Yeah, it has been four and a half months since I last posted to let you know that I lost my job. When it happened, I decided to stop! Stop everything and evaluate where I am in life and what I wanted to do next. I needed to get away for a while and that is what I did. I spent time in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and kicked around Asia for a while. Now, I am back and I want to share where I was and what I am doing now.
I decided to focus on getting another 6 figure job and not skip a beat. Things where going well. I was interviewing and had landed a few job offers with global organizations. I had what some may consider dream jobs offers, VP of this or Director of that. I turned them all down. By mid September, I knew I did not want to do go back into a multi-billion dollar organization. I did not want the politics and I certainly did not want the hours. OK, strike that off the list.
In mid September, I traveled to the Sierras to reflect on what I really wanted. I decided that I wanted to join an early stage or start up company. I wanted to be part of top management in a cool company with a great culture and do some good in the world. I went to find that company and actually found a lot of them. I talked with many of them about how I could grow their companies. I focused on four of them and they all wanted me to come work with them. I felt really invigorated, but something was not right. I took off for Asia and thought about my future some more. Sure, I have found the companies and culture that I wanted, but I wanted to work with all of them.
I got back in the States in late October and talked with the four companies about joining each of them through a retainer arrangement. They all agreed and I started my own business to work with them all. I wanted to outline my rules for working with them, so I created rules for myself.
- I would not devote more than 25% of my time to any one of them.
- I would not work more than 35 hours per week.
- I would have flexibility to spend time with my family even during the day
- I would have flexibility and spend time pursing starting other ventures, angel investing or volunteering.
I am about 6 weeks into my new business and achieving all the goals I have set out for myself. I have four customers, working about 30 to 35 hours per week. I am spending more time with my family and I am working on a few business ideas, joined an angel investing group and volunteer as a coach in various sports. I have accomplished all this and have replicated my six figure income.
Life is good heading into this holiday season. I am all set for 2012. I don’t know where life will take me, but at least I know I will enjoy the ride.