Chapter 1: How it started
This picture was taken on March 16, 2017, little did I know that this picture would give me a glimpse into my future.
The morning of the 17th I would receive an email from my boss asking for an update on my Mexico trip. As I boarded the plane back to Houston, I fired off a reply to him and coordinated a presentation for after lunch.
I landed and went straight to the office. I set up in the conference room and was excited to share the opportunities I found.
Checkmate.
When the HR manager walked into the conference room I knew it was game over. Over my 25 year career I have laid off over 100 people, I had become numb, indifferent, it was just business.
My first time being laid off occurred in July of 2014, I can still recall the event as if it were yesterday. This layoff was especially painful because I had the desire to work for one company for my whole career.
Back to the picture.
This picture is of the queens bathing pool at the Palenque Mayan compound.
I was mesmerized by devotion of the king to route a river to provide water for his wife. I was given a glimpse of what lengths motivated people would go through to have a beautiful one of a kind bathroom.
March will mark the 8th year of my entrepreneurial journey in the construction industry. I have worked on over 50 bathrooms in the past 7 years.
I have yet to find a client willing to go through the lengths the king went through for his wife. That said, if someone showed up with the crazy idea of re-routing a river, I am game to try.
Had I not been pushed, I would have never left the comfort of a large corporation. I would have dreamed of one day owning a company, but the allure of a regular paycheck, stock options and a growing 401K would have kept me well cared for.
I am glad I was laid off 2X, I am glad I burned through the fortune I had accumulated over 17 years, I am grateful I was FORCED to grow.
Thank you for reading this story. This year will be filled with similar stories and pictures.
When I started writing on this platform I was given the advice of writing as if speaking to my younger self. This year I hope to inspire others thinking about starting something or to be a break for others from the grind of corporate.
I hope you stick around, chapter two is in the works.
