Redundancy: New Opportunities?

When I joined ASG Technologies, almost ten years ago, I believed that I would be seeing out the rest of my working life at this great, innovative software company. Until very recently, that belief prevailed. Over the last three years in particular, the company has gone through remarkable transition, and I have enjoyed a major role in its exciting evolution. The future looked very bright.

Then my world came crashing down!

On the 21^st September, I was summoned to a “redundancy consultation meeting.” The invitation letter informed me that, due to a shortfall in services sales revenue, the company had found it necessary to make some cost reductions. My salary and overhead fell into the category of a cost reduction. I was requested to present my proposals for options to avoid redundancy. Unfortunately, none of the options that I presented at that meeting proved viable, so I find myself joining the ranks of the unemployed.

Naturally, this comes as a huge disappointment to me. Over the past ten years, I have had the honour and great pleasure to work with some amazing people, many of whom have become close friends.

Suddenly, my life is in turmoil!

Well. It was, until I realised what had just happened to me.

Those who know me well, believe that I am a very positive person. I inspire and motivate those people who surround me. I thought about this today, and I have come to the conclusion that this belief is more than a sentiment. It is true. It is time to look at the fantastic new opportunities that are opening up in front of me due to my change in circumstances. I’ve got to get on with life.

My best friend and fellow author, Eloise, told me that, “As one door closes, another on opens.” I would go a step further. Many doors are about to open for me!

As I busy myself with updating my CV and my LinkedIn profile, and searching for new jobs in technology, I am starting to look for opportunities in other sectors. Realistically, I realise that it is going to take me a while to find new employment.

So now I have yet another, unexpected opportunity. I am going to have my time to get my head down and become super-productive with my writing.

1. I can continue with my next novel. I have already started that.
2. I’ve had a series of children’s story in mind for a long time. The children and parents that I’ve tested these on get very excited and can’t wait to read them. I aim to write the first three episodes before I start my next job. That’s a challenge, as I don’t even know how long this interlude will last.
3. I’m going to enter lots of competions in writing magazines: flash fiction, poetry, short stories……
4. I’m going to write tonnes of short stories, following the advice of Linda Lewis and others, and submit, submit, submit.
5. At the Swanwick Writers’ Summer Schools in 2016 and 2017, I learned a lot, and I really do mean A LOT, from Sue Moorcroft about writing commercial popular fiction, finding agents and publisher, and turning my writing into cash. I am determined to use what I have learned from her, and position myself to proudly declare to her that she has made me viable as a living author.
6. To be able to achieve all of the above, I am going to have to do a lot of research. Once again, it was the speakers of Swanwick who taught me to do this better. I want to give special shout-outs to Kate Bendelow and Kathryn Aalto.
7. Finally, I might get around to actually take the sound advice offered by Suzie at the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards earlier this year regarding monetizing blogs. I need some income!

I need to knuckle down, believe in myself, and work hard.

My dreams WILL come true!

So stand by for some action. I’ll keep you informed.

Wish me luck. I’ll need it.