*Trigger Warning*: This post will discuss depression and includes brief mentions of suicidal tendencies/thoughts. If this is something that you’ve struggled with and aren’t prepared to read about, please exit this page and stop reading now.
It has been a few weeks since my last post and honestly, it feels like so much has happened. To preface, both laptops that I’ve been utilizing to craft this blog and the messages you are (hopefully) enjoying have faced major technological issues. One is currently with the Geek Squad on account of it refusing to boot up (regardless of me trying multiple times to revive it) and the other (the one I’m writing from this evening) crashed on Thursday night and had to be reset to its factory settings- meaning that I lost 90% of my documents and other important information that had been transferred over from multiple sources throughout my high school and college years. The bright side of this is that I’ve earned myself a new nickname; I’m now known as “The Laptop Murderer.” I guess I can’t really argue that- as I somehow managed to “kill” two within the course of the same week.
I won’t go into much detail about this next part, but I’ve also been facing some struggles of my own. There are multiple causes behind what I’ve had to endure and the amount of pressure, stress and anxiety I’ve felt from these things has left me feeling empty, exhausted and depressed. For those of you who know me, you know that all of this is extremely unlike me. And, I recognize that too- and am irritated with myself for how hard it has been for me to try to overcome these demons that haunt me. I’ve thrown myself into my work to try to take my focus away from my problems- and have caffeinated to the point of insanity to avoid thinking (or sleeping.) Though I definitely wouldn’t recommend any of this to just anyone struggling with depression- focusing on my work and school goals, as well as my personal health and fitness goals has helped detract from the things in my life that I can’t control. For the ambitious and goal-oriented person that I am, it only makes since that overworking acts like a band-aid. It doesn’t cure, but it does distract (and detract.) As they say, “Keep yourself busy if you want to avoid depression. For most, inactivity is the enemy.”
Real Talk
So, what causes depression? If you asked a psychologist or a neurologist, the answer would be something like this: “Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.“ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007. My answer is a little bit more simple; depression can be caused by anything that encourages feelings of anxiety, pain (emotional), abandonment, disinterest, or worthlessness. Anything considered “traumatic” to an individual could be a trigger. It could be the end of a friendship or romantic relationship, the loss of a partner, the death of a loved one, or even earning a failing grade on a test or assignment.
I’ll admit, over the past few weeks, I’ve felt all of this. I tried to delete my social media accounts. I distanced myself from my closest friends and family- and chose to keep to myself. I didn’t talk, I didn’t engage- and there were nights where I just sat and stared at my bedroom wall wondering what would happen next. I considered running away, never coming home, starting my life over somewhere new. There were days that I considered worse things, too… things that would be considered “permanent solutions” to temporary problems. But, thinking about it, none of these things are at all proactive to overcoming depression and moving forward.
For someone to overcome depression- and, in an extension- overcome suicidal thoughts- they must learn that they are not alone. It may seem like you are and it may be difficult to let others in (I know it has been for me), but getting support from someone (whether it be a family member or close friend) helps you realize that these feelings aren’t permanent and that things will eventually get better. Talking to people that are close to you is soothing to the soul- and allows for the opportunity to reconnect with the world. Getting involved in something you enjoy or even something that takes your mind off of what you’re feeling is also beneficial. For me, this has been working and going to the gym.
One of my main goals for this year was to improve my health and fitness. Throughout the course of my last relationship, I was encouraged to give up my gym-going habits and sacrificed what I knew of health to focus on what my ex-boyfriend wanted me to do (which was spend more time with him- by eliminating going to the gym and giving up my healthy eating habits.) I recognize, now, that this was extremely counterproductive to my overall growth- and that this individual forced me to give up something that I loved. Reawakening that part of myself has been so helpful to my overall psyche- and I’m loving the progress that I’m already seeing (albeit slight.) Being able to focus on something that I love has helped me realize that I have a lot of life left to live. There is so much potential for things to get better- and to see this potential, I have to be alive. I have to live.
Legal Structure: Business Applications
In terms of the business-related aspects of this post, I’m going to be focusing on the necessity of choosing a legal structure. To establish a successful business, an individual must identify not only their needs as a business owner, but also identify the needs of their target market (or demographic). The objective of my MKT 250 class this semester was to create an eCommerce business that was profitable in some way; we had the option to promote and sell a physical product or provide a service (for a price; either via a one-time payment or monthly subscription). As the primary motivation behind this blog was to fulfill the requirements of this course (and the business that I’ve created will likely not continue past this semester), I chose to establish as a sole-proprietorship.
A sole-proprietorship is described as: “The simplest and most common structure chosen to start a business. It is an unincorporated business owned and run by one individual with no distinction between the business and you, the owner. You are entitled to all profits and are responsible for all your business’s debts, losses and liabilities.” https://www.sba.gov/content/sole-proprietorship. Operating under a sole-proprietorship allows a business owner flexibility in the creation and operation of their business; it can be done on an individual’s schedule and doesn’t require any formal action on the part of the owner. The owner wouldn’t be taxed separately as the sole proprietorship income automatically becomes the owner’s income- which allows for their taxes to remain low, while also allowing the business owner to fulfill tax reporting requirements easily. While a sole-proprietorship does weigh heavily on the business owner (as it is a sole venture) and requires unlimited personal liability, this option is the most beneficial for business owners looking to establish small, short-term ventures that require minimal help to own and operate.
If an individual were to wish to expand their business or operate as a franchise, it may be more worthwhile for them to establish an LLC or a corporation. LLC stands for “limited liability company”; generally, LLC’s are owned and operated by one or more individuals (known as “members). While LLC’s offer general flexibility in terms of management and taxation, there is generally more stringency in terms of transferring LLC membership interests. Corporations, however, are owned by shareholders- and each shareholder owns a number of shares that corresponds to his/her percentage of ownership. These shares are generally easily transferrable from one individual to another- meaning that if so chosen, a shareholder could leave or sell shares without threatening the existence of the corporation. Both structures require additional filings (the Articles of Incorporation and a Certificate of Organization, respectively)- and depending upon the state an individual files in, this could require additional fees on the part of the filer.
Establishing a business and determining a legal structure for that business is all dependent on the owner and the needs of the business. There is no one “correct” way to establish and no one “correct” structure that has to be utilized; every business is as different and unique as the individuals who own and operate them. Ultimately, “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal- a commitment to excellence- that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti
Strive Towards 