It's funny how life makes decisions for you sometimes.....
I've been at my regular job (a large equipment rental company that has an in house sign dept. doing municipal work, road/street signs, and lettering police and emergency vehicles) for almost 2 years, and really tried to expand what they were doing creatively and been having much success. I'm also doing my side work (mostly t-shirt designs and seps for local printers) and have been toying with the idea to go back into business for my self (again) with my old boss at the screen printing Co. doing signs, ect. So I come in a little late due to an emergency root canal and do a quickie repair job on a police car while the customer waits. Before I can even finish the paperwork, me and my assistant get called into the office and are told that our positions are being eliminated, effective immediately, but we can finish out the week if we want (yea right!) So now it's back to being in charge of my own destiny and expanding my business to a full time deal. Glad I didn't have to sit and think about making the transition!
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
All the best Kenny in your new journey. It is funny how life does that sometimes.
Although not always are we laughing as we get booted out the door that just closed. Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...The same thing happened to me years ago. At first I was a tad dissipointed, but I then had a major epiphany once I realized how much more money I could make on my own. ...and even sweeter since by being "layed off" I was eligable for 'employee compension".
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
It's a great thing, Kenny, that you have something to fall back on. There's an old saying that 'wherever one door closes, a window opens', or something like that.
It's disappointing when things like this happen, but many times things work out better in the long run. Best of everything to you.
Posted by Kenny Lund (Member # 5559) on :
Thanks for the support guys!! I've never been so driven to make something work EVER! Just gotta get through the winter. One thing that stinks is that due to the timing of all of this, I'm gonna have to miss a HUGE motorsports show that's happening in January-just don't have the finances to do it properly before their commitment deadline-the last thing I want to do is come out of the box unprepared. It's gonna be an interesting year!
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
This just may be a blessing in disguise, Kenny. Ask me how I know...or refer back to Dale's comment, the explaination's about the same. Usually the thing that looks like the worst thing when you start to go through it that can happen turn out to be the best thing that could'ave happened in the long run.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hey Kenny, Hindsight is 20/20, but I would have stuck it out for the week to try to inform any potential clients of your change in your work status (with the boss' permission). Get some cards made up and get to visiting the former clients and go for it!
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
my oldest t-shirt I own is the one I bought myself the last day I worked at the last company I worked for.
I had been hired to "run" a sign department of a new business with a typesetting department & a print department.
They had less sign experience then I, but coming off a $10/hr. job, I wasn't the best negotiator to be paid well for setting them up. Long story short, by the time I got things far more ready to bring on an entry level person to run it, I was due for the "guaranteed pay increase" that had been offered to get me to quit my previous job.
They didn't feel that they could afford to honor their promise, but I let them know I wasn't keen on having to afford being taken advantage of, so they fired me.
I had been living hand-to-mouth for 10 or 20 years at that point in my life, so I went out and treated myself to a nice big lunch at nearby rock-n-roll themed cafe & bought myself a Rick Griffin "flying eyeball" t-shirt.
I thought for a few minutes about canceling the trip I had already planned with a friend to go snowboarding on Mauna Kea on the Big Island. We were to leave 2 days later on Friday, after work, rent a truck, sleep on the beach & then drive up into the snow the next morning.
I knew I'd end up flat broke if I went, so after a few minutes I made my decision. It was a Wednesday & I decided to leave early & hitch hike around the island for 2 days until my friend got there, then continue with our plans, & even stay there longer if I wished.
Anyway, that firing led to my last 11 years of self employment, my most creatively & financially successful years of my life & I also have some great memories of snowboarding Mauna Kea.
So, if you can possibly treat yourself to your HUGE motorsports show that's happening in January... you deserve it, and you know will will be working your butt off soon, and for a long time... so go do this first!! (use someone elses money ...that's how successfull business men succeed anyway)
[ December 03, 2007, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Kenny Lund (Member # 5559) on :
Actually, I'll be going to London to do a gig with my band this weekend. From there on out, it's all business.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
cool! I've started getting out more with the guys I jam with. We played 2 gigs last month & another this weekend.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[I Don t Know]](graemlins/dunno.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
![[For Your Information]](graemlins/fyi.gif)
...that's how successfull business men succeed anyway)