This post is nothing about face mask or respirator. It is just a reflection of a trying entrepreneur triggered by a recent incident.
How we feel can be very different from from the facts, and the objective truth.
I was interviewed by a magazine yesterday and after learning about my sales volume the journalist asked: ” When do you think the business will break even?” Obviously my figure suggested that the business must have some distance to run before it can be break even. Without much hesitation I said I’ve already recovered what I’ve invested. I was speaking from my feeling, I really felt that way positively. Some how his question make me feel itchy, I want to find out if the business is objectively and financially balanced.
I get up this morning and can’t resist to make a quick check, from the time of the early prototyping and patenting as well as the production investment. There is no way I can recover what I’ve invested so soon. I was so wrong! I didn’t feel bad or disappointed, I am just curious how can I be so wrong? Am I just stupid? Losing money and still feel pretty good about it?
Hey, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and don’t forget most journalists will never do anything entrepeneurial in their lives. It’s hard not to take things to heart, but just keep working hard, listen to people that matter to you, and make sure you keep on enjoying building the business!
Hey Bill and Pam thanks for your comments. Indeed the sense of freedom to do what is right is great, and the rapid progress due to the H1N1 lately is taken me by a little surprise. However the greatest satisfaction for me is knowing that the mask is getting known and is helping more people especially children.
When the journalist asked me about the sales figure I intuitively quote the number of mask sold, rather than the financial turn over. The number of masks sold means the number of people gets better protection from our mask, and that’s the most important number to remember.
Totobobo is a significant innovation which always takes time for others to catch on. If you feel good about what you are doing, and you check periodically (as you did) to be sure you aren’t fooling yourself, then enjoy the progress!
Hello Francis, It is the freedom of the process that makes you feel good about it. It is yours and an exercise of your will. That is the magic:)