Escher, Relativity
So, the first real dilemma has reared its ugly head, about this whole new idea for having my own company. I have one new client who has offered me a job for a good few months to come. Then I have another, “potential” client, whom I will speak with very shortly. So? What’s the problem, you might say. Well, I will list a short pros and cons, and you will see what I mean…
I will call them A and B. A wants me to come work for them, for sure, for the next few months. Pros: A secure income, always good for a newly started company, right! It would give me a solid start, a happy client that I might return to some time again in the future, etc. It will also please company X (The company I am still an employee of). Cause the whole billing would go through company X, so they get a big share of my income from A. This would also ensure that X (a BIG company), will keep supplying me with other jobs, since they are well connected. Cons, then? Well, I would rather go with B, personally, because I know them from a long time back. Also, if I go with A, a lot of the money I earn falls away into X’s pockets. We never like that, do we?
Pros if I go with B are already mentioned, then. The cons would be: I risk pissing off A, so that they are less likely to hire me for new jobs, in the future. (Then I would have to look much harder myself, to find new work again).
Now, we are not talking pocket change, that would fall into X’s pockets, (if I go with A, through X), we are talking substantial amounts… so that is something well worth considering. That extra money with B would also be good for me, cause I do need to start putting some money aside for a rainy day, if I some day find myself in between jobs…
So, it is basically a choice between picking the safe road, with much, much less profit, vs. picking the risky road, (carved out along a mountainside, ha!) but where the profit is much, much higher. (At least for the next few months, the time after that would be a big question mark, with lots of unforeseen factors I’m sure, as always, with the future).
I haven’t asked B yet, but I am pretty sure they are in need of staff, they have been constantly, for the past 7 years or so…
So, now I have no f*cking clue what to do…. I knew it would be hard going my own road, but I didn’t think it would become this hard, this fast. (I haven’t even registered the company yet, for crying out loud, ha ha!) I think I had a dreamy picture behind rose-colored glasses, and now reality comes back in and says: Hello, you didn’t think you could escape old, tiresome me, did you?!
I’m leaning more towards B, as you may have noticed. Mostly because of the money, but also because I know some people there, it is more familiar. I would like familiar, right now, when everything else is confusing… Also, I think I could deal with them to get some other good working conditions, except the money… Also, choosing B would be more risky yes, but hey, isn’t that why I started down this road in the first place, starting my own company and so on? It was to make more money sure, but it must also have been to try my own wings a bit more, I guess…. so yes, B would be more in line with my thinking lately….
I guess I’m just scared that if it doesn’t work out after B, if I can’t manage to get new clients, or if X gets pissed off and decides to not give me new clients, etc. If, if, if, IF is hacking my brain into pieces, I tell ya!
I’m lost.
And I have 24-48 hours to decide….
Also, as a side note, this makes me feel rather lonely, simply because I don’t really have anyone in the everyday life to discuss these matters with. Well, I am meeting an old friend tomorrow. (I’ll call her Y, since I started with this nonsense with letters). I will ask Y of course, what she thinks. I really do need someone to bounce these thoughts around with….
Safe, boring road, “macaroni and cheese”, or risky road with “oysters and champagne” at least once in a while? What would you do?
Love/Survived, lost in the labyrinth of choices
(Sorry I haven’t had time to catch up with blogs, will try and do so in the coming weekend, at least. Hugs to all of you).
I’d go with B. If A gets pissed off, wouldn’t that be a prerequisite for any and all future dealings with B or C or D, etc.?
They should understand that you want to “branch out” as it were and build a clientele that is conducive to the maximization of benefit to you.
They’re a big company. You are not…yet.
I have no idea what you do but…
Maybe even tell A that you’d like to just give B a shot to see how it goes….and if you do, it shouldn’t reflect how much you value your position with them or your future dealings with them.
I have no idea. LOL
That is a very good reply indeed! I agree that X should be understanding and well basically understand that this is just… business. It is about money and good working conditions (and ultimately about my health and quality of living of course). I think they (together with A) would understand that on some level. On another level, they are still human beings and they will be disappointed in me. I have already noticed this in different (very subtle) ways, that they are sure to be somewhat disappointed with me for “letting them down”. (Even if it is just about business/work life, and even if I haven’t made any “promises” at this stage, lol!). People are not really rational when it comes to these things, I guess. Well, my relationship with X might recover to the extent that I am hoping to be able to get new clients from them in the future. Still, it is a bit scary to let go of the “safety net”, but I have to think about what is best for myself, for once, and I believe starting to build my own “name” in my line of work, should also benefit me in the long run. Hopefully I can build relationships with a few big clients and I can “rotate” between them in the future, ie if one of them does not have any jobs for me, then maybe C and D do have work etc.
I am going to reach out to B today and see what they say. It is possible that they can not give me an answer within 24 hours anyway, and then I might have to skip them for now, cause I couldn’t afford to wait and lose A completely too. Lol. Thanks for your input it is more valuable than you know. Hugs ⚘
Flip a coincidence?
I’m getting to a point in my life where I hate making decisions.
I just went with my gut sort of. I havent gotten confirmation yet but I will update on the blog when I do. I hate making decisions too! I worry too much about all that could go wrong. Lol. Hugs
Well Survived;
It is GOOD to worry about these things; anything can happen. I started my own bookkeeping service in my early 30s and although not exactly the same I had a dilemma too. At the beginning I had no option A only option B but without a limited time frame, so that was not my worry. Mine was whether to pursue doing income tax work in addition to my obligations to option B as a way of expansion or take on additional companies bookkeeping responsibilities. Additional companies would give me continuing and basically stable income and there would be rough times while I pursued tax clients but eventually just tax work would have been far more profitable and given me lots of free time during the year.
I became certified as a tax preparer and did some tax work but because of the seasonal nature of tax work; I would have to limit my time with existing companies and possible loose them in the process. A/R, A/P, Payroll, etc are ongoing and time consuming responsibilities and can’t just be left on hold. While tax clients take a lot of time to pursue and tax work has very definite time limits and at parts of the year leave no time for all the other responsibilities.
I chose the less profitable and more all consuming path; kept taking on small business clients as I could find them or had time for them and never really expanded into income tax preparation.
That did work for me for years but I never got anywhere monetarily except for subsisting and finally got strung out from the stress of so many clients with everyday, weekly, or monthly responsibilities…not to mention I drove between 400-600 miles per week to visit everyone, I got so old and tired I basically ended my own business and took some of my skills to part-time work with one client. I still just barely subsist.
You have your options very well thought out and they seem realistic and accurate…it appears you’re going to be the risk taker, which I applaud.
I’ll be watching this with interest over the next few months and years (assuming I have years) So keep posting. ~~dru~~
ps I have the same Escher print framed and hanging in my X home office.
I am very grateful and glad that you contribute with your experience!! It is very inspiring and useful to read about someone else’s experiences.😊⚘
It sounds like you already know what you want to do. I say listen to your gut. 🙂