Freedom!

Today was my first working day as a business owner.  The dust of Corporate America will no longer cling to MY feet!

Of course, everything didn't go as planned.  After 13 1/2 hours, I got to see the kids and the Amazing Mrs. Jake for about a half hour before they all went to bed. The delivery van was backed into in a hit-and-run in the parking lot last night, so the former owner and I have to figure out whose insurance pays for the damage.  I also found out that two key employees will be leaving at the end of June, so I've only got a few weeks to learn the business, then train replacements.

But, the good news is, I came home with a lot of cash and checks to deposit tomorrow.  And, I don't have any useless meetings to attend tomorrow, nor do I have to answer to anyone but my customers. 

6-6-06: Bad Omen or Just Another Day?

So today is Tuesday June 6th, 2006, or as the hysterics are referring to it, 6-6-06! 

So is there anything to worry about on this auspicious day?  I sure hope not, as I will at long last be closing escrow on my new business later today.  The Amazing Jake will be a tax-paying employer of legal employees as of 6am tomorrow.  

The lease has been approved, legal structure completed, business insurance and payroll service obtained, workers' comp insurance and credit card processing almost complete.  Fourteen hour days begin tomorrow.

I just hope Armageddon doesn't happen after I sign my papers today. 

Goodbye Corporate America!

The Amazing Jake is soon to be a small business owner.  As regular readers know, I've been searching for a new career since March 20th of this year, and as I wrote about yesterday regarding my brief absence from blogging, I spent a lot of time over the past week and a half ruminating over my future.  Last night I made an offer on an existing small business in Chandler, and the current owner accepted this morning.

So, now begins the due diligence process.  Assuming everything checks out with the financials, business equipment and fixtures, etc., I'll close on the business at the end of the month. 

It's a little disconcerting to take such a huge chunk out of your personal savings.  But, I feel more stress-free than I have in a long time.

Where is the Amazing Jake?

I've gotten several emails recently asking where I've been, what I've been doing, why I haven't been posting, etc.

The simple answer is, I haven't had much time lately, and I've been focusing on more important things.  I haven't even reading a lot of blogs lately, much less posting on my own.

Jobsearch Update

It's shaping up to be a busy week.

My phone interview this morning went well, and I'm tentatively scheduled for another interview with the company, possibly Friday.  TIP to all job seekers:  ALWAYS send a thank you note after an interview.  Interviewers remember the people who take time to do the little things and show how interested they are in the position.

Tomorrow the Amazing Mrs. Jake and I are meeting with a business broker about a well-priced business in North Chandler with a great cash flow.  We're going to tour the business tomorrow.  Don't know if we'll go through with it at this point, but we'll have plenty of time for due diligence.

Wednesday morning I have a regular networking meeting.  Thursday morning I meet with a franchise broker to explore that as an option, and in the afternoon I have a second phone interview with another sales organization.  I'm holding Friday open for the previously mentioned second interview from today.  I'm also trying to schedule a phone interview with a headhunter for a position I actually interviewed for over a year ago.  Not sure why the position is available again, but the hiring manager is different, so I could have another shot at it.

Later this afternoon I'm going to try to finish my freelance writing job.

And in between it all, the dear readers of Chandler demand their news on the City Council shenanigans.  Fret not, denizens of Chandler!  The Amazing Jake stands ready to direct your attention to the news of the day, right after the daily jobsearch, and sometime after this week's episode of 24. 

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone had as great an Easter as the Amazing Jake clan did.

Eggs were discovered in the backyard, even though the Easter Bunny forgot what time the sprinklers came on.  Church was good, even though we went to a church we don't normally attend.  The weather was great, went to the park, and taught mini-Jake #1 to ride her bike without training wheels for the first time.  She's got balancing down, stopping is OK, but turning and getting up on the bike still needs work.

On the job front, I've got a promising interview first thing tomorrow, and a freelance writing assignment this week.  I also had a meeting with a business broker on Friday, and may see a business this week to potentially purchase.

More Chandler-related posts tomorrow.

Today’s Oprah – Living on Minimum Wage

So, the Amazing Mrs. Jake is watching Oprah right now (and yes, I am watching too as I do other things).  Today's topic is Living on the Minimum Wage, and guests include Morgan Spurlock (of Supersize Me fame) and a former vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union.  Hard to predict how this show is slanted. 

Of course, the segments have weepy music while people tell how hard it is to work on minimum wage, and how shameful it is that minimum wage isn't higher.

BOO (f***ing) HOO!

My first job in high school was washing cars for minimum wage.  I eventually realized that that kind of life and that kind of wage wasn't for me.  Guess what I did?  I got another job.

It's not the proper role of goverment to provide a minimum level of income anyone should expect.  If I had the kind of victim mentality that Oprah seems to be cultivating, I would be blaming society for my present lack of income, instead of pursuing all avenues to find something better.  I don't expect anyone to feel bad for me.

Interior Decorating for Cubicle Dwellers

The Amazing Jake previously wrote about the perils of cubicle farms here.  Now, Fast Company has an article about a new book that tells you how to spruce up your cubicle.  Alas, there are no pictures.  Amazon awaits your order.

Amazing Entrepreneur? The Jury’s Still Out.

I've been researching small business opportunities, and the results have been mixed.  I started out by looking into an existing Quizno's that's for sale in Chandler.  It's got a great location, and the nearby businesses have the potential to really increase sales after their buildout is complete.  The price seems pretty affordable, and I like the food at Quizno's, so I decided to check it out.

Turning a Corner

So I got a job offer at my 2nd interview last night.  The position starts on Monday and has a very high level of commission, but the base is almost nonexistent for the first 9 weeks, then becomes actually nonexistent.  I'm OK with that, because I'm very confident in my sales skills (as well as my bo staff skills, and nunchuck skills), but the real problem is the schedule. 

As I put the mini-Jakes to bed last night, telling them stories and hearing about their days at school, it really hit home that I couldn't take this job.  I would only be home at night every other week, and would have to work Mon-Sat every week.  Driving the kids to school each day and seeing them on Sunday isn't what I had in mind for a job, so I think I'm going to have to pass.

The Amazing Mrs. Jake and I had a long talk last night, and we're getting more and more comfortable with starting a business, and not being accountable to someone else.  So, I will be looking aggressively into self-employment options, and continuing to look for "regular" jobs in my areas of expertise.  Wish me luck.