...for a bit of capitalistic jealousy.
See, in 1996 I started a company. It's media related, but not a pure media firm. I need to correct my bio.
In 2000 I sold it. I tried to work for the company I started, but it was a disaster. The five owners who bought my firm started infighting. One eventually bought the others out (we're still friends to this day). I was left, floundering in a crappy Westchester office for 2.5 years, working with people who were... nice-but-talentless... drinking too much... and watching my New York client-base get utterly alienated by one of the ickiest people I have ever met, someone who my boss would eventually get banned from working in the NY.
From 2000 - 2003, I lost pretty much everything I had invested from the sale during the stock market collapse. I had really wanted to invest the kids education money in t-bills, but I allowed myself to be convinced that the best long-term investment was the market. It never occured to me we might NEED that money just when it was nearly gone.
I left the company I started in 2003. When I left that firm, my boss said to me: "I'm sorry for ruining your career." She meant it without sarcasm.
In 2003, I started another company, and built a new brand for four years.
In 2007, I folded that company into a firm that, ostensibly, could help take us regional, if not national. The only absolute on my part: we needed our own door. The only absolute on their part: we needed to change our name. The month before we closed down my second company, I was featured in an article about branding. Ha. Ha.
Today, I found out that the first company I started was acquired by an international firm, that's taking the brand national. Now, I haven't been there for four years, but the branding, website, writing, etc., is still almost 100% mine. And they're going to update it, apparently, but also keep the attitude and spirit largely the same.
So. What does this all mean?
1) Nothing at all.
2) I'm pretty good at the branding thing after all.
3) I'm fucking JEALOUS.
I don't really have anything else to say about it, except it's going to be weird to see my company sprout up nationally. It makes me proud and angry and happy for my boss/friend... and ever so jealous.
Ah, well.
Love to all. Even you, the guy who thought that Seth Godin came up with all that shit.
12 comments:
Can you go back? You should be in on some of that moola..I'm just sayin'!
i vote for #3
d. All of the above.
I can imagine it's both depressing and exhilarating. That sucks.
Wow.
Here's hoping that you are given credit for your successes.
Damn those micro-crises! Just try to remember what you have now that you didn't have then. You know, sobriety, an awesome family life, etc.
But yeah that jealousy thing creeps in anyway...
...stupid being human thing....
I hate when that happens....
On the other hand, if your first try ended up being that successful over the long haul, who is to say that the second one won't be too? Just a question of sticking it out. Practice makes perfect and all that.
In the short term, I think a little jealously is not an unrealistic reaction. Just don't get stuck there, ya know?
rock on.
Ah, well!
This news must strengthen your belief that the changes you have made this year will, in time, take your new company to success like this also.
I really like your honesty Rich.
I hate getting caught in what might have been. And what should have been. And you tell yourself to be a grown-up and be happy for what you have now, but damn it, why can't you have it all??
But I have faith that you'll pull yourself out and continue plugging away, with just the occasional twinge when you see a franchise of ThingsRichStartedRUs open up down the street.
Oh fucking OUCH. I mean - I would be feeling all those things too. Pride, yes, but absolutely sick to my stomach at the idea of seeing my baby run off without me.
*sigh* well babe, if you can do it once, you can do it a million times over - right?
So what's the issue? That you want more money for what you already got paid a lot or that you want the prestige of being associated with a national brand? I think both already happened, no?
Ha ha, Seth Godin! MBAs love Seth Godin! Grandmothers love Seth Godin! Seth Godin loves MBAs & grandmothers, and grandmothers with MBAs.
I do not love Seth Godin. Thanks for making me laugh, though.
And now, back to pets.com.
(Shakes head, mutters to self: "Seth Godin..." Grins.)
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