Sometimes it pays to be nice to the needy, to those less fortunate than oneself; to those with learning difficulties and no social skills, for example. It’s a way of making you feel good about yourself.

But that only explains part of why I’ve agreed to manage my brother Van’s business.

Actually ‘business’ isn’t really the right word to describe the Tool Guys, because the word ‘business’ implies some degree of organisation. ‘Mobile disaster’ could be used to describe them. ‘Accident waiting to happen’ would be another phrase that pops into mind.

No, that’s unfair of me. When they started, sure, I would have bet money that they wouldn’t last two weeks without killing themselves and/or innocent civilians. At the very least, I would have figured that within a month they would have ended up in court after someone’s retaining wall failed to retain anything, including itself in an upright position.

But no, somehow Dumb and Dumber have actually managed to create something that, while not exactly what you’d call ‘working’, certainly hasn’t gone down in flames like everyone (not just me) predicted when the Tool Guys was born.

So that deserves some respect and respect is what I’ve given them by agreeing to take them by the hand and teach them the finer points of business – like how to run one. Yes, I’ll take a percentage of whatever they manage to earn, but that’s only fair. And no, I won’t rip them off. I solemnly promise. Besides there isn’t really enough coming in to make it worth ripping them off.

Call it something I’m doing from the goodness of my heart, if you want. Or, if you don’t buy that, call it practice – for the other little businesses I’m thinking of getting into. Like there’s this small-time cleaning company I’ve got my eye on. Nothing glamorous, I know, but they’ve got some good contracts and, hey, every office needs someone to clean it, right? Supply and demand are my Gods now.

Being on my own now, being forced to make my own way in the world (thanks, Dad) has made me see things differently. I’m getting way better at strategic planning.

Things are all good.