People talk about the “risk” of having your own business. I suggest to you that the real danger may lie in having a “day job”. The reason is that for most “real jobs” you have to drive.
Driving is dangerous.
This morning before daylight I left my comfy home in thee suburbs to drive into work. Depending on traffic, I have a 20 minute to 45 minute drive. Early in the morning, I was counting on a 20 minute drive. I was in good shape because my first meeting was in 3 hours at 9AM.
I always use my time in the car to work or learn. Most times I listen to books on tape or podcasts. Other times I use a great Sony voice recorder to record draft content for this blog and other projects.
As an aside — there are two lessons here for your internet business. You should outsource things like transcription and you should work during your idle times. There is no reason for me to fill my head with the junk on the morning radio DJ show or the negative junk on the news channel. I don't need to know how many muggings there were last night. I can always do much better that that by working on my business.
Today was really productive — I recorded 3 blog posts on the way to work this morning. I was really pumped, and wondering what the transcriptionist would think when I hit her with 3 new files in her dropbox.
Then, I set my voice recorder on the center console (I drive a Tahoe). It's a great vehicle, and the accelerator never sticks.
Suddenly, I had to brake hard. I love Texas, but drivers here are idiots. I am convinced this has something to do with the number of people that have moved to Texas from up north.
Naturally, the recorder slid of the center console right into the drink holder.
It landed in the middle of my big cup of coffee.
Then, trying frantically to rescue my $80 voice recorder and precious blog content, I spilled the entire cup of coffee on my khaki slacks. Sure they are that fancy (and really expensive) stain-resistant microfiber stuff. But when you dump 14 ounces of coffee on them, there is no escape.
The coffee was hot, and I was soaked down to my underpants.
No better way to start the day than with your manhood scorched, a giant coffee stain on your crotch, a ruined voice recorder, and lost data.
I started to get mad, but then I just said to myself:
“Self, this is an opportunity to have breakfast with the wife and kids,”
I turned the car around, drove through Chick Fil A, and surprised the family with breakfast. I even got in one game of Super Mario Brothers with the big guy before leaving so I could get to my 9AM meeting across town.
What a day!
“Self, this is an opportunity to have breakfast with the wife and kids,”
What a fantastic attitude! I love this!
Thanks. I had fun. Well, the hot coffee part was not fun. Breakfast was fun.
Sounds like the kind of fun and chaotic morning that happens around here at least once a week. Maybe your recorder will still work after it dries out. What’s good is you made something positive out of it instead of contributing to the road rage epidemic 😉
Hi Mark!
Thanks for an entertaining and thoughtful blog post! I’m sorry that you had a rough start this morning, but thankful that no permanent damage was done and all ended well.
I do have to take issue with your comment about idiot drivers coming from up north. I once lived in Florida and survived my fair share of idiot drivers there. May have something to do with the fact that you can get your driver’s license renewed at the local drug store. :0 I now live in PA, and we just don’t drive like that up here. I see far less idiot drivers here than I did down south. Truly I think something happens to the brain cells of northerners when they cross the Mason-Dixon line. Definitely a drop in IQ points going on.
Although – I have driven in New York and Boston – something I’ll never do again. Those people are CRAZY!! =)
Enjoy your day!
Your exception is noted — I have lots of friends up from up north, and I was just poking at them. Thanks for the great comment.
Totally awesome save on what could have been the catalyst for a completely, uberly rotten day! What a terrific turn around and a great example implanted in my brain of not letting your day take control of you!
And let me just say, I can agree wholeheartedly on the drivers in Texas. Remove me for a little while to to small, sleepy town in the Appalachian foothills….and whoa! Major difference! Are there idiots here? Sure. But there’s also a whole heap of people, a great majority, driving around all friendly-like, waving at other drivers, people on their porches, smiling as you pass. The kids constantly tell me, “Mom, that person can’t hear you!” because I’m always saying hello to people. LOL!!
I have had mornings like this. The days when I forget my cell phone and have to turn the car around 45 minutes after I started driving. What can you do but shake it off. No use getting all bent out of shape about it. Best thing is, I have more time to listen to great podcasts and learn more stuff.
My wife often wonders why in heaven her husband is still sitting in the car 5 minutes after I have pulled into the drive way. I can hardly pull myself away from what I’m listening to.
Good post!
Best
Marty
Haha great story Mason, this is stuff that should be on a blog, eh? Having a real job is definitely a big headwind when you try to run online business as well. I have generally found that you have enough adrenaline in the first month when you start to get you by… but as it starts to fade pumping out 3 articles on the way to work like you did is a challenge and a half. Keep up the good work, and get a lid on that coffee next time 😉
Mark — What a delightful post out of a not so great situation. Glad to hear you made the opportunity to turn it into some good! You had me laughing at the description of your mishap, although I’m sure at the time it wasn’t funny. Appreciate you sharing with us!
Hey — It was not the end of the world either. I was able to get the data off, and I did not really like the Sony voice recorder anyway (it does not play well with my iMac).
Don’t feel too bad Mark. I live in Las Vegas, and the drivers here are idiots too. I am convinced this has something to do with the number of people that have moved here from Texas.
Maybe you can sue McDonalds, claim the coffee was too hot…
I think I am too late on the hot coffee thing — the cup is covered in disclaimers from the last guy that tried that.
What a fun post. Although I hate to think about what searchers it will bring. :o)
Anyway, there are idiots everywhere. I live in a small town, have a 5-minute commute in the early morning hours and still run into idiots. There was one that thought about beating a train, changed their mind, but the gate had dropped behind their car. Thankfully they were in a small car.
Love the the note about turning around and starting over. Sometimes a fresh start is what you need. I have recently been re-energized by a contest. So looking forward to some good growth.
Thanks. That turned out to be a really great day — and my new voice recorder is much better than my old one.