, right?
I'm finally ready. One more week and we start the July billing period; from then on, I need to match last year's average and stick to my budget.
Hey, I should be encouraged, right?
Here's the thing. I've done this about half a dozen times over the years. I've worked and worked and prepared, got the store completely under control, and said: "HERE, this (future date) is when I'll start to become profitable."
The day comes --- and the future recedes. For example, I decided that September, 2001 was great time to get going....Heh. Sept, 2007 was another moment; and Sept, 2008, and so on....
After having this happen so many times, I've decided this can't just be an accident. It isn't just bad luck, or selective perception, or superstition. It's a real phenomenon. Something about my impulse to pick a certain date, and my ability to prepare, is connected to the overall economy in ways I can't quite fathom.
So, I give you fair warning. I'm planning to start turning a good profit on July 1, so the chances of a meteor strike have just gone up dramatically.....
I've been preparing this for months. Getting the store fully stocked at the same time as paying off all the bills. Running a business really is like turning an ocean liner in the middle of a canal; it can take months, even years to prepare.
So that's great, right?
I'm finally ready. One more week and we start the July billing period; from then on, I need to match last year's average and stick to my budget.
Hey, I should be encouraged, right?
Here's the thing. I've done this about half a dozen times over the years. I've worked and worked and prepared, got the store completely under control, and said: "HERE, this (future date) is when I'll start to become profitable."
The day comes --- and the future recedes. For example, I decided that September, 2001 was great time to get going....Heh. Sept, 2007 was another moment; and Sept, 2008, and so on....
After having this happen so many times, I've decided this can't just be an accident. It isn't just bad luck, or selective perception, or superstition. It's a real phenomenon. Something about my impulse to pick a certain date, and my ability to prepare, is connected to the overall economy in ways I can't quite fathom.
So, I give you fair warning. I'm planning to start turning a good profit on July 1, so the chances of a meteor strike have just gone up dramatically.....