4 – Workload

Cody sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of him. He had been working for hours, pouring over spreadsheets and financial reports, trying to make sense of the numbers. Despite his best efforts, he was struggling to stay focused. His mind kept drifting, and he found himself getting more and more frustrated.

Just as he was about to throw in the towel, his business partner, Jordon, walked into the office. Jordon was the more laid-back of the two, always calm and collected, even in the most stressful situations.

"Hey, Cody," Jordon said, coming over to stand next to Cody's desk. "What's going on? You look like you're about to pull your hair out."

Cody sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I've been trying to make sense of these numbers for hours, but I can't seem to get a handle on them. It's driving me crazy."

Jordon chuckled. "I know the feeling. But trust me, it's not worth getting worked up over. Take a deep breath and try to relax."

Cody did as Jordon suggested and took a deep breath. As he let it out, he could feel some of the tension in his body dissipate.

"Thanks, Jordon," Cody said. "I needed that."

"No problem," Jordon replied. "Just remember, sometimes it's better to take a step back and clear your head. You can always come back to it later with a fresh perspective."

Cody nodded, grateful for the advice. He had been working nonstop for weeks, trying to make their business a success. But he knew that Jordon was right – he couldn't keep going at this pace forever.

"Speaking of taking a step back," Jordon continued, "I noticed that you've been burning the midnight oil lately. And I have to say, I'm a little concerned. You need to take care of yourself, Cody. You can't keep pushing yourself like this."

Cody sighed. "I know, Jordon. I just want to make sure that we succeed. I don't want to let you down."

"Cody, you're not going to let me down," Jordon reassured him. "I have complete faith in you. But I also know that you can't do it all on your own. That's why I have a hardworking assistant who helps me with a lot of the tasks that I don't have time for. Maybe you should think about hiring someone to help you out too."

Cody nodded, considering Jordon's suggestion. He had tried hiring assistants in the past, but they always seemed to fall short. They either couldn't keep up with the pace of the work or they didn't have the skills that Cody needed. It was frustrating, to say the least.

"I'll think about it," Cody said. "But I don't want to just hire anyone. I need someone who's capable and reliable."

"I understand," Jordon said. "But don't let your fear of hiring the wrong person stop you from getting the help you need. It's better to have someone who can assist you than to try to do it all on your own. And remember, if it doesn't work out, you can always let them go and find someone else."

Jordon sat across from Cody in their office, watching as his partner worked tirelessly on the latest project. He could see the strain on Cody's face, the fatigue in his eyes, and he knew that something needed to be done.

"Hey, Cody," Jordon said, trying to get his attention. "Why don't you take a break? Let's go blow off some steam."

Cody looked up at Jordon, his eyes filled with exhaustion. "I don't know, Jordon. I really need to get this project done on time."

Jordon nodded, understanding his partner's dedication to their work. "I get it, but you can't work yourself to the bone. You need to take care of yourself, too."

Cody sighed and rubbed his temples. "I know, but I just feel like I don't have the time for anything else."

Jordon leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I know just the thing to take your mind off work. There's a red-light club downtown that's always a good time. What do you say?"

Cody hesitated, torn between his desire to blow off some steam and his dedication to his work. "I appreciate the offer, Jordon, but I don't think I can go. The work is just too much right now."

Jordon nodded, understanding his partner's decision. "I get it, Cody. But remember, we didn't start this business to become slaves to our work. We did it to have the freedom to do what we want, when we want."

Cody smiled, remembering the days when they were in college, with time and no money. "I remember those days. Now we have the money, but no time."

Jordon grinned. "Exactly. So let's make sure we don't lose sight of why we started this business in the first place. And if you ever need to blow off some steam, just let me know. I'll be happy to help."

Cody nodded, grateful for Jordon's understanding and support. "Thanks, Jordon. I'll keep that in mind."