FEBRUARY 2015
As I write these words, I’m starting my twenty-ninth year as a boss. They were all challenging and kept me very busy. And except for 2012, they lacked a narrative arc. So what do my very eventful year and the other years have in common? This: I never knew what the next day would bring. I still don’t. That’s what I was trying to get across in this book: the unpredictable nature of running a small company. The way that ordinary duties interact with randomly occurring events, and the way big decisions need to be made with incomplete information. More than anything else, I’ve had to be flexible and ready to respond to any challenge. And that’s been fascinating. I suppose if my business had become successful and had grown to the point where I could hire people to do all the day-to-day stuff, I might grow bored. I’m not there yet. I still go into the office every day, say hello to Nick and Dan (who are doing very well), and walk around the shop floor to see what’s happening. And that’s a great gift. Despite vast economic forces arrayed against us, my little workshop is still alive, still putting out high-quality work for happy clients.
I swore in the Introduction that I wouldn’t be giving you any lessons. Now you know why. I’m sure that many of you, more experienced in financial, managerial, or legal matters, were appalled at the errors I made. Fair enough. There’s only one thing that I know will work for everyone. Get help. Find someone who knows you, knows your business, and who is willing to consult with you frequently. It’s preferable to have more than one mentor, just in case your preferred source of advice is wrong. Running a business can be a very lonely experience. I assure you, nobody’s troubles are unique. And fellow business owners are happy to share what they know.
In my years writing for The New York Times, I exchanged e-mails with hundreds of readers. It was fascinating, and I’ve missed that exchange of ideas. If you think my advice can be useful, please write to me at paul.c.downs@gmail.com. I’ll do my best to help.
One last thing: thank you for reading my story.