Owning a small business is the fastest way to develop anxiety, insomnia, and a drinking habit you call “networking.”
I’ve been running 8THIRTYFOUR for 17 years, and I can tell you right now—this shit ain’t for the weak.
2008: Housing crash.
2020: Global pandemic.
2016–25: A political circus starring a walking lawsuit and a recession dressed in red, white, and “oops I deregulated that.”
And yet, here we are. Still standing. Still scrappy. Still screaming into the void (or into our pillows) and making payroll.
How? Because I don’t just hope things work out—I plan for when they don’t.
I Love Hope. I Just Don’t Trust It.
Hope is great. It’s nice for some people. It’s the Golden Retriever of emotions (I’m more of a Doberman). If that’s your strategy, you’re about to experience one hell of a ride.
Good businesses make it through the hard times because they plan like everything’s going to fall apart tomorrow—and then act like everything might just be okay.
I call it paranoia with purpose.
