Are my (always flailing) computers trying to tell me something?

I am the proud owner of two really crappy laptops: an old Dell and a Lenovo that was a lemon from the day it arrived last fall. I can't even estimate the number of hours I've spent over the past six months trying to get one of these stinking computers to work for me consistently. Thus, I find myself jumping back and forth between these metal rectangles of hell, transferring files to and fro in vain, constantly wondering which data resides on which computer and how to prevent the next meltdown (computer or human). This method of working will drive even the most calm and meditative Earth Mother into a hopelessly frazzled blob of misery. I won't bore with the details but let’s just say my productivity has been severely under the weather. Let's just say that I've had a few extra cocktails to get me through this. It's all part of the bane of having your own business: there's no IT shop, only patient spouses and liquor cabinets.

Tomorrow, I'm shipping the Lenovo back (again) to Lenovo, or India, or whoever the hell takes these things now and "repairs" them. [I'm picturing a technician casually surfing around on my laptop, changing a few settings while watching YouTube videos on his phone and then 5 minutes later chucking my “all fixed” laptop to a pile where it shall languish for at least a week before someone decides to ship it back]

I could write an entire post or two on the abhorrent nature of customer service from large software and electronics companies. But ick, who'd read that?

At a deeper level, I wonder if the sickly laptops are trying to send me an important, life-changing sign. Stop what you're doing, cuz it ain't working any longer, sister! It's true, business in the last month has been rough. And every time I get into a bad place with my work, I scratch my head and wonder whether it's worth all the trouble. I take a quick look at the dwindling bank account and decide: yes, indeed, it is.

Let's get something straight: I don't have a fall-back plan, and my family depends on the income. Secondly, I'm not particularly ready, mentally, to join the corporate world of cubicles, commutes, and meeting overload. But when you have your own business, particularly in the services space, it's a lot of ups and downs. How you ride those waves will determine how long you’ll be working for yourself. I've been doing this for five years now and have surfed my share of troughs. Yet, I'm not ready to give up. I do, however, often ponder what it would be like to do something completely different, something that might even require (heaven help me) some additional education.

I like to think that when bad things happen, something good is around the corner. Have these last six months of suffering over electronics and a shaky pipeline of work been merely a means to an end, a glorious rebound to the days of dependable, healthy revenue streams? Hmm… nice thought.

Regardless, as Michael J says, I’m looking at the (wo)man in the mirror and hoping she’ll change her (whining) ways. Or at least research a new career track that’s less dependent on a screen, keyboard and mouse. My computers have been trying to tell me something. Can someone please translate? Have you followed a sign lately, and did it lead you anywhere you wanted to stay? Do tell, while I consider my next move (to bed).