Tears of a clown
During the first year of the pandemic, the timelines for several of my clients’ investments and fundraising activities got pushed to the right repeatedly.
My business went nine months without a penny of cash flow, and I depleted a meaningful chunk of working capital (aka savings / equity).
I briefly entertained filing for a Paycheck Protection Program loan but determined that doing so would be unethical. Why take taxpayers’ money when I did not truly need it?
In retrospect, I was a clown.
The notions I had about participating in a society of shared burdens and beliefs are painfully precious—and not solely because of the waste, fraud, and abuse that transpired with the PPP.
They were quaint and naïve.
This year has been a rollercoaster on par with the plague year.
It has been mentally, emotionally, and financially taxing.
In effect, I built the foundations for three separate ventures during the year, investing time, energy, and savings getting them off the ground.
But—as always in the entrepreneurial life—setbacks arise and rug-pulls happen.
Even my hobby took a hit: a surfing injury sidelined me from the BJJ mats for a dime of the year.
It’s all very tiring.
I’m quite optimistic about next year, but it is time to recharge.
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