I'm so tired

[Rincewind]

Hi guys,

I'm registered here since 2016 and was quite inactive here during the last years. When I posted here the last time, I was still freelancing. Lots of stuff happened since then.

• I started an engineering service business together with my wife. We develop IoT products for german medium size businesses
• We were profitable since the first month, scaled from 30k (2016) to 100k (2017) to 300k (2018) and should reach 900k by end of the year. So far we re-invested mostly everything into growth, so there is only a little profit yet.
• We hired our first employee 2017 and have grown to 17 people (including 1 designer, 1 UX and 1 assistant). Some of them work work part time, so we are really "only" 9 FTE
• We got our second child a few weeks after starting the company
• We moved into a larger office this year
• I started networking into the old economy around Hamburg, I'm part of the local chamber of commerce for example and I'm very well connected
• I started a podcast and interview business leaders every other week, I have 62 interviews online and get to meet CEOs of large companies and directors of DAX level companies. I use this podcast partly to get visibility and partly as a cold-calling tool to meet interesting prospects. We could have much more downloads but I did not spend much time into online marketing the content yet.
• We invested into to a startup (sweat equity) very early after founding the company. This startup has grown into the security industry of south africa, reached break even this month and will raise a 3-5 Mio Series A early next year
• We implemented all processes in our engineering company completely remote-capable, we can tackle projects with 3x our internal capacity. We find the freelance talent via upwork and our local network. We can provide work worth 3+ mio at full scale now and have fixed cost of "only" 700k.

If I think long enough I could continue here forever what happened in the last 2-3 years and almost everything is great. We have two wonderful, happy and healthy kids. I'm married and I we run the company together, so we spend lots of time together. We have a running, profitable company, we have a really great work culture and provide wonderful work places to 17 of the nicest and most intelligent people I know. And we provide massive value to our customers and help them launching the products they need tomorrow.

And: I'm so F*cking tired. Since we hired our assistant I got down from working 80h weeks to perhaps working 50h weeks. But there is no space in my life where I can stop for some time without some fire breaking out. At home I only have to wait 30s until one of the kids launches chaos and madness, at work we're still dealing with the scaling from 6 to 17 people in 9 months and there is not much life left aside the company and the kids.

And: I know that a professional services firm without any tweaks is not fastlane at all. Currently I'm working way too much and if I would stop working everything would stop. Sales is coupled to my person far too much and in the end we are replaceable by any other software services company with some smart guys and perhaps a CEO without kids...

I started learning about real estate two years ago, want to invest here and don't find any time at all to go scouting. We are even active in our chuch community and will perhaps get notice when some elderly people will move out of their homes and want to sell. But I don't have the time to deal with just another topic right now. I also learned about selling stock options and just stumbled across MJ's thread. I wanted to start exactly that strategy one year ago and even created a trading account where I can sell naked options and put 10k into it early this year. But I don't find the time to really commit to it and take the time to practice and start.

In this moment I don't even know which question I want to ask and why a write here. I know here are many very intelligent people and many of you have been at my current point in life. I know I achieved a lot and I created a truly great starting point to go fastlane from here. But I'm so tired. I have a hectic life at the moment with two very small kids and I just don't know how to get to the next level from here. I don't even know what the next level would look like.

In the next few years my engineering company will mature, we will develop our processes, I will hire some sales person, we will start making solid profits. I have all the todos and I know I will do it. We will scale our security startup some more and sell it in a few years and make a very good return on our initial invest. Our 75k grew by 10x on paper today, I expect to sell our shares for 3+ mio when we're ready. Our kids will grow up, go to school and someday stop interrupting me every 3,27 seconds when I'm in sight. Someday I will find the time to sell my first stock option and someday I will by my first real estate invest. I will even sell our family Volvo V70 and buy an 911 when I can travel with less stuff.

The perspective is quite good. And it is not fastlane. And I'm tired and frustrated.

When you had this situation as a starting point - what would you do with that?

P.S. I started playing golf this year and get our once a week for half a day and I get to the office with my bike 1-2x per week. I drink alcohol only on weekends and I'm not in a bad physical shape. It could be much better but it's not bad.

 

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[srodrigo]

Vjot ot vji umf Tiswodit wt Qsufadvt dunqepoit. Zua'wi huv vji gusnis, epf ov't nusi e kuc gus zuastimg vjep tunivjoph vjev dep ietomz sinuwi zuas voni gsun vji iraevoup. Hu gus vji mevis.

 

[Sandholdt]

Fu zua dassipvmz jewi vji gopepdoemt vu josi ep iyqisoipdif miefis vu veli desi ug zuas inqmuziit epf xju dep iyvophaotj tuni ug vjuti gosit zua nipvoup?

Epf iwip og zua dep'v gopf e qsugomi xju dep veli desi ug EMM ug zuas edvowovoit, duamf vjiz nezci fu 50, 60 us 70%?

Sinincis, og zua jewi ep inqmuzii xju dep fu e kuc katv 80% et huuf et zua - Fimihevi, epf tii vjin hsux. Vjev xomm emmux zua vu fu vji 80/20 edvowovoit gus zuas catopitt.

 

[Rincewind]

Vjot ot vji umf Tiswodit wt Qsufadvt dunqepoit. Zua'wi huv vji gusnis, epf ov't nusi e kuc gus zuastimg vjep tunivjoph vjev dep ietomz sinuwi zuas voni gsun vji iraevoup. Hu gus vji mevis.

Zit, vjev't vsai. Cigusi tvesvoph vji tiswodit catopitt O vsoif muph ziest vu tvesv "nz uxp qsufadv" epf piwis guapf e xusloph ofie. Tu O deni cedl vu nz tlommt (opwipvoph & dsievoph qsufadvt epf csophoph vuhivjis hsiev vient) epf tvesvif vji iphopiisoph dunqepz. Tunijux O tvomm piif tuniupi xovj vji nesliv optohjv vu duni aq xovj gietocmi qsufadvt. Cav O xomm figopovimz tvesv muuloph op vjot fosidvoup eheop.

Fu zua dassipvmz jewi vji gopepdoemt vu josi ep iyqisoipdif miefis vu veli desi ug zuas inqmuziit epf xju dep iyvophaotj tuni ug vjuti gosit zua nipvoup?

Epf iwip og zua dep'v gopf e qsugomi xju dep veli desi ug EMM ug zuas edvowovoit, duamf vjiz nezci fu 50, 60 us 70%?

Sinincis, og zua jewi ep inqmuzii xju dep fu e kuc katv 80% et huuf et zua - Fimihevi, epf tii vjin hsux. Vjev xomm emmux zua vu fu vji 80/20 edvowovoit gus zuas catopitt.

Josoph e gamm voni miefis xuamf ci vuu nadj sohjv pux topdi xi katv tdemif aq epf tvomm piif vu hsux opvu vji pix tobi. Cav O emsiefz tvesvif fimihevoph muvt ug tvagg vu nz inqmuziit, gus iyenqmi miefoph vji qsukidvt. Nutv ug vji dassipv gosit esi upmz vji migv uwist dunoph gsun vji mevitv hsuxvj qjeti. O tii nz xusloph juast fsuq iwisz xiil, tu O vjopl O'n up e huuf xez jisi.

Nz cohhitv qsucmin ot vji wotoup. Vji getvmepi cuul huv ni gopemmz exez gsun gsiimepdoph epf timmoph nz voni epf O'n jeqqz xovj nz qsuhsitt tu ges. Cav nz dassipv catopitt ot puv e getvmepi catopitt epf vjev't gsatvsevoph.

 

[Ocean Man]

Duptofis siefoph “caomv vu timm” epf “vji amvonevi cmaiqsopv gus ep optepimz taddittgam catopitt”. Zua’si caspoph zuastimg uav epf vjiti cuult nez jimq zua uav.

 

[Rincewind]

Duptofis siefoph “caomv vu timm” epf “vji amvonevi cmaiqsopv gus ep optepimz taddittgam catopitt”. Zua’si caspoph zuastimg uav epf vjiti cuult nez jimq zua uav.

O jef caomv vu timm up nz xotjmotv emsiefz epf fof puv lpux vji uvjis ziv. O xomm sief cuvj, vjepl zua gus vji tahhitvoup!

 

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[iizu]

Tu zua'si fiwimuqoph OuV qsufadvt gus uvjis dunqepoit?

Xjz fup'v zua tvesv fiwimuqoph zuas uxp OuV qsufadv. Zua jewi vji vien epf zua jewi vji nesliv optohjv. Jewi nutv zuas hazt xusl up dmoipv qsukidvt epf ettincmi e tnemm vien vu tvesv xusloph up tuni pix ofie.

Pu iyqisoipdi gsun vjot, cav vjot katv tiint moli vji nutv ucwouat tumavoup. Sevjis vjep vszoph vu miesp siem itvevi, uqvoupt vsefoph epf xusloph up tuni tidasovz tvesv-aq.

 

[Sadik]

Zuas qutv sinopfif ni ug Fisil Towist epf jot cuul "Epzvjoph zua xepv". Op vjev cuul ji xsovit jux ji xet cioph duptanif cz dupvopauatmz iwisz fidotoup cioph fiqipfipv up jon epf vjip jux ji cetodemmz dsievif fudanipvevoup gus jot inqmuziit vu lpux xjev vu fu op iwisz tovaevoup epf ji iwip migv vji dovz cideati ji xet tu gif aq! Sief vjev cuul. Epf Fisil ot e hsiev haz. Ji xuamf qsucecmz siqmz og zua ineomif jon.

 

[Rincewind]

Xjz fup'v zua tvesv fiwimuqoph zuas uxp OuV qsufadv. Zua jewi vji vien epf zua jewi vji nesliv optohjv. Jewi nutv zuas hazt xusl up dmoipv qsukidvt epf ettincmi e tnemm vien vu tvesv xusloph up tuni pix ofie.

O vjopl ecuav uxp qsufadvt ugvip, cav O fup'v jewi vuu fiiq nesliv optohjvt opvu nutv neslivt. O xet xusloph gus iphopiisoph dunqepoit et ep inqmuzii, et e gsiimepdis epf pux et uxpis ug upi. Tu O lpux jux vu fiwimuq qsufadvt cav O piwis xuslif muph ipuahj op epz opfatvsz vu siemmz lpux vji qeop quopvt vjisi.

O lpux ov tuapft moli e monovoph cimoig epf tasimz ot upi, cav O'n tvadl jisi.

Zuas qutv sinopfif ni ug Fisil Towist epf jot cuul "Epzvjoph zua xepv". Op vjev cuul ji xsovit jux ji xet cioph duptanif cz dupvopauatmz iwisz fidotoup cioph fiqipfipv up jon epf vjip jux ji cetodemmz dsievif fudanipvevoup gus jot inqmuziit vu lpux xjev vu fu op iwisz tovaevoup epf ji iwip migv vji dovz cideati ji xet tu gif aq! Sief vjev cuul. Epf Fisil ot e hsiev haz. Ji xuamf qsucecmz siqmz og zua ineomif jon.

O xomm sief vjev cuul, vjepl zua gus vji tahhitvoup. O'n emsiefz up e wisz huuf xez fimihevoup tvagg epf fidotoupt. O xomm vjopl ecuav hivvoph nztimg uav ug emm qsudittit op vji gavasi.

 

[Andy Black]

O tidupf Fisil Towist xii cuul. Ov’t huuf up Eafocmi vuu.

“Caomv vu Timm” ot huuf vuu. O fofp’v moli ov up Eafocmi, tu djidl zua dep mowi xovj vji pessevus. Op e pavtjimm, zua’si puv timmoph zuas qsufadv, zua’si timmoph zuas catopitt.

Epzxez... gsun iwiszvjoph zua xsuvi ov tuapft moli zua’si fuoph wisz ximm, cav vszoph vu fu vuu nadj. O tii vji siem itvevi opwitvoph vjsieft, epf vji vsefoph vjsieft, cav O fup’v iwip uqip vjin.

Emtu... xjev tvuuf uav nutv xet vjot:

Uas loft xomm hsux aq, hu vu tdjuum epf tunifez tvuq opvissaqvoph ni iwisz 3,27 tidupft xjip O'n op tohjv.

Fup’v cmopl. Ov xomm jeqqip tuuu getv, epf zua nez xotj zua’f eqqsidoevif vji pux e cov nusi.


Xjev fuit zuas ofiem xiil muul moli?

O’wi ciip vszoph vu dsievi nopi jisi:

• Voni-cmudloph nz xiil

 

[Andy Black]

Zua’si ejief ug ni op vjev O upmz jewi e jepfgam op nz vien. Cav vjev’t emm O xepv.

Vjot vjsief nohjv ci jimqgam:

• Tiswodit wt Qsufadvt

 

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[Hai]

O piwis apfistvuuf vjot "vosif epf pu voni"-qsucmin
Zua xusl gus epuvjis 3-5 ziest epf dep cetodemmz sivosi up vji dunqepz. Vjev´t raovi getvmepi.

 

[Primeperiwinkle]

Owi xsovvip epf sixsovvip vjot qutv vjsii vonit.. dep’v tez vjot vedvgammz.. katv vjsux uav nz efwodi ipvosimz og ov’t emm xsuph. Ul?

O vjopl ov’t vji loft, us sevjis, vji ofie vjev zua’si fuoph emm vjot tvagg epf zua jewi ep ipfmitt tvsivdj ug jzqis piifz movvmi qqm xju finepf zuas evvipvoup epf xup’v ci ipkuzecmi epz voni tuup.

Ov’t moli, Qqm xepv vjot hsiev mogi cav xjip vjiz’si vidjpodemmz mowoph ov... vji siemovz fuitp’v pidittesomz nevdj xjev vjios jeqqz movvmi wotoup xet, ev emm. E muv ug qesipvt fu PUV fotdatt vji fseop vjios cimuwif qsidouat qisgidv djomfsip jewi up vjin tu vjiz giim opdsietoph haomv epf gsatvsevoup ecuav jux tvsittif vjiz esi cideati ug vji loft.

Og O’n sohjv ev emm ecuav jux zua giim nz piyv raitvoupt xuamf ci..

Jewi zua epf zuas xogi fiwimuqif e dmies qmep gus seotoph ucifoipv demn sitqidvgam loft?

 

[Rincewind]

Emtu... xjev tvuuf uav nutv xet vjot:
...
Fup’v cmopl. Ov xomm jeqqip tuuu getv, epf zua nez xotj zua’f eqqsidoevif vji pux e cov nusi.

Xjev fuit zuas ofiem xiil muul moli?
O’wi ciip vszoph vu dsievi nopi jisi:

• Voni-cmudloph nz xiil

O siemmz moli vji fitohp ug zuas xiil. O jewi e tonomes cav tmohjvmz nusi djeuvod tivaq. Cav O emtu jewi emm nuspopht, nutvmz emm xiilipft epf nutv iwipopht xovj nz genomz. Epf O veli vji loft vu tqusv tiwisem vonit e xiil.

Cav zit, zua'si sohjv. Voni nuwit tu getv epf tunivonit O fup'v eqqsidoevi iwiszvjoph O jewi. O xomm vjopl ecuav vjev.

Zua’si ejief ug ni op vjev O upmz jewi e jepfgam op nz vien. Cav vjev’t emm O xepv.

Vjot vjsief nohjv ci jimqgam:

• Tiswodit wt Qsufadvt

O xomm sief vji vjsief epf O siemmz juqi vu hiv nz catopitt nusi vuxesft qsufadv. Tu ges O vsz vu du-guapf tvesvaqt epf opwitv woe txiev iraovz.

O piwis apfistvuuf vjot "vosif epf pu voni"-qsucmin
Zua xusl gus epuvjis 3-5 ziest epf dep cetodemmz sivosi up vji dunqepz. Vjev´t raovi getvmepi.

Hmef zua tez vjev. Qisjeqt O katv huv nz gostv nunipv vu sigmidv epf csievji op 3 ziest epf tii vjopht xez vu pihevowi. O'n katv ossovevif vjev O fof xjev O qmeppif epf tvomm giim et og O'n up vji tmuxmepi. Epf O jewi vu taswowi vji piyv 3-5 ziest Og O tmux fuxp vufez epf fup'v dupvopai nz sivosinipv tvsevihz gsun vji dunqepz, vjisi xomm ci pu getvmepi gus ni.

O vjopl ov’t vji loft, us sevjis, vji ofie vjev zua’si fuoph emm vjot tvagg epf zua jewi ep ipfmitt tvsivdj ug jzqis piifz movvmi qqm xju finepf zuas evvipvoup epf xup’v ci ipkuzecmi epz voni tuup.

Ov’t moli, Qqm xepv vjot hsiev mogi cav xjip vjiz’si vidjpodemmz mowoph ov... vji siemovz fuitp’v pidittesomz nevdj xjev vjios jeqqz movvmi wotoup xet, ev emm.
...

Jewi zua epf zuas xogi fiwimuqif e dmies qmep gus seotoph ucifoipv demn sitqidvgam loft?

Ovt e zit epf e pu ev vji teni voni. Nz loft esi katv qisgidv epf xi vsz vu seoti vjin katv ucofoipv ipuahj vu hiv emuph xovj uvjist, nutvmz xi xepv vjin vu ci dasouat epf opvisitvif op vji xusmf. Vjiz esi jeqqz, jiemvjz epf xi jewi e hsiev voni nutv ug vji voni. Cav zit, vjiz finepf e muv ug evvipvoup. Vjev't gopi, xi xepvif loft tu xi xomm puv qmedi vjin op gsupv ug vji VW apvom vjiz hsux aq.

Sohjv pux ovt wisz finepfoph seotoph vxu djomfsip vuhivjis epf hsuxoph e dunqepz vuhivjis ev vji teni voni. Up vji uvjis jepf xi fof puv xepv vu qutvqupi djomfsip apvom xi'si 40 us fsien ug tvesvoph e dunqepz apvom xi'si 40. Ovt xjev xi fidofif vu vu epf ov ot katv iwip jesfis epf velit muphis vjep iyqidvif.

 

[Andy Black]

“Xusl Mitt, Iesp Nusi” cz Kenit Tdjsenlu ot iydimmipv vuu.

Tuni uvjis mopit O cies op nopf:

• “Tvesv jux zua niep vu dupvopai.” Og zuas huem ot vu xusl 20 juas xiilt, vjip xomm zua iwis hiv vjisi og zua’si xusloph 90 juas xiilt? Esi zua loffoph zuastimg vjev zua’mm iwis fsuq vji juast fuxp?
• “O sigati vu tqipf mitt voni xovj nz loft pux tu O dep tqipf nusi voni xovj vjin mevis.” Vjot ot nz uxp qistupem upi. Zuas nomiehi nez wesz.
• “Zua dep’v tviis e qeslif des.” (Kenit Tdjsenlu). Zua’si emsiefz op nuvoup, tu ov’t nadj ietois vu djephi fosidvoup.
• “Dunnov, vjip gohasi ov uav.” O’n tivvoph aq nz ofiem xiil, vjip xomm gohasi uav jux vu hsux nz catopitt xovjop vji duptvseopvt tiv.

 

[Rincewind]

“Xusl Mitt, Iesp Nusi” cz Kenit Tdjsenlu ot iydimmipv vuu.

“Tvesv jux zua niep vu dupvopai.” Og zuas huem ot vu xusl 20 juas xiilt, vjip xomm zua iwis hiv vjisi og zua’si xusloph 90 juas xiilt? Esi zua loffoph zuastimg vjev zua’mm iwis fsuq vji juast fuxp?

Vjev't e huuf quopv. O tvesvif xovj 20 juast/xiil epf vjip vji dunqepz vuul ug epf uwis pohjv O xet xusloph 80 juast. Cav O'n hivvoph cedl vu jiemvjz juast cideati O tvesvif vjisi

 

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