Good cop, bad cop

Whenever two people get together to do anything there's a universal law that says one will be sweetness and light while the other will be just one small step above George Dubya.

So it is with the two authors of the work-from-home book I've been reading. It starts off benignly enough with a few pages from the lolly pops and raindrops author, who ruminates pleasantly on a few stats about advances in technology and the number of people who want to spend more time with their family instead of commuting, etc.

Then we move onto the "let's get ready to start thinking about getting ready to start" chapter, which begins with a few little exercises like make a list of all the skills you've acquired from past jobs / lives / time-travel experiences, and clearly here the bunnies and kittens writer is still at the keyboard.

Then wham! The evil twin-author must have sent the sunbeams and fairy-floss writer flying off his or her swivel chair and snatched up the keyboard because there's a definite change of tone on the next page:

Find out what friends and family really think about your plans. The people who know you best can often surprise you with their insight into your potential.

[Ok, sounds positive-ish enough. Let's keep going.]

Often their opinions are unexpected; they could perhaps be fundamentally negative about what they perceive as a risk-laden venture, which could cost you, and possibly them, dear if it all goes wrong.

[Ok again, not so positive but he or she is encouraging us to think about the risks involved with starting a home-based business, I get that.]

They could come up with strong reasons why a particular idea is not, in fact, so bright.

[Starting to get a little na-sty. I'll tell you who's not so bright.]

They may also reveal an inherent lack of faith in your ability to be successful at all.

[Screw you buddy!]

Bah. I'm setting up my lemonade stand no matter what they say.