Remember “Hey, you, get off of my cloud!”
Or, the Little Red Hen story….
When the bread was finished, the tired little red hen asked her friends, “Who will help me eat the bread?”
“I will,” barked the lazy dog.
“I will,” purred the sleepy cat.
“I will,” quacked the noisy yellow duck.
“No!” said the little red hen. “I will.” And the little red hen ate the bread all by herself.
I’ve worked tirelessly (and pretty solo) for years on many projects, and they’re all humming along right now pretty well. So now, I’m currently being bombarded with requests from people who want to tie into the successes I’ve created… with many hours in those tireless hours from me that in any other language would be called “volunteer”…
And, I just can’t get it up to extend all that I’ve done to those who are ready to tie right in and continue to ride my coattails.
I had someone say to me once, “Go start your own group!” He was pretty upset when I made what I (and others ) thought was a great idea. When I decided to just let it go and let time do for me what I was wanting to do ASAP, that’s what he said to me, so I did.
Am I selfish for not feeling like letting others take advantage of me? I’m a pleaser, so I’m conflicted, of course.
I wonder where the dog, cat, and yellow duck have been all this time… and I’m not talking people, but the companies behind them that say, “Go ask Jo, whom we haven’t supported in anything she’s done in the last 20 years, but we can now make money from her efforts and take advantage of her.”
Today I’m letting some rain rinse the hen house. Some days, it’s just fun to rant and then let it go. This is obviously one of those days.
Not making any news here, just blowing off steam in my wine journal. Come back on Monday for the real deal, and have a great weekend.
Jo, I know exactly how you feel having run a nonprofit for nine years (separate from my “real” job). When we didn’t disappear and started becoming successful, we had our share of dogs, cats, and ducks. (I had completely forgotten about the LRH story.) We still do. However, if I listen carefully, I can hear the sounds of genuine hard-working volunteers among the barks, meows, and quacks! 😉
Andrea, non-profits and successes with PR… I have those hard working volunteers, too… It’s my brain for marketing and PR they want… for free. do I have a kick me sign on my butt, still?
LOL….
Hey Jo
You come up with the most amazing things to write about, and I think if you stopped working you would not be so happy, so I love how you release but I am confident you love what you do.
We as Groupies just don’t show you enough gratitude as well as the Wineries that benefit from all your free contributions…
Hugs and kisses
Honey Airborne
one very, very, grateful Groupie!!!
Honey… you read me like a book.
My GrouPieS and members of PSILY do… The rest of the Petite Producers just don’t know who I am. they just know that they’re able to make and sell Petite Sirah, something they couldn’t always do.
Hugs and kisses back to you for the hundreds you’ve already given to me this year.
I read a few things that you wrote and you make some really good points! The last one was very very good. Its great to know someone also thinks like this.
Keep Writing!