2007 June

The King Is Dead. Long Live The King

Monday, June 4th, 2007
by George Appiah

Today I took the final step in my ongoing process to open a fresh page in my life. I gave up all my financial interest in a business venture I’ve been cranking with a couple of friends for a couple of years. There was really not much to give up, as, hard as we’ve tried, we’ve not been able to really get off the ground, yet.

We’ve had our challenges — many of them — over the years. But this decision has nothing to do with any of those. This is just one of a broader set of ongoing changes in my life. I honestly believe to truly start afresh, one has to do away with anything that re-enforces the old reality. And I’m ready to do this, no matter how absurd that might seem to outsiders, and no matter what material cost I have to incur in doing so.

But to think about it, not much is changing, on a practical level. I’m still going to do much of the same old stuff that I’ve been doing (and love to do) all along — but as a consultant/contractor, and not as a co-founder/employee. But I’m now totally relieved of all those sucking tasks that I was supposed to perform (but which I never did anyway, because I hated to).

On the surface, one would think this doesn’t matter much, since I’m doing the same stuff I’ve been doing. But it sure does. This takes away the stress, the agony, and the guilt that goes with having a pile of frogs to swallow, but never getting to swallow any, because you hate to swallow frogs.

So what next?

I don’t know, yet. For now, I’ll keep on consulting and contract-training for Telesoft. But I want to finally let out this Golden Compass I’ve been hiding over the years — to go out there and direct young minds to their own True North — whatever that may translate into.

And I may start a startup (a real startup, not consulting) along the way. But it’s definitely going to be for a definite social cause.

So King George is finally dead. Long live King George!

And I think I need some sleep now. It’s been a long day.