Stress

Right now, my shoulders and neck are so tight, you could bounce a quarter off them. 

Please don’t. They hurt. So bad.

No one likes being stressed out. I really don’t. But it’s never really affected me in the way that it is right now. I’ve spent most of my week, aside from respites at the gym (which is the only time my neck and shoulders haven’t hurt), worrying about something or another. This worry is hunching my shoulders and spreading up into my neck. Stress sucks.

Let me explain. 

I work 40 hours a week at the office. I’m also gearing up for a launch party for a side-business I’m going into with my friend, Spencer, Fargone Media Production. That’s this Saturday. In addition to that, I have two clients, one for our fledgling business and one on my own, who are in different stages, both far from any resolution. Both of these businesses will remain nameless here, so let’s just refer to them as Jerry (our Fargone Media client) and Susan (my personal client) from here on out.

Jerry has been stringing us along for months. They originally contracted us to do a larger video project in April, we had a meeting or two and things went well. Then, they decided not to do that project after a few months, but asked us to help them with a viral video that they wanted to make. We said yes, of course.

That project started out well. They liked our ideas and enjoyed our pitch. Now, just as we were getting ready to start production in the next week or so, they have talked about post-poning it for another few months. 

Sigh.

So, our project with Jerry is up in the air, in limbo. I don’t like it when things are in limbo. I like things to be nailed down and ready to roll as soon as possible. It makes it much easier for all parties involved. Jerry is frustrating us both. Dealing with people who are go-go-go but don’t have their shit together is never fun.

Susan was referred to me by a client that I have done a lot of work with in the past. They liked what I had produced before and want me to do the same for them. Perfect, let’s get started. 

Not so fast.

When Susan approached me about this project almost three weeks ago, they needed to know immediately whether I could work with them or not. I could. Then, I heard nothing from them for two weeks. 

Then, Susan contacts me out of the blue on Tuesday and tells me that they want me to start on their project on Wednesday. I have not started on anything. Why? Well, part of it was on me. I’m busy getting ready for our party on Saturday. But most of it is on Susan. They don’t even have a project brief ready yet. So, I’m supposed to start on a project without knowing what it is? What is that?

Another project in limbo. Not nailed down. Hanging over my head like a lead balloon. Fan-fucking-tastic.

Hopefully, after this week and next, things will settle down or at least get to the point where I know what the hell going on. I flounder in uncertainty and thrive when I know what the fuck is going on. Even if I know what is going on in one of these projects, I’ll be happy. Having all of them unanswered is just too much.