I have been working for companies for the past 20 years, and it’s killing me. I like a lot of the people there, and sometimes the work is fun. But I feel like the office politics and drama are taking a toll on me.
At 51 years old, I’m no longer climbing the corporate ladder. Instead, I find myself more vulnerable. I’m considered part of the “old way of thinking,” which makes me a potential target for the next round of layoffs. And there have been plenty of layoffs over the last 18 months.
When the rumor mill shifts to layoffs or I feel like I could get pushed out, my natural instinct is to protect myself…to find a safe place to land at another company. I can easily talk myself into that. But when I get beyond that, I now find myself stopping. I just can’t bear the thought of finding potential jobs that could work, modifying and sending resumes, writing cover letters, talking with recruiters, and interviewing. The ups and downs, all the energy I’d be putting to something I don’t even want.
I find myself wanting to leave my company (layoffs or otherwise), and I am not particularly interested in exchanging one 9-5, drama-laden grind for another. My entire life, I have envisioned working for myself. And I think it’s high time I put on my big girl panties and figure out how to do that.
That’s where this blog comes in. Through this blog, I will write about my journey toward true financial freedom, which for me means putting me in control of my life, and how I earn and manage my money.