You want to make an omelette? First crack some eggs

I'm no chef, but I've had to develop a few related skills

There’s something to be said about showing up every day. I did that when I used to drive a cab in Portland, Oregon.

I’d show up a little before 4 am and clock out around 4pm. My hours are different now, but the discipline remains.

I started every day in the hole … negative money. Off the bat, just to do the “job,” it cost me $90 to $120.

Then I paid for the gas at the end of the day…sometimes filled up twice. Usually another $20-$60 depending on what kind of car and how many miles and how much air conditioning I used.

I ended up with whatever was left. Kinda.

While cab drivers depend on tips to boost their income, so do the people around the garage and those in the office processing payments. You tip-out.

Then the government takes their pound of flesh through taxes and fees. Perhaps a weak-sauce parking ticket for good measure.

Ultimately, I had to stop driving a cab when all those costs added up to more than what I brought in. That was rough…and sudden.

It was a good job at one point.

You see where I’m going with this, I hope.

Keep your powder dry. Develop skills that you can use when your job or career implodes.

Expect the unexpected—the motto of Big Brother on CBS. Even though I watch the show every summer, it is still a hard lesson to learn, especially when the “unexpected” hits you like a frying pan to the bridge of the nose.

It’s hard, no doubt, to start all over. I’ve done it a few times.

If you’re stuck, we may be able to help.

As always,

Brian O'Leary

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P.S. — I’m “showing up” on email so you can have time to catch up on all our podcasts…or maybe I didn’t schedule-out my day well enough.

Thanks for the support either way.