I do have a "place" in which my business resides. It is not out of my home. In fact, it is a commercial building that Google recognizes as a true business address. However, that really doesn't matter a bit. My business would be just as legitimate if it were based out of my garage or home office. Having an outside base was just a way for me to get out of the house and allow me to take my afternoon naps unencumbered.
As for the state of my business, and the fact that after almost 30 years of existence it can not be without me for more than a few hours, it is true that I should be ashamed. At least, as far as conventional wisdom teaches. However, any of you who have know me for very long know that conventional doesn't describe me in the very least, and wisdom is seldom used as an adjective when people talk of me. Pig farmers seldom receive the respect we deserve.
Years ago, I made the decision that I just couldn't manage everything I had on my plate and run a well managed multi-truck business. I tried it and was miserable. The kids were young, responsibilities drew me different directions and I made the conscious decision to scale down and run a one man show. It took a couple of years to get it that way. I didn't just fire everyone and send them out into the night. As they quit, I didn't replace them. As my employees left, the first thing to go was my disaster restoration business. As the last one left, my secretary, I closed the flooring store. For the past 12 years I have existed in the very back office of what used to be my retail location running a one man band and enjoying my life. I have been able to be at all my daughters dance competitions, my son's football and baseball games and have been able to continue that with my grandchildren. I have been completely snowed in with work, seldom able to take off for a week (one time a year every year) and many people look at my lifes work as a failure. I have been quite pleased.
It is true though, I am tied to this place. I about went stark raving mad the week I spent at
SFS a few years back. My personality is well suited to being tied down with farming and cleaning duties. I am a simple soul who doesn't need much to make me happy. I like having my "place" to be and don't need much in the way of outside interests. The only thing we own that the world would consider as being a sign of "success" is our vacation home in Gulf Shores, but I seldom go there. My wife, before she got sick, would spend almost all summer there. My kids were raised there in their summers. I would come on an occasional weekend or a holiday only. I had things to do here.
So yes, my business would be considered mismanaged in the conventional sense. But yet, I am still happy. Too stupid to even realize I have it bad.
Now that my son has decided to make his life's work the same as mine, there is a possibility that I will one day have time to have a life outside of my business.
I sure hope not though. I don't think I could live long being free to do as I please.
