On the eve before the store opens, I am consumed by a bunch of emotions and thoughts and tasks to do.

I am thinking about the last time I helped to run a business and how it went up in flames and how I really don’t want that to happen this time. On the one hand, I am sure that the close to twenty years that has passed between the two ventures changes a person and I am sure to know more than I did last time.

But stuff happens. Miscommunication can wreck an order, or an entire business. Personalities can chip away at trust, as can really long hours and little pay. As I think about it, there are lots and lots of ways for a company to go down.

Its unfortunate, but shit happens sometimes, and you get out of the wreckage and move on. I just remember really loving that first wreckage and am sad it ended that way. I certainly learned a lot in that ball of flames, especially about working hard and the view from management, which was new to me.

The weight of making money to have your business simply exist is very heavy. It’s like having children. You just have no idea how different you’ll feel about so many things after you have children. It is similar to the difference between being an owner and an employee and it is really difficult to communicate the difference in thought between the two.

But the difference between age 20 and 40 is quite a bit too. I just hope it’s enough.