Well, this whole process started with my former boss (FB) calling me greedy. In April, I requested mileage reimbursement for some out of town travel; FB told me to write it off on my taxes. Being broke and underemployed, I thought, "Don't get mad, get even", I was done trying to work for and with others. If I still have your attention, follow me below the beautiful, orange silkworm cocoon.
I am a middle-aged, educated, professional who was laid off in 2010. For the past 4.5 years I have gone on interview after interview, only to find that no one really wants to hire me. I get that, why should they, when they can get someone younger, cheaper, and easier to mold into company culture. The only jobs I could find were menial, minimum wage jobs where I had to deal with the general public all day long.
What I discovered from my layoff and subsequent employment snubs is that I am and have always been a great "cleaner". I am very attentive to detail, not to mention organized and efficient. I am OCD about cleaning, I have to get every last detail near perfect. Which led me to believe I could market this skill to all the new and old money here in my small neck of the woods.
The journey to being a small business owner was not exactly a cake walk. In August this year, my initial step was filing with the state as a limited liability company (LLC). Then it was on to registering with the IRS, the state of Texas for permission to collect taxes, the county to register the company as a doing business as (DBA), and the city to get permission to run the business out of mi casa.
I procured the necessary tools such as: a bank account, liability insurance, a CPA, a lawyer, a kick-ass graphic artist, business cards, tools, mops, buckets, vacuums, etc....I charged approximately $4,000.00 on my credit card to start the business.
I started marketing my business in September by purchasing half dozen boxes of donuts from my local donut shop. I cold-called target businesses by walking in, giving them fresh donuts, introducing myself, handing out business cards, answering questions (if any), then walking out. I got a few jobs on the spot, I got a few recommends of places who might need my services, and more than a few incredulous looks. Later marketing efforts included visiting my local NPR station and making a donation during pledge drive, which surprised me by netting two new clients.
Fast forward to today, I have about 12 regular, repeating clients, and two real estate companies which hire me to clean properties as they come on/off the market to sale or lease. I have made enough money to keep my head above water, but I think the real test will come in 2015, to see how I can grow this business.
MYFP is that I have worked since I was 11 years old, I have BS and MS in my previous profession, as well as necessary licensing requirements. When I got laid off in a very down market, I had a house that wasn't selling, a year of mortgage payments with no income, no health insurance, no support from friends or family and I developed a big old whopping drinking problem. I have always defined myself by my work and not having a job caused me to spiral down a very deep, dark hole.
Three years ago I quit drinking cold turkey, I sought help at a community outreach center where I was diagnosed with major depression. I began psychiatric counseling, finally finding the right cocktail of drugs that made me wake up one day in August, quit my job, cancel my disability claim, and begin taking control of my life.
One of the major hurdles was getting over the, "I am a licensed professional" attitude and embracing the fact that being a great cleaner is an art in itself.
What I hope people take from this diary is that I was down and out for 4.5 years with no hope and no help. I had to build myself up and I had to take the appropriate steps to get my life in order. I found help, I found drugs, I found answers to questions that dogged me all my life, and I gained control of my life, maybe for the first time ever. I took a 4.5 year journey of agony and despair to get control of myself. I want everyone to know that you if you can take a few first steps and advocate for yourself you can get the help and support you need. I was able to get better thanks to the grace and kindness of strangers, and that independent streak that has always dogged me.
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Now, it is time for ya'll to take the stage and tell us WYFP is.....