Off topic but very lucky

I was talking to a friend of mine other day that I knew at Ohio Sate
when we were EE students there. We hadn't seen each other in a
long while. He said had a career with an aerospace firm he evidently
didn't like. He told me of his hobbies and his interests, and
then he said "I hear you're in business for yourself. You
are so lucky. What's that like?" I smiled at my friend and
didn't answer right away; I was thinking about his question:

I am so lucky to work 7 days a week, starting at 6 AM and often
finishing at 10 PM or later. To go to bed thinking about what I could
have done better, to wake up next morning thinking about how will.

It is my luck to share 50 percent of my income with my business
partner, Uncle Sam, who does not take my risks and is not to be found
to share the work or the losses if I make a mistake.

It is my luck to live in fear that someone will find a flaw in my
designs, something that I overlooked, didn't know or was careless
about, something that will disgrace me.

I am lucky to fear being inattentive when I produce my product, that
something will slip by me; a bad part, a poor process that damages
what I build and sell.

It is my luck to worry about things beyond my control, yet are still
my responsibility. Parts and components that are suddenly unavailable
that were before. Random acts of nature and economics.

I am lucky to drop what I am doing, to interrupt whatever interesting
path my thoughts have taken me down to answer the phone and give my
full attention to someone who needs assistance. They after all are
the reason why I do what I do and deserve my full attention.

I am lucky to make sure all my bills are paid. That comes before any
other concern. Obligations met are the measure of a man.

It is my luck to be responsible when others aren't. Suppliers
that promise but don't deliver, contractors that have a flexible
interpretation of time. Parts that don't meet specification. It
is my job to care where others don't or won't. To do over
until it is right.

I am lucky to serve my customers. To ship product when ordered, to
give help and information when not. To treat everyone as I would like
to be treated. To give my best effort everyday.

I replied to my friend after a while and said, " Yes, I guess I
am lucky". I felt he had no clue by what I meant though.

Mariss