The Agony of (Perceived) Defeat

Disappointed? Disillusioned? You gotta mush on.

My non-profit turned seventeen this week. My podcast just passed 4 million downloads. And yet, my checking account is overdrawn and I’ve got a stack of bills begging for my attention.

I am becoming a master of handling the bitter with the sweet, folks.

When you are in the midst of the challenges — on the phone making yet another payment arrangement, checking your GoFundMe page and seeing that the marker has barely moved toward your goal in days (weeks, even)— it can be mighty difficult to keep the positive pep talk in your head at full volume. I’ve been at this entrepreneurial game long enough to know that every day is not a win and there are valuable lessons to be gained in the losses. But that does not make it any easier to ride out the rough patch when it is sitting on your chest.

This week, I wasn’t allowed to send out invites to the pending pity party because my inbox and news feed was chock full of info about other organizations that are also struggling to keep their heads above water or have raised the white flag. A nearly 200 year-old historical society laying off 1/3 of its staff. A nearly 60 year-old indie bookstore closing its doors at the end of the month. Johnson Publishing Company (read: Fashion Fair Cosmetics) filing for bankruptcy. [The magazines…