One year ago (7/1/2013), I was laid off. The reasons were complex and confusing enough that when I had the discussion with HR, there was pieces which they were unaware of. Ultimately, I was unsure when I joined the company the direction and path and there wasn't a great system in place to help. After trying to get back into development, I made the decision of what I wanted to do and started setting up the processes to get there. Unfortunately, it was too late. The company wasn't sure what clients I could take on and didn't have any local clients to put me on so they laid me off. I respect and understand the decision. I had an opportunity to stay on but it required a bit of sacrifice that I wasn't willing to make.
That day, I decided I was going to make a go at my own company. Three weeks later, I had an offer for a contract position that was a contract to hire (being in a hot field really does have its privileges). I used that as a buffer, which turned into some overlap. Two months later, I had a year long contract for my own company. Six months later, I had a second contract and terminated the contract to hire.
Fast forward to today. I'm terminating the first contract I have ever signed for my own company and am looking toward having a year extension (knock on wood) to the second one which has already been extended. I met with the manager I report to and her comments are there is a crap load of work for you to do and we want you to be here long term.
The ironic part: I went on my own and am doing the same work that I wanted to do for the consulting company and I am doing it for a client where I beat out two of my former employer's consultants for the job. Even more awesome, I'm more confident in what I am doing then I ever was working for them. Why? Because I don't feel like I have anyone to answer to besides myself. I can leave at the end of the day and know if the client is happy and I gave my all, there is no one else to answer to. And even if the client is unhappy and I was honest and true, then I still have no one to answer to but myself.
Only four more years to go and I'll have made it longer than most small businesses :)
