That means that 162 days of the year are gone.
And 204 are left to go.
And it is also the day I officially decide not to actively work on starting my own business.
Historically, little seems to happen much before 1190 A.D., according to official records, that is. In fact, little seems to have happened until the A.D. years.
I did find a handful of “defeats” recorded, such as the Roman Emperor Julian defeating the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon in 363 (I assume A.D.) but unable to take the city.
Who knew?
I also found a mention of Anti-Pope Victor IV (Gregorio) overthrowing himself for Innocentius II. I have no clue what that was all about, but it sounds like a resounding defeat to me.
Then there was the Lombard League defeating Frederick Barbarossa at the Battle of Legnano in 1167 and — oddly enough, on the very same day — a Roman army supporting Pope Alexander III is defeated by Christian of Buch and Rainald of Dassel.
A coincidence? I hardly think so!
In 1190, Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River as he was leading an army to Jerusalem; in 1358, the French Boer leader Guillaume Cale was captured; in 1540, Thomas Cromwell was arrested in Westminster; in 1801, Tripoli declared war on the U.S. for refusing tribute; in 1861, at the Battle of Big Bethel, Va., at the Bethel Church in Great Bethel, the Union retreats; in 1898, U.S. Marines land in Cuba during the Spanish-American War; in 1940, the German “Dutch Q-ship Atlantis” sinks a Norwegian tanker; also in 1940, Italy declares war on France and Britain, and Canada declares war back on Italy; in 1952, the St. Louis Browns fire manager Rogers Hornsby; in 1965, during the Vietnam War, The Battle of Dong Xoai begins; in 1977, James Earl Ray (Martin Luther King’s killer) escaped from prison; in 1985, French agents blow up the Greenpeace boat Rainbow Warrior near New Zealand ...
I could go on and on. In fact, I believe I already have.
Wow! I guess that proves it, though. My list above proves that lots of bad things have happened on June 10.
June 10 was destined to be the day that I officially acknowledge that I am going to stop actively working on starting my own business; at least, for now.
Right now, I have made little progress from the previous update I gave on what I had done to try to start my own business. I have done most of the research, am comfortable that there is a possible market for my product — in this case I am zeroing in on photography — but I also found out there is a lot, and I mean a lot, of competition. That’s when I believe I started to become a little disheartened. I can’t really think of anything else I would like to do for my own business and, yet, I wasn’t able to find a truly unique niche for photography that would set me apart, as well as provide a good customer base.
Then, when I came up against all the business licenses, decisions on whether or not I should have a sole proprietorship versus a more modern LLC — lots more cost, yet a greater amount of protection with an LLC, sales tax registration/number, the designing of advertising pamphlets, a website, and a bunch of others. Well, I just became overwhelmed.
It became way too much for me.
I didn’t have the time nor the presence of mind to concentrate to make these decisions properly. After all, I don’t want to do this the wrong way. That’s what happens to most folks, I am a-guessin’, who try to start their own business. If they are anything like me, they probably get overwhelmed and a little lost, even if they get help from the various outside business sources available. And, if they are lucky enough to have a job and concentrating diligently on that job, which is what they should be doing, then there is little time left, not enough time left, to take on a second job. But folks who want to start their own business do have to work at it as seriously as they do any other job they undertake. Going into it haphazardly is probably why a large majority of businesses fail.
But there’s still hope. And I certainly don’t want to dissuade anyone else from continuing their dreams. As I said, there’s always hope. But I need to do it the right way, especially if I want to do it successfully.
After all, some good things did happen on June 10. In 1752, Ben Franklin's kite was struck by lightning. I don’t know if that was good or bad luck. In 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to write a Declaration of Independence. In 1915, the Girl Scouts were founded. In 1921, Babe Ruth became the all-time home run champ with his 120 home runs. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the law for equal pay for equal work for men and women. In 1966, the Mamas & Papas won a gold record for their iconic song “Monday, Monday.” In 1972, Elvis Presley recorded a live album at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In 1985, Coca-Cola announced it would bring back its 99-year-old formula.
But not really a whole lot of note before or since then; at least, not that I can tell.
Unless, of course, June 10 becomes the very day that I revive my goal of starting my own business.
That should be added to the list of good things that happen on June 10.
But, if not, I still have 204 more days left in the year to try again!
And hundreds more next year. After all, I won’t lose unless I give up!
Wish me luck — and determination and fortitude — and even more luck!
After all, as I have always said, “I’d rather be lucky than good!!!”
