“Each time you crest the rise in front of you, it just makes it clear the size of the even larger hill that looms beyond it. It goes on for a long time.” -Marc Randolph, Founder/CEO Netflix
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After six years in the saddle as an entrepreneur, I’ve decided to hang up my hat and get a job.
Two weeks ago, the first wire hit our bank account––EasyFridge‘s first investment! I was excited at first. It felt good, validating and all that. After a few days, however, a different thought occupied me: “Am I ready to do this for the next five years?”
If you’ve never started a company before, this is a question you need to ask yourself.
For me, the answer was “definitely not.”
I’m tired. I took just two weeks off after the SpeakerText acquisition closed. In retrospect, that was a mistake. I should have taken more time, have made an honest effort to charge my batteries. But I didn’t. And now I’m paying the price.
As a result, I decided to return the capital to our investors (100 cents on the dollar) and move on.
Now I’m looking for a job.
I fully understand that. I kinda wish I had taken some time off inbetween Spot.Us and Circa. There is definitely a wearing on one’s soul that happens. Taking time off doesn’t mean being gone and out. As long as the job you get gives you the opportunity to learn something.
Good luck with that. Having been an entrepreneur for almost 25 years, the thought of “working” on someone else’s schedule or dream gives me cold sweats. That being said, there is something restful about not having to do anything but show up and do your job – and go home in the evenings and play with your kids. I get it. Recharge. Re-create. Read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.