The High Finance Life of a CEO

Every year we pass the date of our own death without knowing it. We're approaching exactly one year until Curio City's demise, although I don't know the exact date yet. I have to renew my SSL certificate by Sept. 16, and even though that's only $35, I don't see myself doing it again a year from now. Next year's SSL expiration date will probably be Curio City's, too.

A year is not long at all in some ways, and a very long time in other ways. Circumstances could convince me to keep it going beyond then (or to shut it down earlier). If this Christmas leaves me with a lot of stock still hanging around, and if it still brings in more money than it costs to sell it, then I might persuade myself to flog it through one more Christmas after this one. As long as I'm turning dead merchandise into money and generating a regular paycheck, it makes sense to keep going -- especially if I can restore payroll to its former level after I get out of debt. In my wildest fantasy, Curio City might even buy me a new phone or laptop before it goes toes-up.

Payroll's going to have to up its game, though. Between losing First Class shipping rates for five days and having to issue a large refund, Curio City turned in its worst week in 10 years. As of this morning this week's paycheck is $8.06 (before taxes!), and I had to put in more hours than normal to pack up four international shipments. That's not even a pack of smokes.