No one warned me about the deluge of unsolicited advice I would receive as an entrepreneur.
It’s rarely advice about the business or my management thereof. When people make comments, they’re almost exclusively about my schedule. I hear everything from “why don’t you take a vacation?” to the far less subtle “you work too much” on a weekly – if not a daily – basis, from strangers and family alike.
I know that these folks mean well. I also know that they don’t fully understand my position, which is why I’m taking the time to explain.
For me, Kaser Blasting & Coatings is a job, a hobby, a passion, my literal family, and my metaphorical baby, all rolled into one.
As a mechanically-inclined introvert, I’ve never focused on parties, trips, or networking, because those things don’t make me happy. Instead, I’ve identified my interests, and pursued them with all of my energy. Once upon a time, that was good grades and fast cars; now, it’s building a business and maintaining shop equipment.
No one commented when I spent 40 hours a week in school and 40 hours a week racing. The avid pursuit of hobbies and education is considered normal in a way that working overtime is not. But the truth is that my days were every bit as long and full in college as they are now.
The tasks may be different, but the hours are not.
I derive a lot of joy from the day-to-day demands of production at Kaser. I derive even more joy from envisioning the company’s future, and working toward those goals. It’s like one big, three-dimensional, never-ending puzzle that keeps me engaged and on my toes. Yes, I spend holidays and weekends thinking about work, but it’s out of a sense of excitement, not obligation.
This is what I love to do, and I’m lucky enough to do it every single day.
If you know me, don’t worry: I’m happy. If you don’t know me, then this is my unsolicited advice to you: find what fulfills you, and then throw yourself into it. With a little luck, your work week won’t feel like work at all.
