TheStraddlersDiary

POST: This straddling thing is hard!

Today has been a very long day of conducting and facilitating training, followed by a dinner with colleagues (and my new boss), which has left me with little mental capacity to do much more than channel surf in the hotel.

This reminds me of a funny Saturday Night Live skit that I remember seeing shortly after President George W. Bush was elected for the first time.  As SNL is so fond of doing, they aptly pointed fun at the new and clearly less than experienced President with this parody of him having a conversation with his Dad the older and wiser ex-President of the United States.

I probably am not remembering all the details correctly, but essentially Bush Sr. is asking Bush Jr. a few questions about his first days in the White House.  To which, G.W. responds, "This Presidenting is hard!!"

Well folks, on nights like tonight, I want to say, "This straddling thing is hard!!"

I've still not gotten my blog set up correctly.  I've not begun to fully explore monetization options which I wanted and needed to do weeks ago.  I can't start developing any of my other web properties until I get this one figured out first.  And then there are the E-books I intend to write, I've gathered research material for them but haven't begun to write a single word...

And on top of it all, my position has recently shifted at work, and may shift yet again. 
So much to do, so little time!

But hey, look at the alternative.  I could be working this business full-time, in which case I'd be completely stressed out about all this because my ability to make my mortgage payment this month would be riding on them being completed.

So I guess it could be worse.  But still.  "This straddling thing is hard!!!"

POST: Who am I?

The Straddlers Diary is a blog of my personal quest to escape the corporate trap that so nearly snuffed the life out of those entrepreneurial dreams I’ve held for many years, without taking action.  Won’t you join me on this exciting journey of discovery and success?

Who am I?
I am a 39 year-old technology sales and marketing professional in the consumer electronics industry (currently working in Silicon Valley) who lives in the Pacific Northwest with my beautiful wife and two amazing children.

Though at one time I was “on the fast track”, seduced by the allure of promotions, international travel, and large stock grants- long stretches away from home and 60 hour work weeks have finally given me impetus to alter my career reality for a more balanced and fulfilling life.

POST: Soft launch here we go

Hello everyone, thanks for checking out my "construction site".  It's still a little dirty and we haven't finished painting, so please watch where you sit, wouldn't want those new clothes to get ruined!

What you are seeing is a very, very soft launch of my new project TheStraddlersDiary.  This site is intended to be a resource, forum and place of refuge for those of us who are straddling full time jobs while working on or in a business on the side.

It seems crazy that I am embarking on this project, as if I don't have enough to do without starting a business venture to boot!  But all I can say is that after 15 years of dreaming about being in control of my own future, I've decided it's time to actually make that happen.

So, what you are looking at is the first part of a multi-year construction project which when completed, I hope will redefine my work and financial life as I've known it... now if I don't go broke trying to build this thing, tweak my back, break a bone, or get shut down by the city, I should be OK!

Seriously though, you will have a place in all this.  It is my desire with TheStraddlersDiary to gather those who may be feeling a little tired, burned out, or are starting to question why they've attempted to do whatever it is they are doing, so together we can encourage, support and grow our businesses. 

I envision this being a place where ideas can be exchanged, resources shared, assistance requested, and thoughts provoked.  If we can get half way there I'll feel that this project had a positive impact on the world and my fellow entrepreneurs.