The grass isn't always greener

Having worked at one company all your life, you feel invincible and that you could survive anything. Then the day comes where you get the dreaded e-mail or phone call saying "really sorry but we have to let you go".

Secretly I had been wishing for this to happen to me for years, hoping for that payoff so I could go and do my own thing. Be my own boss and not have to answer to anyone. Not getting those promotions was the driver for wanting to leave. People progress because they are not necessarily better at the job than you, but just have that little be extra at the interview or desire and passion to succeed. 'Kudos to all that are successful though.'

However, having survived numerous cutbacks over the years, you start feeling immune to this ever happening to you. That comfort zone, so-called security and not wanting to rock the boat is the reason you didn't leave of your own accord. When the day comes it dawns on you, all things you're going to miss. The reasons you stayed at this company and became part of the furniture. You feel for all those that are leaving with you, and oddly you feel sorry for those who are staying too. As they now need to pick up the slack, and residue as you did many times. Most importantly and the thing you miss the most is the people.

HOW IT BEGAN - Covid happens and like many, we get furloughed, and then a few months later there are cutbacks. We survive yet again but there are murmurs of a second wave. Six months later the email comes through and you are on the list. Everyone has different emotions, the usual why me, why now, after all I have done for this company. For many it's devastating, keeping up with all the bills and payments, the unknown of the big world. Having to apply for jobs and interview again after so many years, brings on the sweats. I was okay with it all and believed the grass will be greener. I'll take a few months off, and then walk into another job or become a contractor, was the mindset.

You then start applying for jobs and rejection after rejection, when you do finally get an interview, it's hard to strike a fine balance by being either over-enthusiastic or waffling on about stuff that is not relevant. Hundreds of candidates to fill one or two positions. You start eating into your redundancy and now that payoff doesn't seem so good. Now you start regretting and wishing you hadn't secretly desired to leave.

I start researching and come across courses that encourage and motivate me to learn something new. The wonderful algorithms of google start to show you more and more of this stuff and spark even more of an intrigue. It was here where I had the desire to reinvent myself. Stop looking for work and start building my business.

THE NEW JOURNEY - I decided to learn something new and become my own boss. So many videos on youtube and websites promise how you can start your own businesses and become rich overnight. After hours of watching and researching, I finally found the one that appealed to me.

I paid the deposit and started my online learning. What was great about this course was they consistently remind you that nothing is possible without hard work. The process they had created works and has worked for hundreds of people, but many hundreds have also failed.

The beauty was they teach how to make money without being out of pocket. Charging the customer in advance or taking a healthy deposit so you can start paying for the software and apps and whatever else you may need to get results for the customer. So very different to the corporate world I had been in for the majority of my life.

When you make the first few sales and get pounds/dollars in your pocket. The feeling is amazing, there is a sense of achievement and you want to do so much for the customer. I learnt in my corporate career to try and add value to the task or objective you are doing. Give the customer or your boss a little more than what they wanted, and I knew if I could get this off the ground that's what will help me stand out from the crowd.

The business I went into is Online Marketing - this in itself will have a different meaning to so many. In a nutshell, my goal was to help those small businesses flourish in a world where the owner doesn't have time to run their business and market it also.

I followed all the training and I was consistent and I did everything that was asked. I was getting the odd sale here and there, nothing to brag about but constantly learning. I found very quickly that most of my clients were coming out of America and the UK were not so ready to part with their cash.

As I tried to remedy this and research what I could do - the dreaded rabbit holes that I had been warned about appeared. Thankfully the course directors were brilliant and they would bring you back on track, as long you connected with them.

A YEAR ON - Here I am a year on and several courses later writing on a blogging site my journey hoping to maybe help someone else to avoid the same pitfalls I made. Firstly I have managed to pay off my course fees, I have a handful of regular customers (USA and UK). I'm not making anywhere near what I used to, but enough to pay the bills.

The things I have learned in the last year by far exceed what I probably learned over the last 10 years in the corporate world. My previous company was good to me and they did teach me a lot and helped me support my family. I traveled and saw so much. Those experiences are I believe what has given me the ability to do what I do today.

The things that wasted my time, and I should do more of is not being afraid to ask for help. Hire help and support when needed as it's by far more efficient and saves you time and more importantly money. Naturally budget for this within your invoice to the client.

You will encounter rabbit holes on your journey, surround yourself with people or place triggers that will help avoid these.

One of my managers once told me "don't take anything in business personally. It is just a transaction, most will go well some not so." If you can leave your emotions at the door, you will be fine. It's served as a great reminder for my own business now.

I have come across many mentors and learned a lot of advice, and I will leave you with a few.

- Surround yourself with like-minded people.

- Stay consistent.

- Value time.

- Take action every day.

- Take out time for yourself.

- Wake up early and go to sleep early.

- Finally, be patient.

Maybe I will have an opportunity to elaborate on these one day through another blog and share more insights with you. But I hope that this helps someone take that next step into the world of business.

"Keep it real and if in doubt ask!"

I wish you all much success in everything you do.