33 and starting over.

Chris Light

Chris Light

Veteran
i just lost my job after working directly for the Owner/Operator of a company who is also my friend. it's not a media company, as i am an ametuer videomaker, but a locksmith and general commercial maintenance company in San Diego. it was a well paying job, which allowed my wife to stay home to home-school our 4 year old daughter. everything in the last year, financially, was built around the money i was making. the job also made it impossible to have a personal life, as i was on call 24/7 along with the 40-50 hours/week i was working. but it paid well. but business has been on a slow decline for some time, so last week i was offered a huge paycut, along with a dramatic reduction in over-time work (OT was a huge addition to my weekly salary). and though i could have accepted the paycut and got a night job, i didn't, because being on call is part of this job...no room for a night job.

problem is...i didn't own the tools.
i no longer have a truck to bring home.
i cancelled my personal cell phone plan because it was provided (iPhone too haha)

...and now i must start over. that job was financially rewarding, but it consumed my life for the past 2 years. never really saw this coming...felt like a kick in the teeth.

and though buisiness had slowed, i didn't know how bad it really was, from a company standpoint.

...the wife and i are now scraping bottom with rent due on the 1st. we had milk duds for dinner haha

i don't expect to accomplish anything by writing this, and most of you don't even know me or anything, but i thought i'd share, just in case someone out there can relate. this is scary.

now a song...:violin:

thanks for reading...and if praying is your thing, send one my way!
 
Best of luck to you and your family. I am sorry to hear that you're now unfortunately down on your luck. Remember that this a time to be positive and look for opportunities in everything - things perhaps you hadn't ever thought of before.

Again, I wish you the best and I'm rootin' for you!

Kegan
 
Wow, Skinny, you have no idea how similar our stories are. I worked in specialized construction.

Man, I wish you the best of luck! What has kept me afloat is looking outside the box. Sure I am a state certed electrician and Specialized Fire Alarm/Supression Technician, but now I work a day job as a Quality Control tech/repair tech.

It's all about looking at your quals and experience, then seeing where else they can be applied. Look beyond specific quals and more towards the general ones.

A prayer is going your way.
 
Hunter...thanks for the quick reply....i am surprisingly positive...my post was because i'm too chickin-sh*t to let my wife know how unsure i am...haha

Doc...wow...yeah, so you know haha commercial storefront lock/door/glass was my thing, along with the big roll-up steel doors at Home Depot....nice fat accounts that basically wanted us to work for free...haha thanks so much for replying...i've been reading for posts for a long time. nice to finally have dialog with you...i appreciate it man.
 
That's a sh#tload of stress for you. I am wishing you (praying isn't my thing :) ) all the best of luck in getting back on your feet. One of the benefits of your situation is it's going to feel great when you're back on top.
Again all the best, Skinny!
 
i am beginning to think that i LET this job consume me...not realizing or planning for change. i went into it with 100% confidence when i should have gone in 90%...i could use that 10% cushion right now....thanks Uga and Sonic...praying isn't my thing either...i tend to "hope", while my wife prays. it's an interesting dynamic.
 
I think many of us have been in the eating bologna everday stage. You will see a way out, don't worry 'bout what you don't have, concentrate on what you can do. Good luck and I sent a prayer your way.
 
I hope and pray that you find work soon and that your family is able to maintain the quality of life you've established.
 
Keep your head up my friend. Hopefully your unemployment benefits can tide you over until you find work.

View this as an opportunity to add to your skillset and become more marketable to future employers.

Good luck to you and remain positive.
 
Postitive vibes to you, my friend. It happens to the best of us.

You are if memory serves me, a fellow drummer right?

San Diego seems like a tough spot for some right now. I've had a few friends move back to NY/CT because the job market was a bust. (they were teachers)

You said starting over....any ideas?
 
Make sure you get the word out to any of your local connections ASAP... call close friends and not so close friends... TODAY... let them know you're looking for a job. Since you're currently "in a bind", don't be too picky...

You may be surprised how far you can get with a positive attitude and letting people know that you're eager to work. (then back that up with enthusiasm once you get ON the job).

When video work gets slow in STL... which has been virtually this entire year... I can find supplemental income through my assortment of non-video connections.

The DVXuser community is great for emotional support, but it's unlikely (not impossible, but UNLIKELY) that you'll get any real $$$-JOB help here. That's why you need to notify all your LOCAL connections. If you're not above physical labor like flooring, rehab, etc... you may be able to get that rent $ taken care of sooner then you think.

I'd get working on making those calls immediately.

Good luck.
 
Skinny, I'm so sorry to hear that, man. Truly.

While monster, craigslist, etc are good resources, I'd go in and apply to just about everywhere. Hiring or not. Get your face out there, and keep checking back with them.

As a former pastor, praying is my thing. I will. Good luck, and keep us posted!
 
Skinny... you're a young man yet and I know exactly what you're feeling (I think). Something you said caught my ear and because of that, I know you'll be fine. It was something that took me well into my thirties to realize.

We should work to live...not live to work.

I was also a warehouse worker, touring musician, bicycle mechanic, cook, music store retail, manufacturers rep, Studio owner, Technology Specialist, Technology manager... and god knows what else. You have to enjoy what you do and when I became bored I knew it was time to move on. Life is all about change and you've reached a change...embrace it!

6 years ago, I was executive management for a large company and the Technology Manager responsible for 24 people and generating 20 million plus a year. I was in meetings from 8:30am - 4:30pm pretty much everyday... I had to stay in the office most nights until about 8:30pm to then get stuff done and ready for the next days meetings... I had to travel on average 80,000 miles per year... I busted ass, made numbers, won awards, was well liked by co-workers and management...life was good... I thought.

The money was good and I have two children to worry about (we only want the best for the kids).... but something was missing.... I didn't have a life. All I did was work. One day, after another change in the upper management, I decided I had had enough and resigned. Using the contacts and network of people I've worked with in the past, I started my own business. There was a lot on line, but if you have a positive attitude and push through you will be successful in whatever you deside to do. I strongly believe that.

In my first year, I doubled my pay (six figures +) and my office is 10 steps from my bedroom! It's just grown from there.

All I'm saying is that I was scared stiff about leaving a good job...worried about my kid's future...worried about me. It turned out to be the best move I've ever made!

So, embrace the change and look at it in a positive light. You'll do what you have to to survive and make sure your family is taken care of. Get in contact with everyone you know and let them know you're looking for something different....you'd be surprized at what you might come up with. Push through & you'll be fine. Find the thing that you enjoy doing and go for it. This could just be the best thing you've ever done! :beer:
 
Sorry to hear that. REALLY sorry to hear that. Too common lately.

I will just say that I'm almost 40 and can empathize in a BIG way. The details aren't worth sharing, since we are all living through it in our own ways, but I can sympathize and empathize.

My silver lining is that any derailing in life is looking like an opportunity to go in a new and exciting direction. It's easy to not realize this with the stress of bills and kids, etc., but keep your focus and like others have said, tell and talk to everybody about where you are and where you might want to go.

Personal satisfaction is much better than personal wealth. I've had and lost both, to some degree ,and I'd still rather have the satisfaction when all is totaled at the days end:) Of course, having both is possible, but I think it all starts with loving what you do. IMHO.

Best of luck.

J.
 
man...i can't tell you all how much you've all built up my confidence....i think i'll get the car started...ZAZA...i guess i forgot that thing i said hahaha work to live...

Matt, that was some solid advice...that's just what i needed...thanks man.
 
Losing your job in this day and age is a nightmare and I feel for you. Try to stay up for your little one. I'm feeling it really bad right now as well. I had to completely change my lifestyle when I lost a 40K per year contract gig. I still have a job but I had to turn in both of my Benzes in early off of lease and go back to pushing my 95 SS impala, Cut the cable, stopped eating out, stopped shopping, now I live like I should have been living all along, Like a normal person instead of beyond my means.

And I feel so much better.

I wish you the best my friend.
 
Richard J. Johnson said:
Losing your job in this day and age is a nightmare and I feel for you. Try to stay up for your little one. I'm feeling it really bad right now as well. I had to completely change my lifestyle when I lost a 40K per year contract gig. I still have a job but I had to turn in both of my Benzes in early off of lease and go back to pushing my 95 SS impala, Cut the cable, stopped eating out, stopped shopping, now I live like I should have been living all along, Like a normal person instead of beyond my means.

And I feel so much better.

I wish you the best my friend.
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Richard, thank you...man, 2 Benzes?....sh*t, i don't have it that bad. i don't own Benz 1. haha...i know what you mean though....trust me, i've been weeding out "toys" vs. needs this week. my camera is all i have now, and i will do anything to NOT give it up. if i can't be creative, i'm just useless...

i applied for several jobs today, some state and gov't jobs, as well as Lowe's and Costco types....i'm not above it. stomachs to fill, and my 4 year old Eden is such a damn trooper....she's so happy(for whatever reason) i could cry. thanks again Richard, and all.
 
Make the calls... it takes non-stop (but NOT annoying) persistence... to remind your friends... so they ask THEIR friends... to open opportunities. I'm walking out the door in 1 minute to do drywall of all things... and amazingly (unfortunately? fortunately?) I'm netting my normal weekly video income! (of course working harder, for less $ per hour... instead of 3 days a week it's 5... but I've lost 10lbs that I wanted to lose... and I'm getting buff).

:)

Things could always be worse... but I'm telling you... you GOTTA' let people know you're looking! My current signature is for you BTW. A reminder to be persistent.
 
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