Lessons from My Failed Startup

“That's one thing Earthlings might learn to do, if they tried hard enough: Ignore the awful times and concentrate on the good ones.”

― Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

I was 20 years old when I used my first credit card. One night in college I was working as a pizza delivery driver when my car broke down. It was late, there was a pothole, and my tire quite literally snapped off. I was sitting on the side of the road trying to call a tow truck and thinking about how I would be able to work tomorrow–worried if I’d lose my job–and how I’d afford rent if I didn’t work. Finally, the car got to the shop and they told me it would cost two thousand dollars to repair it. I didn’t have that kind of money.

I remember how scared I was not knowing how I could afford to repair my car, but then I remembered my credit card could provide me with the liquidity I needed. It wasn’t the cheapest money I could have used but I didn’t know any better and, regardless, the resolution of my crippling stress, anxiety, and fear was well worth the price I paid in interest.

I didn’t know much then but I knew that money helped me.