Different Places - Different Spaces

[Uncool Cat]

I'm sitting here wondering right now what it would actually take to have a bonified nervous breakdown. I think I'm OK now, but the events of the last couple of weeks may make an interesting read. If a person doesn't have a nervous breakdown over this, what do they have one over?

Since November of last year I have been attempting to purchase an insurance agency. Several factors have made this complicated and difficult. I am currently what's called a captive agent. If I buy this other agency, I would no longer be able to do business through my current company because I would become an independent agent.

My plan was to buy the other agency and then go after my current clients and try to get them to switch to me. However, after months of negotiations and wrangling with SBA, the small business administration, I am still waiting to close the deal. In the meantime, my current company found out what I was doing and confronted me about it. They weren't supposed to find out; I was trying to keep this very, very quiet.

They don't have strong contractual grounds, but they have threatened to sue me if I go after my clients. [Don't worry I have seen a lawyer about all of this.] If I don't go after my old clients, I don't have to worry about it. When I buy the business, I will have an income stream from the clients that the seller has.

What's weird is, since I didn't want them to find out yet, and they have not had time to set up a new office, I am still working for them. They hate me and want me out of here, but it would be stupid of them to do that - at least for the next few days.

For a while there, I was stressed to the max. My deal with buying the other agency wasn't finished, and I wouldn't be receiving any income from my current agency - not after the 15th anyway. Add to that I am going through a divorce and the fact that I am starting my term as the president of our local Rotary Club, and you have a receipe for loosing it.

For several days I felt like I was about to throw up all the time. I was even concerned that I could give myself a sterss related heart attack. Then my dad called to talk to me. He knows whats been going on. We had a long talk, and he offered to help me stay open at least three months beyond what I could otherwise have stayed. I hate depending on my parents for things like this, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. And, this gave me a tremendous sense of relief.

I believe that SBA can get the deal done given that amount of time. I have no idea what is taking so long anyway, but it's the government. They don't get in a hurry about anything. By the way, we gave them about 5 file boxes full of information they requested to approve the loan. I was surprissed, but not surprissed, by this.

On the bright side, I really haven't had much time to think about the divorce and my W. This has been so taxing that she has barely been on my mind. I spent a great 4th on the lake with my boys and some friends. They had a ball swimming and on the boat and wave runners.

There's really nothing new to report lately with the divorce. I haven't had any conversations with her about it. I haven't breathed a word about the troubles at work. We just talk about the boys, when to pick up / drop off etc.

That's my report for now. Keep up the DB work everyone.