| It is September 14, 2001 and I am sitting here trying | | | | vicariously. So I gave myselfpermission, and just left |
| tothink of something to share; frankly, I can't. I'm still | | | | the TV on.I didn't even pretendthat I was trying to |
| inshock over the events of the last few days so I'm | | | | get anything done; I just stayed gluedto the tube to |
| going tooffer this: | | | | stay informed. Occasionally I had to remindmyself to |
| I have always maintained that TV is the archenemy | | | | breathe. |
| of thehome-based business owner because it's so | | | | I didn't get much done, but it doesn't matter; I did |
| easy to getsucked-in and completely distracted. I've | | | | whatwas most important at the time. After all, my |
| tried to workwhile the TV is on, but I'm only at 50% | | | | country wasunder attack. Members of my American |
| capacity at best. Isuppose that's better than sitting | | | | "family" were lost. |
| on the couch with a bowlof popcorn, but I prefer | | | | Others were heroes. The coverage of the events |
| operating at a higher level thanthat. | | | | and all ofthe incredible ramifications was nothing short |
| The solution I have always recommended is to never | | | | of amazing. |
| turn on a | | | | It was a monumental moment of history, and I know |
| TV in the first place. It's amazing how easy it is to | | | | I did theright thing. If I had been in New York, I |
| avoidplot lines when you don't know what they are! | | | | would have beenout of the house (or apartment) |
| That said,when there is a major news event I find | | | | doing SOMETHING to help |
| myself in terribleconflict; should I keep my nose to | | | | SOMEBODY who was more directly affected than I. |
| the grindstone or just | | | | In reading what I just wrote, it sounds like I feel |
| 'give-in' to the temptation to keep up with what's | | | | guiltydoesn't it? Well, I do a little because I, like |
| going on? | | | | mostentrepreneurs, have a strong work ethic. On the |
| I have found myself in this predicament during major | | | | other hand,we also need to strike a balance between |
| eventssuch as the Columbine shootings, the | | | | our work and otherpriorities. |
| Northridge earthquake,the Gulf War, and the | | | | I'm in great pain because of what I saw and heard, |
| Challenger space shuttle disaster. | | | | but inretrospect I really had no choice. It was simply |
| When something happens that is so devastating, so | | | | notpossible for me to ignore what was happening so |
| traumatic,so incomprehensible as the terrorist attacks | | | | that I could |
| on the World | | | | "get some work done". |
| Trade Center and the Pentagon, I am not doing | | | | If it's a really important distraction, give |
| myself a favorby 'resisting'. I NEED to keep up with | | | | yourselfpermission. After all, some things are just |
| the details. I NEEDto know what's happening. I NEED | | | | more importantthan a few hours of work. |
| to feel involved in somefashion, even if only | | | | |