i cannot return to the corporate HIVE... and other thoughts

[nostamj]

:hi:

it's been about a year since I was shoved out of my little corporate niche. a strange year to be sure. the darkest ever, and yet, critically, my most successful with the response to The Question W Revue. oh, we LOST money but, critically, it was a success. it was, no question, my best hit/flop!

<sigh>

digression is the order of the day.

<sigh>

when I first proposed going into business on my own, a wise DUer said: it's the hardest job you'll ever LOVE.

ain't that the truth. been putting in 11+ hours a day since (finally) launching my business. and i do think it's better to wake up wanting to WORK then wanting to....

did I say it's been a dark time?

I'm not making a living yet but I am making connections and believe it's going to work. I've had a great pleasure to work with benburch and www.whiterosesociety.org on new content. (White Rose Pamphlets) And, I've been working on a new political humor site (www.bluedogbark.com) that's formally launching on April 1st.

I've done a huge overall to my online store and more than doubled the content on my business site. And my 'to-do' list extends into the next weeks.

that's all good. work is good.

a HUGE thanks to all the DUers who have offered their support and feedback and their suggestions and cautions.

i cannot return to the corporate HIVE. i cannot.

if we can help each other with cross-links and other support, please contact me.

i cannot return to the corporate HIVE. i cannot.

[mike_c]

1. good for you-- don't do it....

Keep your soul.

[nostamj]

2. well, they don't want me anyway...

too old.

[Tansy_Gold]

7. They don't want me, either

And for the same reason.

I'm going back to writing fiction.

[nostamj]

11. "I'm going back to writing fiction"

me too. but, commercial gay porn. it's good for $500 a month if you're, uh, disciplined, about it. it's been a few years, but I sold pretty much 100% of what I submitted before....

;-)

[Tansy_Gold]

16. Too funny!

What I write has been called commercial straight women's porn! (aka romance novels)

Now if I could just find a market for this bizarre little science fiction story. . . . .

[nostamj]

18. one of my BEST

was a bit of homocyberotica.... there is a market!

[Tansy_Gold]

23. Mine's not erotic at all

It was actually written as a mid-term for a grad class on "Humanity, Technology, and the Environment." The prof gave us a list of questions that we were supposed to address in a review of any of the texts we had read, and she asked us to try to make it interesting . So I wrote a short story. She loved it.

I just have no idea where to send it. Hmmm, maybe I should do some market research this evening??

[GraysonDave]

12. When I lost my job....

...I was out of work for about 3 months while I tested the waters in other fields. I came to the conclusion that I was most valuable putting my previous experience to work. I made an offer to the owner of a small consulting firm I knew from my old job. I would come to work for him, and he only had to pay me for the hours I billed. It has totally changed my motivational outlook. Now, the better I perform, the more I work, and the more money I make. In the corporate world, I didn't feel like my accomplishments meant anything. Now, I specifically help my clients, or they don't keep using me. It's a great change, and I'm making more than I ever did in my corporate life. And enjoying it a great deal.

That's just my story, but if you have some skills from your old job that would translate into being a consultant you could give it a shot.

[nostamj]

19. other than such mundane things as 'document automation'

there's not much.

[Enquiringkitty]

3. It's nice that you have your life back and feel good about what you do

and who you are.....the only way to live.

I am still looking for my opportunity at self employment but I will find it. Your happiness inspires me to keep trying.

[Redstone]

4. Want some advice?

Listen to me, because I started the same kind of business sixteen years ago, and it's still thriving, so I know what I'm talking about and I'm telling you this for your own good.

You must separate the commercial and political aspects of your business. Trying to sell design to commercial customers on a website that's also full of political stuff is the kiss of death for your commercial business.

It happens that I agree with your politics (or I wouldn't be here), but that doesn't matter. I know you're trying to find a niche market, but (believe me on this) it won't work. There aren't enough people who will say "Hey, I want that guy to design my company logo because his politics are like mine!" What they want to see is how good you are at designing commercial logos.

If someone wants you to do work for their business, they would be derelict in their duty to choose you based on your politics rather than on the quality of your work. I would fire any employee of mine who spent the company's money on the basis of the vendor's politics rather than value to my company. Most other business owners would as well.

You want to stay in business and not have to go back to a (I shudder to say the word as well) job? Then you're going to have to put the idealism aside and concentrate on business.

I know this is not what you want to hear, but it's the truth. You must make separate websites for your political stuff and your commercial work. If you don't, it's not likely that you'll survive.

Just trying to help.

Redstone

[Redstone]

6. Oh, and by the way,

I started my business with $725.00 in the bank and a Sears credit card with a $1500.00 credit limit. That's it.

You can do it too. Don't give up. But just please be sensible, and you'll increase your chances.

Redstone

[nostamj]

8. yes. i do know a 'split' will be necessary

i need to do it for the cafepress store too.

i'm still in a short-term strategy.

big THANKS for taking the time to comment. it is appreciated.

[Redstone]

10. Since you apreciate the comments, here's one more

and then I have to go.

Splitting the two "products" is (or should be) your short-term strategy.

The reason for doing it NOW, rather than later, is that you've only been in business for a year, and you need to start bringing in the bucks RIGHT NOW! If you don't, you won't need a LONG-term strategy.

(I understand this because I went in too many directions at once with my business at first, and am I ever happy that I listened to my wife when she told me I needed to settle down and focus.)

Redstone

[nostamj]

14. i haven't been 'in business' for a year yet.

unemployed for a year, yes. launched this less than a month ago.

what bucks I'm getting are from the 'short-term' strategy right now.

but, yes, i HEAR you.

[quiet.american]

5. Hold your ground--

I totally understand. Sept. 11th, for various reasons, forced me into the same situation myself. But with the grace of God, I made it by my wits and some good luck -- then when things were really dire, was able to find a great job with a non-profit, predominantly liberal organization -- so enjoy your freedom and Godspeed!!

[DancingBear]

9. There's room in the boat for ya, my friend

As I sit in my shop building furniture, I realize the sheer joy that I get from doing something tangible. I've made something personal, something that will last, and something that carries a part of me with it. Forever.

I think of the 20 hour days as a Computer Systems Architect/Project Manager and I shudder.

May I never see them again.

(I probably won't - I'm too old, too) :)

[nostamj]

15. oh, thanks.....

I look at the few pieces of handmade furniture I have from my late, great uncle. two small tables and a clock. invaluable. like the needlepoint, knitting and crochet from my grandmothers.

[Tansy_Gold]

26. Ah, the joy of the hand-made!

I come from a long line of handcrafters, so my house is full of wonderful creations from great-grandmothers, grandmothers and grandfathers, parents.

My mother-in-law grew up in a family where hand-made meant poverty and social stigma, so my husband never acquired an appreciation for anything that wasn't store-bought until we got married. Now he's as artsy-fartsy as I am! He's made lamps and tables and dressers and jewelry boxes and cedar chests; I stick with quilts and afghans and jewelry that don't require engaging with dangerous power tools!

As we've done craft shows over the past couple of years, what we've discovered is that people are reluctant to shell out cash for a higher-priced hand-made item not just because it's more expensive. -- they know it's also much better made and made with better quality materials and it will last so much longer than the cheap crap from Wal-Mart that in the long run, hand-made is a bargain. The real reason is that they are afraid they'll get bored with it. Cheap stuff can be tossed away when it wears out, which it will do quickly, and replaced with something NEW and EXCITING -- there's not much excitement in the same old solid oak dining room table after 40 years.

In that sense, I think shopping for the sake of shopping has become a form of entertainment in our corporatist consumer culture. Happy are they who have better things -- and better things to do than "let's just go out and buy a new one!"

[katinmn]

13. I understand completely

I escaped for the second time this past December and I am never going back.

I have a website ready to go up as soon as I settle on a host and will be delighted to add your link. I'm not sure any of your visitors will have call for a health and science writer but you never know. :-)

Of course it will work out. If you love what you're doing and you are surviving, it's a success.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. I feel the same way, nostamj

Whenever I feel like returning to academia, all I have to do is talk to people who are still working as professors, and they tell me about budget cuts, snarky students, and bean-counting, bureaucracy-mad administrators, not to mention widespread depression among their colleagues, and I'm glad I lost my job 12 years ago.

(Now if only I could figure out how to make a consistent and livable amount of money appear in my bank account on the last business day of every month, just as it used to, I'd be very happy indeed!)

[Redstone]

20. One last thing before I hit the rack...

You need anything else, have any questions, shoot me a PM.

People helped me, gave me advice, when I was getting my business going. Gotta pay that back by helping others.

Redstone

[nostamj]

21. VERY kind of you

sleep well! you just may awake to questions....

;-)

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

22. I'm stuck in the corporate hive

SOmetimes, I wish I had the courage to quit, because I don't particurly like my job or going to work each day. But it's hard to throw away a reliable income when you have bills and responsibilities. Sometimes, I wish they'd fire me so I that I will have no choice but to make my own way.

[nostamj]

24. yeah. i wouldn't have walked away from the $$$

that's the truth.

but, i'm working much harder but liking it much much more.

[Redstone]

25. I wish I hadn't re-looked at this thread before going to bed,

because your username has me laughing so hard I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while!

Thanks for the chuckles. I hope some day you can break free and go to work for yourself. There are reals risks in doing that, but real rewards as well.

Now I'm really going upstairs, dammit!

Redstone

[Cleita]

27. Don't do it, if you don't have to.

If you can get by, without having to sell your soul, and you will never really be asked to, forget any big gains you could have if you did. It's not worth it.

I know I have given up some things that I wanted so much, but the price (not money) was too high. I have no regrets.

[nostamj]

28. i was NEVER going to get any 'big gains'

from that firm. and i may not get rich on this but... at least its mine....

[IrateCitizen]

29. Return to the HIVE, nostamj... Return to the HIVE...

Don't you know how much better things are here? You show up for work and just do what you're told, and for God's sake don't think about whether your work has MEANING. That's for the higher-ups to decide. Don't trouble yourself with such difficult things....

Serious, though -- I salute you on your rejection of corporate culture. I'm in the process of doing the same, just taking a different track. I'm working toward a history degree and teaching certificate, so I can give up the drudgery of engineering and take on the challenge of teaching. I'm also going to continue on to an eventual PhD, which will open up the possibility for university work.

Sure, I'll be sacrificing about 35-50% of my engineering salary when I switch over, but it will be SO worth it!

[shanti]

30. i'm still buzzing away here...

for another 5 years and then i'm OUT. it wouldn't be financially feasible to do it now, as there's a pension waiting at the end of my 20 years, and i'm still raising a kid on my own (3 more years of that!!). but after that, i will be working on my own, sort of semi-retired, if you will.

i cannot wait...

the best of luck to you in your endeavor. it's sad how we are basically kicked out of the workforce after we hit 50. it happened to my father too.