Redefining “broke”: security by zip ties and bungee cords

When most people talk about financial security, they’re picturing plump savings accounts, healthy 401(k)s, and maybe even the kind of credit card that earns actual airline miles instead of gas station mints. But for entrepreneurs, especially those of us who have traded in steady paychecks for dreams, security often comes in less conventional forms. Forget Wall Street portfolios—sometimes stability is as simple as a bungee cord.

Think about it. A bungee cord will keep things from toppling, rolling, or flying off the back of your cart in the Walmart parking lot. You stretch it, hook it, and—boom—instant security. Doesn’t matter if your bank account is hanging by a thread, because your cargo isn’t going anywhere. That’s the kind of peace of mind you just can’t buy with a balance sheet.

And then there are zip ties. Ah, the unsung heroes of modern civilization. Need to hold something together? Zip tie it. Need to hang something up? Zip tie it. Need to convince yourself you’ve got life under control while your Venmo balance screams otherwise? Zip tie it. They don’t bend, they don’t quit, and unlike your latest client prospect, they won’t ghost you.

If financial security is a mansion with an alarm system, entrepreneurial security is a rickety cart held together with six zip ties and a prayer.

Of course, not all “tools of security” make the cut. Tape? Tape? Forget it. Tape betrays you. It clings to your fingers like an ex that can’t let go, tears down the middle when you need one clean strip, and turns into a tangled mess just when you think you’ve got it under control. Saran Wrap? Please. I’d rather be broke than wrestle with a roll of that clingy nonsense. Miss the serrated edge by one millimeter, and suddenly you’re trapped in a sticky web that makes you question every decision you’ve ever made.

Here’s the thing: when you leave the comfort of a steady paycheck and dive into entrepreneurship, “security” has to be redefined. It’s not always about dollars in the bank. Sometimes it’s about holding it together with whatever’s at hand—whether that’s zip ties, bungee cords, or sheer stubbornness. You might not always feel rich, but as long as things aren’t flying off your cart—or your life—you’re doing just fine.

Because at the end of the day, real security isn’t about being unshakable. It’s about knowing you can improvise, lash it down, and keep rolling—bungee cords and all.

Wendy Kushel is the owner of Wendala’s LowCountry Sugar Scrub, LLC based in Bluffton, SC. Drawn to the Beauty & Personal Care Industry Wendy founded her company in 2020. Her background includes stand-up comedy, film, TV and a lot of sales and marketing. For more information about Wendala’s® LowCountry Sugar Scrub visit www.lowcountrysugarscrub.com or call/text 843-949-8933.