Most of my blogger friends know that I’ve been going through some transitions in my life and career lately. In the past year, I have sold my interest in the family company that has been my brothers and my legacy for over forty years. They have both left the business in search of other opportunities, but I have remained here doing the same job for a lot less pay and benefits, but with the advantage of earning some interest on the money we made on the sale of our stock. It’s not enough to live off of forever or anything, but I’m doing fine in the near term.
I’m also in the process of selling another company which I purchased from my father when his Parkinson’s became so bad that he couldn’t run it anymore. It was a cash cow for him, but I’ve never been able to draw any money from it and as a matter of fact find myself in the unenviable position of having to pour money back into the company to keep it going until new owner/investors can be brought on board. But again, don’t cry for me. I’m doing ok and this is something I have chosen to do to help keep the company afloat and its employees provided for.
Close friends know that neither one of these pursuits really represent my passions. I do a good job and have earned a good reputation in the industries where I have plied my wares for the past twenty years. I’ve risen to leadership positions in trade organizations that represent multi-billion dollar industries. So apparently, I’ve at least got some people fooled.
But truth be told, I’d probably rather be sitting under a tree writing something to make a few people chuckle or teaching a group of high schoolers about the U.S. Constitution by wearing a powdered wig to class. I’ve thought long and hard about what I would have to do to follow my bliss and why I have allowed these golden handcuffs to keep me chained here in my small, windowless office in a nondescript office park in an industrial part of the city. Why don’t I take a chance, break free and try something that could actually truly be fulfilling to me?
And today, I received a sign from the West that told me why I’m still here.
I need a business address that will allow me to receive shipments from the Napa Vintners’ Collective Wine Club that I’m a member of.
Man, am I relieved now that I’ve finally got that cleared up…
April 16, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Wine, now we’re talking!
April 16, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I like you Smiley. I do.
And I, would even at my advanced age, sit out under a tree and listen to you in a powdered wig teach me stuff about the constitution.
With a glass of wine in my hand.
April 16, 2007 at 1:55 pm
You’re just in the wrong club.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/switched-on-the-rules-of-soda-club-part-2/
April 16, 2007 at 3:15 pm
If you worked from home (self-employed? consultant?) you would be home to recieve those shipments. Surely you could gather enough technical gadgets to enable a fully functional home office set-up for any job position.
April 17, 2007 at 12:39 am
Are you looking for a warehouse? Bring a case over to my house and we’ll calculate the scalability… while pondering the constitution.
April 17, 2007 at 6:22 am
That’s odd. Both my Mad Dog 20/20 Club and my Friends of Champipple Society will deliver the hooch right to my doorstep.
April 17, 2007 at 8:16 am
Ship your wine to Knuck’s restaurant and come on over to the dark side. You’ll have to order twice as much, but you’ll be happier.
April 17, 2007 at 9:56 am
That bridgett, she’s a smart one. And when each case arrives, I will be sure to get all, uh . . .five bottles to you in a timely manner.
April 18, 2007 at 8:05 pm
From now on I am refraining from any thoughts of “Oh, Smiley is being all thoughtful and sensitive” until I get to the end of a post.
Just remember I am your TRUE friend, as I am not plotting ways to cheat you out of product like some of your so-called friends are.
(But that’s probably only because I don’t really like wine.)