The work trip has started, and it is likely my last for a while, as today I also signed the end of my employment. It is kind of funny in Finland, as I am still going to visit customers. I don't think this would happen in most other countries. However, now that I have signed, I told the Salesperson the situation and asked if they still wanted me along, to which they answered - of course! My employment didn't end because of performance, it ended because of budget.
However, no matter the reason, I will soon find myself with a lot more time on my hands, during which I have a few options in front of me. While I have been full-time employed at this company for the last six years, I never stopped operating my small business consultancy, but I also didn't actively grow it. The senseless Covid restriction killed about 80% of my billable work, and it never recovered, even though I tried to go remote. Without personal connection, business relationships fade, as other tasks get in the way, other meetings, unexpected fires - and eventually, the habit to meet gets lost. So, my plan is to try and get things rolling again.
This is a challenge for me for a couple reasons. Firstly, the economy isn't great and layoffs and restructuring are common at the moment, This means that there are lots of unemployed, and the budgets aren't aligned to bring on additional sub-contractors. And of course, another reason is that the social landscape is not currently conducive to helping "people like me" build a business. This creates additional challenges, but I am hoping that I am able to activate some of my network and pick up a few small delivery pieces. If I can get my foot in the door, I can expand from there.
With the extra time though, I am going to spend effort on getting myself in shape. This will be a three-pronged approach, working on my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Since the stroke, I have neglected myself a lot, which seems counterintuitive. However, what the stroke taught me was that I potentially only have a very short period of time to prepare for all the times I will not be present.
The result night have been the same either way, but I like to think that the effort put in has provided a little extra up until this point at least. The inside of the house renovation is mostly done and the place is livable. The outside has progressed. My wife and daughter are okay. It hasn't been for nothing.
Yet, it also hasn't been for enough, because the change is going to affect our finances heavily. If I had perhaps worked a bit harder and made a few different decisions, maybe I could have got us debt-free in instead. We do t live large, so debt-free living wouldn't require too much. One of the things that I am going to do once I have finished up totally, is to work out exactly how much is "not much" to live off. Something I should have done long ago, with my wife.
The "prediction" is that 2025 will be good for crypto, and if it is, I will have to do something that I have refrained for doing for seven years - cash some out. If things go very well it would mean that I could be debt-free plus have a bit extra to live off, and maybe some to invest into something else to give a more stable return, but I am not putting my faith in that.
I have heard the story before.
What I am certain about is that while I might allow myself a few weeks to recover, this is definitely not going to be a holiday. I have so many things to reorganize in our lives, but at least now, I don't have to do it all in the middle of the night. My plan is to write more during the days, teach my daughter to cook with me before my wife gets home, and then spend the evening with them - going to bed early. I have been averaging five hours a night for over six years now - time to add an hour or two of more rest.
In some way, I am looking forward to this change.
As hard as it will be.
What I am interested in hearing is if anyone else has gone through similar experiences (this is my first time after thirty years of work) and what things worked for you, and what you would change if you went back and did it again.
Thoughts?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
