I was asked to join a group that would incubate ideas. An incubator facilitates the development of a business idea through networking, organizational structure, management, bank loans, whatever it takes to bring the idea to market.
Incubators develop every type of businesses from fashion to nanotechnology to the internet. On the smaller scale you could say micro-loans in developing countries are a form of incubation for small business entrepreneurs. According to Wikipedia, in 2005 there were over 27,000 businesses assisted by incubators with employment for over 100,000 people with revenues of over $17B.
All Aboard
Back in December of 2008, I was asked to be part of a new incubator that would seek out businesses that needed an infrastructure and help in funding. The group consisted of people in different fields that would benefit a small business, but we all had full time jobs; this was a version of bowling night and we were the new team at Incubator Lanes. I was not as enthusiastic as you would think, I was already overloaded with work; my daily routine is to wake at 6am and turn off the computer at 10pm. My problem is that I don't have the word "No" in my vocabulary. The word "uh okay" is stamped on my forehead.
Meeting #7
I told the group I was leaving. No one was surprised, I had pulled back on my work load for them and like a girlfriend dumping a boyfriend I said "no, it's me, not you". What finally made me cough up the word "No"? The drive over to the meeting, I was already tired from a long day, I hadn't seen my family and they were fending for themselves for dinner. I was sitting in the car in traffic and every cell in my body was screaming to be home. I lurched out of the car and walked to the meeting, hunched over, even my hair was hunched over. I was on the way to burn out, I was fried like an egg and not looking good.
"Hey guys, I just can't do this, sorry. But let me know if I can help out in a smaller capacity." That wasn't me who said that. It was another member who said it first. The gangplank was now down and me the Rat was ready to disembark ASAP. "Oh, hey that's ditto for me."
Hard Boiled
My lesson is that if anything was going to be incubated at this point, it was going to be me. Once I am hatched, I will be more than able to sit on a few eggs.
Image: Ophelia Chong / Kittens Are Cute
All Aboard
Back in December of 2008, I was asked to be part of a new incubator that would seek out businesses that needed an infrastructure and help in funding. The group consisted of people in different fields that would benefit a small business, but we all had full time jobs; this was a version of bowling night and we were the new team at Incubator Lanes. I was not as enthusiastic as you would think, I was already overloaded with work; my daily routine is to wake at 6am and turn off the computer at 10pm. My problem is that I don't have the word "No" in my vocabulary. The word "uh okay" is stamped on my forehead.
Meeting #7
I told the group I was leaving. No one was surprised, I had pulled back on my work load for them and like a girlfriend dumping a boyfriend I said "no, it's me, not you". What finally made me cough up the word "No"? The drive over to the meeting, I was already tired from a long day, I hadn't seen my family and they were fending for themselves for dinner. I was sitting in the car in traffic and every cell in my body was screaming to be home. I lurched out of the car and walked to the meeting, hunched over, even my hair was hunched over. I was on the way to burn out, I was fried like an egg and not looking good.
"Hey guys, I just can't do this, sorry. But let me know if I can help out in a smaller capacity." That wasn't me who said that. It was another member who said it first. The gangplank was now down and me the Rat was ready to disembark ASAP. "Oh, hey that's ditto for me."
Hard Boiled
My lesson is that if anything was going to be incubated at this point, it was going to be me. Once I am hatched, I will be more than able to sit on a few eggs.
Image: Ophelia Chong / Kittens Are Cute
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this is pretty priceless: Once I am hatched, I will be more than able to sit on a few eggs.
Thanks Gary. "Cluck".....almost there.:O)))