Padding

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I work probably probably more than is healthy.&nbsp; Startups are notorious for generating inordinate amounts of work and having far too few resources.&nbsp; That said, the only thing worse than a regular startup is a nonprofit startup.&nbsp; You'd really have to be crazy to start one of those.<br />
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When you work too much, entire areas of your life are forgotten.&nbsp; Family, friends, finance and the basic overhead of daily life can be left neglected.&nbsp;&nbsp; At times over the past two years, I've discarded life maintenance and left myself vulnerable to catastrophe.<br />
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This week two things went wrong:&nbsp; I ruined my car and messed up my elbow.&nbsp; <br />
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Why did I ruin my car?&nbsp; It's pretty simple:&nbsp; I haven't changed the oil since October.&nbsp; The guy at Jiffy Lube is at least partially right; you should change your oil regularly.&nbsp; It's not entirely a marketing scam dreamed up by the lube industry.&nbsp; <br />
If you don't, your engine will lock up -- no joke.&nbsp; I experienced this first hand on 280 driving North last week.&nbsp; The engine of my '91 Honda civic froze and started smoking.&nbsp;&nbsp; I was late for a meeting in the Mission, kept driving -- ruined the engine for good.&nbsp; A hole, the size of an orange in the engine casing and the pistons are all bent out of shape.&nbsp; The car barely moves.&nbsp; <br />
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And how did I mess up my elbow?&nbsp; It's pretty stupid.&nbsp; While writing at a cafe on Saturday, I leaned back in my chair and wiped out bigtime on the cafe floor.&nbsp; That's embarassing, huh?&nbsp; My elbow smashed pretty hard on the cement floor of the Arc Cafe in the Mission.&nbsp; There was only one person there to see it all happen.&nbsp; She didn't even laugh.<br />
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As I got up, I chuckled to myself and told her the only thing I hurt was my ego&nbsp; (damn that hurt!).&nbsp; I was wrong.&nbsp; Later that day my arm kept throbbing and writing became impossible.&nbsp; I spent the afternoon in a crowded Mission hospital.&nbsp; The X-rays were inconclusive and I was supposed to go back yesterday.&nbsp; The nurse gave me a sling which I haven't used.<br />
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Microcredit is known as a tool to give people padding in their lives so that they can weather the normal ups and down any family will face.&nbsp; Right now, I need more padding in my life.&nbsp; Most of all, I need to borrow some time.<br />
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I'm on a plane now headed to NYC for a panel where I will speak at NYU about the benefits and pitfalls of starting a social enterprise and the nonprofit structure.&nbsp; I'm excited and I hope some of you can make it to the NYU talk tomorrow.&nbsp; You should expect an interesting discussion.<br />
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One thing you shouldn't expect is to see me leaning on my right elbow.&nbsp; It's still pretty messed up.&nbsp; In fact the shape is actually different than my other elbow and I'm pretty sure I chipped off a substantial part of the bone in my fateful little fall.&nbsp; It's a swollen, mushy, black and blue mess and it doesn't seem to be getting much better. <br />
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After telling her all this, my mom, Carol Flannery, got in her car yesterday and drove 10 hours down from Lake Oswego, Oregon.&nbsp; She showed up with the family car and a strong word of motherly advice:&nbsp; go back to the doctor!&nbsp; We went out for lunch and she took me to the airport.<br />
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Sorry Mom, I have to go to New York.&nbsp; Thanks for the car.