There is an awkward moment when someone asks: "What's your career"? My answer "I write for an internet startup company" sounds like I'm being aloof, which is never my intention, but if I answered honestly I'd scare off so many people. Saying that I am a writer sounds responsible and it's a short, concise answer. The reality is that I am a gopher-girl for Dr.Z. If he needs his work edited, I'm the girl - ordering office supplies, answering phones, paying bills, organizing the endless piles of papers, organizing emails/contacts/business cards, preparing documents, etc. all fall squarely upon my shoulders. If anyone had showed me a glimpse of what this company would require of me (I was rather naive to think that this vision was his and I was just along for the ride), there is very little chance I would have supported the mission! Startups can provide money for the essentials....the wife of the founder does not fall under that category. All work I do I consider my "not-for-profit" contribution because if this company fails, our current life direction fails. The fantasy about internet companies being bought for obscenely large amounts of money used to provide us with the fuel we needed to continue with this vision, now our hard work and "sweat equity" fuel us.....surely one day they'll be rewarded - right?
