1 How to be an unprofitable entrepreneur

Note: This chapter has been edited. I'm working on editing my old chapters to improve readability, but I'm not done yet, so some chapters will still use the old style. I've tried to make my writing more clear, but don't worry, I haven't significantly changed anything plot-wise.

"It was a dark and stormy night. Beneath a small house, there was a large lab. Beside the steel high security electronic doorway stood a series of shelves with miscellaneous parts on them. On the wall to the right, hung various power tools. Large pieces of equipment were scattered on the floor beneath. To the left, there was an electronics workbench with a soldering iron, an oscilloscope, numerous random parts and various other tools covering it. Finally, in the front stood a desk with keyboards, mice and various cords strung around. Above it, something mounted many screens of varying sizes and proportions on the wall. In front of this desk lounged a young man as he entered the last few lines of code in his newest genius creation. He gave off an aura of mysteriousness as he maniacally laughed." I dramatically explain the scene I'm taking part in.

"Mwahahaha! Mwahahahaha!! Mwahahahahaha!!!" I laugh... I'm having a project-end high. "I love talking in third person!"

'Okay, so granted the narration might be a little exaggerated. A "dark and stormy night" in California, is just a small drizzle of rain long after dark. The door isn't made of steel, and it only has a simple homemade electronic lock. The lab isn't very large, and it's simply a remodeled basement. I might have slightly inflated the quantities of tools available. "Many screens" refers to only three, two of which aren't mounted on the wall. The mysterious person is an ordinary, bespectacled young man, wearing a shirt with a pi symbol on it, blue jeans, and house slippers, in other words me. Finally, the project being completed isn't exactly deserving of the word genius. But, my feelings of satisfaction from completing a project, are just the same.'

I stand and stretch, then remove my headphones and pause Mozart's Serenade #13 in G major, which was playing on my phone. The elegant and refined melodies get me in the right mood. My name is Adam Amp, although this wasn't my birth name, I changed my last name when I turned 18. I'm an electrical engineering student at a University of California college. I'm in my fourth year at the university, but I'm still far from getting my Bachelors because I spent too much time taking non-relevant programming and math classes. Although unnecessary for my degree, programming, math and science classes are what I need in my pursuit to become a one-man team specializing in robotics. Anyway, I finally completed my latest project and am ready to test it!

"Oh Snap!!! It's 4:00 am and I have work tomorrow! I guess I'll have to wait on testing it until tomorrow…" I look at the time and curse my lack of a schedule, it would take too long for me to test, so I'll have to wait till tomorrow.

I hurry to pull off my lab coat, which was unnecessary for programming, and rush upstairs. After a moment of contemplation, I set the alarm for 20 minutes before I have to leave, use the toilet and unceremoniously collapse on my bed. This might be bad for my personal hygiene, but I'll brush my teeth and floss tomorrow, probably.

**Bringringringring**

Awoken by an alarm that sounds like a freight train, the only one I've found effective, I rush into the kitchen to gobble down some unhealthy prepackaged breakfast. After which, I grab my work attire and head toward my car, then pull out and rush toward work.

Technically, I have two jobs, but only one of them is profitable. On one hand, I'm the CEO of Dangerous Electronics llc. On the other hand, I'm a lowly employee of a certain coffee shop chain with an interstellar object in it's name. The latter job is the profitable one. Dangerous Electronics owner, president, CEO and only employee is me, Adam Amp. I'm an entrepreneur, and like most, I'm running an unprofitable business out of my basement.

'Ahhh fudge! I forgot to fill up my gas yesterday!'

I'm your typical broke college student and dreamer. But, my business is bound to revolutionize the technological industry. Someday, maybe, hopefully? If I stay optimistic and keep working toward my goals, I'll achieve them eventually, right?

'Ughhhh, hurry up people! You can wait a few minutes before going in and getting snacks! Don't leave your car at the pump!'

I bang my head on the steering wheel.

'Modern society doesn't put enough emphasis on teaching people manners and empathy! I'm going to be late for work, but do they care? No! Why do these things always happen at the worst timings! Stinking Murphy's Law, why do you have to plague me so!'

Humans frequently blame others or circumstances for their own self-inflicted problems. From an objective standpoint, I could be considered an excellent example of this.

The door to the gas station convenience store opens, and a family walks out. My eyes light up as they head toward the car, then a shadow passes over my face.

'No! You didn't forget anything! Don't turn around! Don't go back inside!!! Oh, wait, you were just making sure your child was staying close, my bad, sorry!'

I fill my gas and proceed to work. At least nine out of ten lights are red, okay maybe four out of five? Significantly more than half of the lights are red on my way to work, to make a conservative estimate. Once I arrive, I get critiqued by my manager and colleagues. I end up tuning them out since I already know what they will say.

'I know what I did wrong, so just don't pay me for the time I missed and don't waste our time! Why can't people understand something so simple?!'

My lecture ends and I start taking orders and making coffee.

'Maybe I should have gotten a tech job instead… "Working at a fast-food chain will be good for learning social skills and customer service?" Yeah right, this is just bad for my nerves! I don't need social skills! I want to be at home working on my version 1, even talking to Samantha would be more enjoyable!'

I continuously work and occasionally voice my complaints within my thoughts. I appreciate my job and try to work hard, the complaints are more to keep my thoughts occupied than anything else. I mentally play my favorite music and recite the digits of pi I have memorized until my shift ends.

'Finally! My shift is over and I can go home! I must return to my glorious project!'

I mentally celebrate as I return home and to my lab, I can finally finish the project I've been working on for months! But, nothing ever goes perfectly, an obstacle gets in my way.