Sometimes a routine event in corporate life takes on a whole different meaning when it occurs in the context of a small startup. Take, for example, being sick. At Microsoft I’d never hesitate to use the health benefits and get a checkup at the slightest sign of a sniffle or cough. Better to be safe than sorry right? Besides, with the generous benefits provided by Microsoft, I never had to pay a dime. Getting sick when doing my own thing has proven to be a totally different beast, as you’ll soon see…
It started ten days ago with sinus pressure, fever, and a headache – classic signs of a sinus infection. Having had them in the past, I decided I would let it run its course – a viral infection might last just a few short days. Of course, the real reason was that the insurance plan I had chosen when we started the business (when I was feeling on top of the world and invincible) had a high deductible and didn’t cover office visits, so I’d have to pay for everything out-of-pocket. That brings us to the first lesson learned:
Two-Bit health lesson #1: Choose health insurance very carefully, making sure not to overlook things like office visits and prescriptions.
So did I improve after a few days? No; on the contrary, I picked up an annoying cough to go with my other fine symptoms. At this point I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and utterly frustrated that I wasn’t able to be productive with the business. However, I was still concerned about the costs of a full-blown office visit, so after some digging I found a number of great local resources, like free nurse hotlines and local clinics.  Ultimately I found a local Minute Clinic where the nurses confirmed my sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics to treat it. I was really pleased with my experience at the clinic – it’s a great concept that I hope becomes more widely accessible. This leads to my second lesson learned:
Two-Bit health lesson #2: Learn about your local health resources, such as community health clinics, free 24-hour nurse hotlines, and low-cost quick clinics. Make use of them.
Now that I had the antibiotics, all was well, right? Not quite; otherwise I’d have posted this sooner. 
 Once I started taking the antibiotics some of my symptoms disappeared, but unfortunately not all of them. Of particular annoyance was the hacking cough, which over the next few days got stronger and more frequent, finally keeping me awake all night and turning me into a tired, hacking zombie during the day. After six days on the antibiotics I decided it was time to see a real doctor, so I went to the local urgent care clinic. After an afternoon full of poking, prodding, and x-raying, I got the news that congratulations, my sinus infection had developed into pneumonia. Yes, the same pneumonia that took out our dear President William Henry Harrison. This time I was prescribed even stronger antibiotics, which I’m glad to report seem to be doing the trick. Due to lesson #1 above, I’ll have to pay for the costs out of pocket, but that’s preferred over letting the illness linger on. Which brings me to the third and final lesson learned from this painful saga:
Two-Bit health lesson #3: Health trumps wealth. Don’t cut corners when it could cost you (and your business) a lot more in the long run.
And that’s the story of how the past ~2 weeks have passed, where my only productivity has been the form of phlegm.  Sometimes it takes a sharp reset to bring new perspective and renewed focus towards an ongoing project, and I think this definitely did the trick. As you can see I also learned a number of lessons which, had I applied them in this case, would have saved me both time and money. Hopefully some of these lessons will help keep you and your small business healthy and productive.Â
-JL
Powered by Qumana
Nice detailed descriptions Johnny boy. I learned the importance of having adequate health insurance when I was in Northwestern. The school health ins was ridicuosly expensive so I opted to buy my own from some online vendor. It was legit and I payed a ~$50 monthly premium. I never used the insurance until I broke my freaking leg. An X ray, MRI, and numerous doctor visits later, I was paying ~$3000 in doctor costs. All on a income of -$21980342103498 (student life). Luckily the insurance paid for about half, but it was a stressful few weeks. Add on top of that the fact that I had no transportation and had to get taxis to get me to the doctor’s, school, work, etc… it added up.
Health trumps all!!
Wow, I didn’t know you broke your leg at Northwestern. I’d definitely agree that the stress over the all the different medical options and costs is one of the most annoying aspects about being sick. Glad to hear that you didn’t have to cover all of the costs yourself.
Some other things that you don’t want to overlook, depending on your family situation, are things like long-term disability or long-term care. I have several co-workers who have recently had to deal with some unexpected situations. Of course, like I said, it depends on your situation… Hope you’re feeling better John!!!
Pingback: How to Start a Two-Bit Operation: Tips on Starting a Small Business » Rested, refreshed, reboot
Pingback: How to Start a Two-Bit Operation: Tips on Starting a Small Business » Thoughts on travel
The subsequent time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I do know it was my choice to read, however I actually thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you may fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
Remarkable post! I originally discovered your blog site a week or so in the past, and I want to subscribe for your RSS feed.
Hi there every person. I was just browsing the online market place for exciting and came on your website. Fantastic publish. Thank you a lot for sharing your encounter! It is actually very good to grasp that many people nonetheless place in an effort into taking care of their websites. I’ll you should definitely check out back again
Hey There. I found your web page seeking with yahoo. It is an extremely very well created posting. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to study significantly more of the helpful information. Thank you for sharing it. I will absolutely be back again once again.
Whats Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & aid other customers like its aided me. Great job.
Good ¡V I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task..
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i¡¦m glad to express that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I so much certainly will make sure to don¡¦t overlook this website and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
Some genuinely quality articles on this internet site , saved to fav.
I have been examinating out many of your articles and it’s pretty nice stuff. I will surely bookmark your website.
A lot of thanks for your entire hard work on this web page. Kate really likes doing research and it’s simple to grasp why. My partner and i notice all relating to the lively method you create rewarding tricks via the blog and as well foster participation from other people on that content so my child is really discovering so much. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You are conducting a terrific job.
fantastic points altogether, you just received a new reader. What may you recommend in regards to your submit that you simply made a few days in the past? Any sure?
you’re truly a excellent webmaster. The web site loading velocity is incredible. It sort of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you’ve performed a magnificent activity in this matter!
I simply couldn’t depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person supply for your guests? Is going to be again steadily to investigate cross-check new posts.
I haven¡¦t checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I¡¦ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend
Are you capturing the mobile market? Top 5 Ways to Go Mobile. | GlobalSpex, Inc. just fantastic!
You could definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your web site in internet explorer, would check this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace chief and a big element of folks will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue with your web site in internet explorer, may check this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a huge component of other folks will miss your excellent writing due to this problem.
I’ll immediately snatch your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style. “Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you.” by Harold Bloom.
whoah this weblog is great i like reading your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You understand, a lot of persons are hunting round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
Hello.This article was extremely motivating, especially since I was investigating for thoughts on this issue last Friday.
Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “We have two ears and only one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less.” by Laertius Diogenes.
Some genuinely wonderful info , Gladiolus I found this. “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” by Maya Angelou.
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such fantastic information being shared freely out there.
It is actually a nice and helpful piece of info. I¡¦m glad that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
I do accept as true with all the concepts you have introduced on your post. They are really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are very quick for beginners. May you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
I really enjoy studying on this internet site , it has good blog posts. “You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body.” by Juvenal.
You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I to find this topic to be actually something which I think I would by no means understand. It seems too complicated and extremely wide for me. I am looking forward in your next publish, I will try to get the cling of it!
I do enjoy the manner in which you have framed this specific issue and it does indeed provide me some fodder for thought. However, through everything that I have observed, I just simply hope when the feedback pack on that people today remain on point and don’t embark upon a soap box associated with the news of the day. All the same, thank you for this superb point and whilst I do not necessarily go along with this in totality, I respect your point of view.
Good – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, website theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..
magnificent issues altogether, you just received a logo new reader. What might you suggest in regards to your publish that you simply made a few days ago? Any certain?
It’s in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Someone necessarily lend a hand to make severely posts I might state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this actual put up amazing. Fantastic activity!
certainly like your web site but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the truth however I’ll certainly come again again.
Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, website theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..
you’re in reality a just right webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Also, The contents are masterpiece. you have performed a magnificent activity in this matter!
An fascinating dialogue is price comment. I feel that you need to write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
This domain is fabulous. I have read every post almost so far. I cant believe how contextual your posts actually are. I would like to talk with you. Please contact me when you can. Much love
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous web site.
I’m impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you could have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the problem is one thing that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I am very comfortable that I stumbled throughout this in my search for something regarding this.
Thank you for another excellent post. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.
I think this is one of the so much vital information for me. And i am happy reading your article. However should remark on some basic issues, The site taste is ideal, the articles is truly great : D. Good process, cheers
Been examining your blog for a although now so i believed I’d finally drop a comment. Lately I have become addicted to blogs I think. I will start reading a small and before I know it half the day is gone. I appreciate exploring all you have on your website, just amazed how infinite the topics can be out there.