A Blessing Not So Disguised

As of 2pm EST today, January 14th, 2022, I am jobless for the first time in 16 years. I started my first job at 15 and have never taken a break from employment. During the last 16 years, I only took time off for my honeymoon and for the birth of my daughter. I developed a work ethic and a personal code that revolved around work.

I love working. I love problem-solving. I believe in personal sacrifice for the greater good of the team, being a part of and creating something bigger than myself. I hold myself to a high standard of honesty, transparency, teamwork, and work ethic.

I’ve never viewed myself as a 9–5 employee. I’ve been a top performer, the go-to guy, the up-at-3am-to-do-more-before-everyone-else-even-starts guy everywhere I have worked. For the last year, I made the mistake of assuming others shared these same values and allowed myself to be exploited and now I find myself jobless.

A safety net of barbed wire.

I had dreams of building my own businesses and have had “side hustles” galore, but I always put my passions and my dreams to the side while building other people’s. I always had bills to pay and substantial imposter syndrome. I tricked myself into thinking I needed a safety net, but I was really caught in barbed wire, slowly bleeding out.

I don’t know what I am doing tomorrow, my first day waking up unemployed in 16 years, but I know I will be up at 3am building something and this time for myself.

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