Third Monday: “Take the call, gain a client. Miss the call, lose a client.”

I don’t recall doing much homework when I was in school. I did the minimum and after that went outside to build a hut or stayed in reading books (Nancy Drew!) or writing long stories that ended happily. I loved being adventurous in a serene way and homework never quite fit to this picture.

Right now I’m laying on a hotel bed in Bormio, Northern Italy. I’m literally homeworking, doing work related stuff on holidays. Even a month ago I would’ve blamed myself for dragging the work with me on vacation. And I bet so would’ve my family. But on this very moment my family is reading some Henning Mankell book and drinking beer, encouraging me to blog or write.

I guess in Finland the one thing everyone knows about entrepreneurship is the working hours. And maybe that’s why it’s considered a risk or a leap when you decide to make a living on your own. It was clear to me too, that after January first there wouldn’t be any statutory holidays or salaried sick leaves.

It’s not one or two times that my entrepreneur friends have answered their phones on holidays or Sunday evenings. They always manage to maintain that perky tone in their voice. And I always probe how do they do that. How can you sound that happy when some possible client interrupts your day off? They always answer me politely. Take the call, gain a client. Miss the call, lose a client.

Easy math.

Breakfast: Toast with local Nutella & blueberry marmalade, half of a roll with butter cheese & blueberry marmalade, croissant with an apple jam filling, cereals with berries, fruit salad, natural yoghurt & honey, mixed cafe macchiato & cappuccino, glass of super energy juice