First Rats off the Ship

I’m sitting and working and thinking about dinner with Marty, and I come across a post that informs me that another friend has lost his job.

“Oh my god,” I say, horrified and unnerved. “Everybody’s getting laid off.” There’s a moment of silence—we know it’s happening. We knew that something like this could start. It’s worrisome and we don’t know what’s going to happen next. I can’t help but think of the people who suddenly have to figure out what to do next, how to pay their rent. Some are better prepared than others. Some have been expecting it. Some haven’t. Marty and I are scrambling like crazy to find income for December’s bills, but he’s been at it for almost three months already—and I’ve had much longer. It hasn’t gotten “easy” yet, exactly, but I’m used to having to actively create my next paycheck.

Suddenly it hits me. My eyes are like big, incredulous plates. And I say, “We have a head start!”

We’re already moving. It’s not perfect, but we can use it. And it can get so much better from here, if we stay on our toes, keep caring about the people instead of the buck, and give our audience something that really fuels them. It’s a good situation to be in. We’re lucky. No one can fire us but us.

I am still unnerved… but now I really have something to think about.

Tagged as: jobs, money, self-employment, work