Yes friends, the rumors are true: Almost three weeks ago, I was laid off from my day job.
Honestly, it didn’t come as a big surprise, as I had very little billable work over the past three months, so I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. All in all, I know it’s going to be a good change for me, because as it was, I was already making preparations to leave the job anyway. So, the outcome was the same, it was just a little sooner than I had expected.
Fear not, though, because it’s going to take a lot more than that to set me back. In all honesty, leaving that job is a huge weight off my shoulders. No more spending the night at my desk on my birthday. No more trips to a certain local farmstead to deal with clients who have no idea what they really want, except that it’s not what they’re seeing. No more fussing with poorly-written software that doesn’t live up to its claims, etc. (Sorry, just had to vent for a moment there.)
As I walked out the front door that Friday evening, a box of personal effects under my arm, I felt surprisingly refreshed. I knew I should probably be feeling panicked about the future or worried what my wife would think, but I couldn't. All I felt was like I had been set free from a bad relationship, and the future was now wide open. I know that sounds cliché, but it's the truth.
I don’t want to badmouth the company, especially since I still have friends there (and I will probably need a good reference in the very near future). The year I spent there wasn’t bad, but it was an interesting experience. With a wide range of personalities, beliefs, backgrounds and talents, I left a different person than I was a short time ago. I learned new skills, discovered new talents and made some great friends. It’s because of them pushing me to think beyond my comfort level that I grew, and I thank them for it.
Overall, I’m optimistic. This is a change that needed to happen, and I’ll be better off because of it. I still have the part-time job, and now that I have all this free time, my lawn is looking nice, my laundry is all done, and my cats aren’t lonely all day.
Not surprisingly, there are not a lot of jobs in the creative field in Kansas City, and especially not in this economy. I've had one interview that (I think) went well, but I was the first person they interviewed for the position, so I have yet to hear back. What is a guy nearing his 30th birthday with a mortgage and a car payment to do?