121–130 of 147 posts
Here's what you need to do. 1 - Practice humility and drop the attitude. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. 2 - Come up with a plan to have a net worth of $0 in 18-36 months -- owe nobody anything. If that is impossible to conceive of, make sure that you are exploring all avenues -- including bankruptcy. 3 - Get off the couch. Establish social connections. Go to church. Volunteer somewhere. Join a book club. Work in a…
My elderly parents (my dad turned 80 this weekend!) moved to one of those semi-suburban retirement villages a few years ago and it changed their lives. They went from being depressed, lonely, TV-obsessed hermits to having a fantastic social life on par with college. The network of neighbors really helps in times of hardship as well, the community really looks out for each other. I feel pretty comfortable knowing that if something bad happened they'd be in good company.
If you want to live guilt-free I can't recommend it enough. If its out of their income bracket, a great goal would be working off your debt and saving up to help them move somewhere where you can feel comfortable spending some time apart..
"People here want their safe, comfortable, 9-5 jobs, and their must-see-TV at night. There is no ecosystem to help drive and create new things." Considering your situation, a stable 9-5 sounds like a better option for you than a new and risky venture.
Yes I actually agree with you. I should have provided better context: 9-5 meaning that people here are mostly content with what they have. They aren't out and about in the city looking to build new ventures, take risks on big, unproven ideas, etc.
One thing you didn't mention is how much time you have to devote to healing yourself. In my case, the only time I had for myself was after everyone else went to bed. If you are still monitoring, give us an idea of how much time you have per day/week to spend on your needs.
The most dangerous part of your situation is the depression. It will drain the life out of you. I wasn't effective on my work project until I dealt with it. There are many good ideas here on how to climb back out; here are a few more.
* Get some professional help
I know finances are tight but a very close friend of mine saw a psychiatrist and it helped immensely. Make sure they are goal oriented in that they are working towards putting themselves out of a job, not setting up a continual revenue stream.
* Apply your skills towards non-profit activities
Work makes me feel better about myself and helping others is a wonderful feeling. Sites like: http://catchafire.org/ can help you find opportunities.
* Mentor at a local school
You have failed and probably think about it a lot; I know I do. (This is probably not the healthiest of activities...) But this means that you can also help others avoid the problems that you have faced.
On a different note, I think the many responses here have shown just how prevalent this kind of situation is and how wonderful it is to have a support structure. I feel better just seeing the support for you!
You might want to consider recording your journey, either for posterity or, if you feel comfortable publishing, to help others in similar situations.
I'm going to be harsh. Please don't take it personally, my perspective is obviously limited. I'd think 1.5 years of unemployment, being broke and a failed start-up would make you more humble. Yet everyone else seems to be the problem. Your parents don't understand, fellow business owners don't understand, no one understands your fabulous planning, no one has your passion, ... Have you looked for work? Applied to jobs…
This is something I think most of us have to face up to at some point, often with a bolt of shocked denial when the realization hits.
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I just got back from McDonalds since $1 McChicken is all I can afford to eat. This is the taste of liberation. Mmm.
Learn how to cook. You only need some very basic, and very cheap, ingredients to make amazing food. By improving your diet, you will improve both your physical and mental health. You will also save money. For example, tomatoes, onions, beans, chilies, rice, and spices run about $5 total, and with that you can make a gigantic bucket of vegetarian chili packed with vitamins and complete proteins. Add meat for a better…
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Yes I actually agree with you. I should have provided better context: 9-5 meaning that people here are mostly content with what they have. They aren't out and about in the city looking to build new ventures, take risks on big, unproven ideas, etc.
They aren't out and about in the city looking to build new ventures, take risks on big, unproven ideas, etc. Is it really like that in SF? I've never lived there, only visited; and almost got mugged at a gas station. The description reads like a fairytale or wishful thinking. I hope I'm wrong, though, because that would be amazing.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
They aren't out and about in the city looking to build new ventures, take risks on big, unproven ideas, etc. Is it really like that in SF? I've never lived there, only visited; and almost got mugged at a gas station. The description reads like a fairytale or wishful thinking. I hope I'm wrong, though, because that would be amazing.
if you get into the start-up scene, it really is like that. A lot of those people are just talking shit, however. lots of hype, less execution.