My Redundancy Experiences
My 1st Redundancy Experience
My first white collar job on relocating to the United Kingdom, was with the Council.
I climbed the career ladder from Executive Officer, to Customer Services Officer, to Income Officer and to Senior Income Officer.
Then came the major reorganisation. To be quite frank, there were reorganisations in between those jobs. I actually leveraged them to higher positions.
In 2011, there came my redundancy. I was no longer enjoying the job, and had a great desire to accomplish my dreams.
My thoughts were on getting the redundancy package, investing them on my business, profiteering, and ‘living happily ever after.’
What I failed to realise, was that business wasn’t a straight line graph. Theory didn’t easily translate to practical. Success doesn’t happen immediately. Business takes time and effort to succeed.
Before redundancy, I was nurturing a business idea quietly. I did this in my spare time. I consulted necessary others and got some encouraging words.
I attended the business show at the Olympia and Excel in London.
My thought process was to pay my way through to success. After all, I got a redundancy package.
I tried engaging professional friends to support me in actualising the dream.
Most of them couldn’t understand how the app worked.
As time went by, there were bills to be paid, there was a young family to feed, etc.
Money started running out, faster than the ‘speed of sound.’
I started seeking employment, through newspapers and the internet.
These efforts proved abortive.
I then received an unsolicited call from one of my colleagues at the Council, telling me of a temporary opportunity close to my home.
Without much contemplation, I brushed it aside.
I learnt during the course of my career, that because my job is very sensitive, it wasn’t wise to work close to my home.
After a couple of days, I got another call, but this time, from one of my former managers at the Council, reiterating the opportunity.
In order not to be labelled negatively, I accepted to apply for the temporary job.
It was meant to be a 3 month maternity cover.
This temporary opportunity however extended to about eight and a half years permanent employment.
It was very much a blessing in disguise. Not only was the timing right, but the work environment and team were perfect.
At this stage, my focus wasn’t on climbing the career ladder. The job was mainly to pay my bills.
If I had to focus on the career ladder, I’ll be paid a ‘little more’ in exchange for a lot more of my ‘resources.’ And at the end of the day, it won’t fuel my ambition or desires.
My main focus was on my business pursuits.
I spent my free time on my business, either learning, perfecting my product idea, or exploring collaborations.
All I had was the desire, the idea for a great product, and the will to succeed.
I didn’t have a mentor, or anyone to guide me.
I didn’t have the i.t. skills, which could have been invaluable.
I didn’t have the right team to compliment my efforts and vision; and didn’t have much money, to drive the process.
My 2nd Redundancy Experience
As I clocked 55, the need to fulfil my ‘life purpose’ was uppermost on my mind.
My thought process was that I’d collect a lump sum of my pension, which would be a buffer as I pursued my mission and entrepreneurial pursuits.
I also thought of working part time.
I discussed these with my Manager.
She advised that there shall be a reorganisation shortly. It would be an opportunity for me to leave the company with some money in hand.
I was patient, and followed due process.
The advertised jobs didn’t resonate with me, anyway, so it was a no brainer.
Before I left, I created user guides; explaining all my work processes and best practices in very user-friendly content.
I coached interested remaining officers, who wished to benefit therefrom.
We planned my send forth, arranged to visit a Nigerian restaurant; all invitees will bear their individual costs; etc.
Then suddenly, covid visited. I left the workplace a very sick man; with loads of covid symptoms.
I refused to attend hospital, as most of those who did, didn’t come out alive.
I self medicated with advise from family.
At some point, I pondered, if this is how people die. I could very easily have passed on. I was living alone, and survived only by Divine grace.
My initial plan was to conclude work in March 2020 and begin my business in April 2020.
Man proposes? God disposes?
I spent most of my redundancy money in caring for myself.
I employed the service of a website designer, who was apparently cheap on the surface. He didn’t meet my requirements, and instead, tried to upsell to me.
I got frustrated, and had to count my losses.
I later learnt how to create a website, and have since built basic websites myself.
Money didn’t come as quickly as anticipated, credit card bills had to be paid, there was virtually no income. And I had 3 kids.
I took the decision to withdraw my pension from my last job.
I paid about £20k in credit card debt; made a large payment to my ex, for the children; and kept a little for my survival.
The only ‘gifts’ for myself, were high spec iPhone, ipad and MacBook pro.
These were tools which I needed for my Digital Entrepreneurship business.
When my health improved, I continued working on my business; working day and night, but ensuring I had adequate sleep.
In addition to content creation, I worked on a pet project, Jaaloo Puzzles.
As money ran out, I had to apply for universal credit. I was also affected by the bedroom tax.
These were indeed hard times. I resolved never to take interest based loans again.
The alternative was to take interest-free loans from family and friends.
I was also gifted regular unsolicited money from family.
There were different Divine observations along the way. There were extensions of my universal credit access, due to administrative errors, or legislative changes.
With pressure being mounted on me to do undesirable jobs, by the welfare system, I was signposted to my old job, while negotiating collaboration, in doing content, as my little give back to my community.
That was a timely Divine intervention. After about 5 years, I got back to doing my old job. Almost on a platter of gold. As with my initial spell with this job, ‘I didn’t find the job, it actually found me.’
It was a good thing, that I didn’t burn bridges when or after I left the employment. The goodwill which I left with, apparently paid off.
Just to put some of the history in perspective:
- I had to peacefully co-exist with poverty and hunger.
- Between 2020 to date, I’ve self published about 50-60 books.
- I have a few blogs
- I published Jaaloo Puzzles - paperbacks and app
- JOL Puzzles is almost ready.
- Even though I have health issues, I’ve maintained my job; from being a temporary to a permanent worker.
- I devised coping mechanisms; minimising the need for ironing, thus saving on my electric bill; getting rid of my television, thus avoiding related bills; minimising my outgoings, thus focusing on my business, optimising time and resources, and minimising costs; avoiding time wasters, in persons and on Social media; etc.
- I avoided unnecessary spending; managing what I had.
- I don’t have interest based debts
- I have my head above water.
- Even though I’m not yet where I hope to be, I’m immensely grateful for where I am.
- Though my entrepreneurial pursuits haven’t yielded much fruit, there are signs of better things to come.
- My spirituality and family support helped me on my journey.
- I’m immensely grateful to my Creator and Sustainer as well as helpers and journey partners.
As for paid employment, this is still the case.
And for my side hustle, it is very much the case. I work on it in my free time. I consider it not only as a bread winner, but as being a great impactful legacy project.
This is a Legacy Project Of Olayinka Carew aka Jack Lookman.
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