What a world, what a world

For some time now, I have been courting a local HVAC company to take me on staff to some capacity. Two years ago, I never set out to be 100% self-employed- I was looking to simply branch out and create that multiple-revenue stream that everyone was talking about, plus I had a pretty good idea about wireless sensors and energy efficiency.
Anyway- I was supposed to be helping this company develop their commercial division and eventually come on staff as a department manager/ account manager-whatever.
So, I've been pitching them several ideas- making recommendations, etc. and I've even bailed them out of a couple sticky problems. I thought things were going pretty smoothly.
I got an email tonight that they've decided to try to do it without me. I don't know what the problem is- I think it is because they are so far leveraged at this point that they can't afford me, but I also wonder if the GM they hired is a little intimidated?
Oh well. I still have a few more options that I'll explore- It's just that in the past, I've always managed to see "the path." Usually things open up for me; I get an introduction, someone asks for my help...It's like you just get a feeling that you know something is "right" when it comes along. I don't know how to explain it.
The problem is- lately I just haven't been getting that feeling.
For the first time in a long time- the path isn't clear. I don't see the right way to go- it's not cut and dry, and I don't know the next step to take:
1. I have a couple really great contracts/ work in the pipeline for Enercient. Last month I didn't know how I was going to survive June, and we've almost made it. July is already booked and sold- and by the time August comes along, we'll be getting paid on the AR that we booked in June and July. It's very hard to give up on all of this.
2. Companies that I know and respect are sucking wind, still making cuts and layoffs and I'm actually feeding them work. I have a really hard time thinking about taking a job with someone who is asking me for work, and is telling their guys to go home early every day.
Every time I talk to one of my friends in the business who have "jobs" It's always the same thing. "I don't know man, so-and-so just got laid off, and I hear they're making more cutbacks..." or "Yeah, man- I don't know how we're going to be able to keep making those union payments." I know what's killing these guys- they're carrying too much overhead, and now they've priced themselves out of the market. There's no reason I should be as busy as I am, and yet I keep hearing the same two things from a bunch of my friends; "we're slow" and "nobody wants to spend the money"
3. I feel better physically than I have in years. With the exception of my recent fractured finger, I'm healthier, more limber, and more physically able to work than I have been in a long time. I spent 10 hours Friday night crouched in the squatted position in a steam tunnel under a school, and I wasn't terribly sore Saturday morning when I got up. No IcyHot, no Ben Gay, no tears- I felt reasonably fine. I'm not exactly fit and trim- but I'm not complaining about my knees, back, ankles, etc. Overall I feel pretty good. (I am about 20lbs lighter than I was this time last year)
So it all comes down to the money, and the "right path." As I said- I never wanted to be a "self-funded" HVAC contractor. I don't like worrying about the money. I don't like seeing my personal credit take a nose-dive, while I wait for revenue to start rolling in. I don't like having to decide between the light bill, the cable bill, and the cell bill.
So, there's got to be a "third way." There's got to be a way I can still have some measure of autonomy, and still be able to continue booking work. There's got to be a way to better manage cashflow and not have to worry about how the bills are getting paid. There's got to be a way to work this where I get a steady paycheck, a 401K, health benefits and a happy wife.
There's got to be a way where I can take my accounts into an existing shop and draw a salary to manage those accounts, or simply shut down my operation totally, and just go to work for someone else, telling my customers to take a hike.
I'm open to suggestions that don't start with "get a job" and "where's the money?" I've already heard those. If you know someone with a little extra cash laying around and they're interested in becoming a silent partner- Or if you have any ideas about creative financing, or if you know a decent Maryland-based HVAC company looking to take on a service manager with some existing accounts I'm all ears.