I Got Retrenched Today. Yipeeeee! …?
August 26, 2011 
17 Comments
Wow! That’s odd.
You may be saying. Let me give you a little background. If you’ve ever taken a look at my About Page, you would have read that I tried to start a Church for seven years hanging on every coat-tail of every Pastor that allowed me to help out. One day I decided I’m tired of tired of doing that, and since someone told me once that they see money flowing through my hands and the Big Man upstairs said I would be a millionaire by my birthday 2012.
Think of that last statement what you want and say to yourself:
He was just hearing his own desires.
I have been criticized before for being a paperchaser by people close to me, but my mindset is simply that I’d love to work from home and build a business that is successful enough that my wife and myself could work from home , look after our baby (no, we’re trying) and be free from our nagging bosses and have the freedom to be creative, build stuff and make a success without making someone else rich!
Ever heard me say this?
You gotta hustle to make your dreams happen!
Yep, that’s my creed. So, on Tuesday it was our Birthday and I was VERY proud in sharing that with my team of contributors.
On Wednesday two things happened: 1) I got reports that my blog have been blocked by Google as an attack site (which caused traffic to PLUMMET two thirds over the last two or three days). 2) Before lunch I heard a rumor at work that people were gonna be retrenched, then hearing after lunch that I was on the list. Bummer? Not really.
See , I have started my online ‘business’ about a year ago, first doing some freelancing and trying to get a rhythm with this blog. My first guest post was actually for Sharon (yes, the one contributing to this blog) and I don’t know what the post was all about, but that’s how I got started online. And although I’m far from the millies, I was on my way to making an average income (in dollars) from my online ventures.
Now the problem with my business right now, is that I had a full time job and could not devote all my time to my business (which I desperately wanted to). I had to get done in a day what had to be done (or get into trouble – naturally). So I couldn’t focus on my business and give it sufficient attention to really build it up. So, silently I’ve been wishing to make enough money online so that I could eventually quit my job.
So, on Thursday we all received a letter of intent to retrench employees and you already know my before lunch and after lunch story. Then I went on a whim and took my PC home (my business is on there). Come Friday…
Again… on a whim, I started cleaning my office, packing up my things into boxes and made sure my admin is in order. Late after lunch we had our ‘first consultation’. First, I hated the fact that there were ‘departments’ on the proposal letter handed to everyone with a proposed LIFO. The funny thing is, I was performing pretty much an essential function – and the only one at that. But the BIG DOG decided what I was doing they will all do themselves (they’re going to call me in a couple days to come back – or help them out). I made sure I did a great job, in little time. My previous Pastor called me a ‘master of organization’ and it’s a gift I carry through everywhere.
So, in the conversation I got agitated because of this list that pretty much said ‘you’re gonna go, … eventually’. The consultant from LaborNet chewing gum with his hands in his pocket and picking his nose (seriously) while he’s explaining to us this ‘complicated’ letter (We know what’s happening here, the bosses want to keep their high salaries and bonuses and the ‘minions’ that you passed over for increases last year for a trip to Korea and which you don’t appreciate will lose their jobs soon). Then he suggested that we have another consultation next week to hear of any suggestions and answer any questions we may have, and a third consultation if need be. Even though I know these are just ploys to drag out a process that will eventually end in all options exhausted and we (the retrenchees) will be painted into a ‘corner’ and have to accept defeat.
Now, I am an internet marketer and a website developer recently venturing into local business online having signed two big clients (while working full-time). And I could have presented this to them in that ‘second’ meeting as a proposal for them to venture into online advertising (advertising is our business). I know if we offer Facebook ads (for instance) to our motor clients they could do good business and we could make good profits that could perhaps swing the business around. But the big boss who nonchalantly put my name on that list of ‘suggested retrenchants’ (I know I’m spelling everything wrong and making up words – creative license?), had no interest to get to know me in the last five years I have been designing an admin process that’s effective and get’s results. Or, shown any interest in what my skills are.
I listened to what sounded like crap for 45 minutes, went to my office and silently screamed at Google for not releasing my site yet after fixing the coding problems we had yesterday (seems like their ‘clever’ bots crawlers only mission out once a day). Then as my supervisor came into my office, I told her I’d rather take the severance package today instead of finishing my amdin cycle for the month, which they didn’t appreciate anyway, and start working on Monday on my business and work for myself.
Now, naturally one wonders what one will do for money. But, the severance would cover my expenses for two months and the provident fund (which I was clever enough to keep paying in full, when two years ago they decided to cut the contributions halfway – again trying to save money) will keep me going for another seven more. So, I have NO pressure whatsoever to perform, use black hat online tactics and can easily grow my business to be profitable for me and my wife to work from home and raise our kids in comfort.
So, my saying ‘yipeeee!!’ in the title is because I am finally free from my 9-5 and know it’;s not going to be easy. But I will now be able to give my business (and this blog) my full attention.
Onward to success!
Image courtesy of ideate.co.za
Subscribe to my blog feed here Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my Self Publishing Youtube Channel here.
Sign up for my free ‘Self Publishing Revealed’ Ebook
You gotta hustle if you’re to make your dream happen!
Sometimes the best things happen to us and we dont recognize them at first – you have a great attitude and i wish you the best. you have great motivation in this article – thanks
Got to hustle to make your dreams happen
That’s the truth, thanks for sharing!
Pete Goumas recently posted..Tony Little Review
Hey Pete. Yeah, that’s my creed!
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Gary Vaynerchuck Pays Attention To Our Niche! Approach by Amazon.
I totally agree with you. It’s pretty hard to balance time just to earn secured money from pay day jobs to cover daily expenses especially you are a family man. But as a person tied himself/herself for a company, he/she wouldn’t have the chance to focus on his/her plans. I guess what happened to you is still an advantage on your part. Anyway, if you have that luck to start up your online career, you’ll surely be successful.
Michael recently posted..Sanyo EM-U1000B Compact Black Microwave Oven Review
Yes, Micheal. I’ve been preparing for this day for a year. So, not only did I expect it, but made provisions for it.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Gary Vaynerchuck Pays Attention To Our Niche! Approach by Amazon.
Haha Ivin, it’s great to hear about that, do you consider yourself as a full time home based pro blogger now?
Oh and wish your blog the best to be free again from Google’s block.
I have a feeling that your brand is going to skyrocket in these few months, and become one of those massive blogs, keep up with your awesome work!
Harrison Li recently posted..The Golden Jigsaw Piece That Unlocks Your Blog’s Future
Hello Harrison. Home based pro blogger… mmm. Like the sound of that.
Thanks for the well wishes. That Google block (of two days) cost me a TON of traffic and not even mentioning, momentum.
I hope my brand does. Here’s to the future. I have a LOT of things up my sleeve. Watch this space!
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Amazing Birthday Celebration Blowout.
I’m sure you’ll turn this blog into a roaring success! Actually, knowing you, it’ll probably become much more than a blog, it’ll become … Big Business!
Here’s to your success!
Claude Nougat recently posted..Customer Reviews: the Best of Marketing Tools or the Worst?
Yep, have big plans. Unfortunately I cannot implement them until it has gotten onto a certain growth path.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Turning Your Book Into Social Media Gold
Twitter: reneepawlish
August 27, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Yippee!! I am in the trenches with you. Glad to see you see the glass as half full and that you have prepped for the future. Success to this blog and you!
Yes we definitely have to collaborate.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Turning Your Book Into Social Media Gold
Well done on making the move to the ranks of the self employed, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Michael recently posted..Fifty Things Customers Wish You Knew
Thank Michael, I am really happy actually, and very excited to start working on Monday.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Turning Your Book Into Social Media Gold
It seems like you’ve been through a lot Ivin. This article really inspires a lot of us. To your business and blog’s success Ivin! I know you can do it!
Extreme John recently posted..Business Blitz: Things You Should Ask Your Best Customers
As is your ‘business blogging’ also very inspiring. I was wondering how may customers do you get for your blog in a month. And how important are those events you’re having to your business? And how does it integrate with your blog readership?
Thanks for your kind words and always taking time out to visit this blog.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Turning Your Book Into Social Media Gold
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 26, 2011 at 4:41 PM
It’s a great opportunity, Ivin. Looking forward to seeing what you can do now that you can spend all your time on your online business.
Mentally I am prepared and not anxious at all, but physiologically, I have a knot in my stomach. I’ll have to get to talking to you if I need some advice.
I have a plan and still haven’t executed a LOT of the plan I had on that vision board I posted on your blog, but as you said, I’m happy to have all the time to properly focus.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..Turning Your Book Into Social Media Gold