Vanguard: A Miscellany: Blanket Statement

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Everyone warned me. Everyone. Friends, family, everyone. But I didn't listen.

"Don't do it," they said. And I understood the risks, I did. Although I wasn't asked for a financial investment, the proposition was risky. Friendships have been destroyed by lesser reasons, and these two were, at the time, among those I considered my closest. But I agreed.

I committed to a day and a half a week, lending what expertise I could. "It'll be fun," they said. "With the three of us, it'll be unstoppable," they said. And it was fun, at first. It was exciting. It was a change. And we were giddy with the idea that we'd be working with people we loved and turning a profit at the same time. Well, they'd turn a profit, anyway. Technically, I was a subcontractor, an independent company that they paid a fixed salary regardless of the primary company's profits or losses.

And it did well. So much so that it became easier. They no longer had to be present seven days a week. They took turns to ensure the other got at least two days a week off. And I was happy for them. And I was happier when the profit margin was larger and their take homes were larger.

I even decided to start accepting payment for my work which I didn't necessarily do during the first few months. I just held on to the checks. Even as my work load increased, as my role became more expansive, performing in ways that hadn't been initially included in my job description. In fact, early on we had discussed that my role would not include just those things that my role has grown into. It's not that I was complaining. I honestly didn't mind at all.

Besides, everyone had warned me.

Still, I got the call last Thursday: "Hey Vanny (yeah, they actually call me that), it's me. Hope you're well, bro. Um, been talking to Sunshine like non-stop aaaand we've been talking and I just feel really bad, dude. I feel like we've unintentionally, you know, been kinda taking advantage of you, bro. And I really feel bad about that because I haven't even fucking thought about it. Um, but you're going way above and beyond and have been, and I've had my head up my ass dude. And I feel really bad about that, so um gimme a call when you get a chance. I just wanna talk, um, just briefly dude. It's just I feel really bad right now. Whenever you get a chance....Alright, buddy. Thanks. Bye."

Everyone had warned me. "Don't go into business with friends," they said. In this case, I went with my gut. I trusted them completely to treat me as I would them. And in this case, I was right because not only did I get an apology that I didn't even feel was needed or owed, but on the following night, on our guys' night out, they unveiled what they had, the night before, met to talk about.

They decided that since they worked five day weeks, it was unfair for me to always work six day weeks even though four and a half of those were spent at Job #1. They wanted to make this venture fun for me. They didn't want me to burn out. And they told me I would only be scheduled for two Saturdays a month and two half day Thursdays a month. They also told me my role would go back to what was originally intended. And finally, because they felt I had built the company up as much as anyone else, they offered me part ownership of the company. Actually they gave me part ownership of the company.

So blanket statements are never 100% correct. In this case, I knew I was undertaking a project with people whom I could trust implicitly and vice versa. I also knew that these two were more than capable of functioning in the capacity required, as they did me. So, as it typical, I made my decision based on gut instinct and despite the protestations of everyone else, and it served me well.

Now I just need to learn that this never works for me when it comes to my dating life.