Ready, Set, Grind!

You clench your fists as you examine the numbers. One more ambitious scheme has backfired. Another wild attempt to get rich has gone bust.

You bite your lip, blinking fast, trying not to cry, not to react. You’ll get that money back somehow, some way. You’ll raise more. You always do. You look up from your phone, forcing a grin, convincing your buddies all is well. The next round’s on you.

You sign up for more shifts. Overtime. Flipping things on Craigslist. Crumpled twenties, sweaty palms. Grind. Growth. Greatness. Glory.

You double down on uppers and cut down on sleep. You’ll rest when you die, and death is a lie. To hell with it. Try harder. More crypto tips. More ideas. You write them down in the bespoke Moleskin you carry around. Swag.

On the way to the gym, you spot some grime-covered kids, playing with castoff toys, wasting time. No ambition. Make some lemonade, open a stand, franchise, LLC, IPO, boom – victory! You shake your head. Slackers.

That night, a rare glimmer of REM sleep. Old toys of your own. Parents fighting. You escape. You always escape. You survive and thrive and prevail and you goddamn triumph.

Another weekend, another attempt. Trends, charts, tips, rumors. You clench your fists as you prepare to examine numbers. You take a deep breath…

Grigory Lukin. Rhymes with "story" and "win." Award-winning filmmaker, author, ally, vagabond, and adventurer based in Montreal.