Becoming unemployable is a reality that I have started to come to terms with. Every entrepreneur has to at some point, no doubt. Not because I am a bad employee. Not at all. Nor do I lack skills . The problem lies in the combination of my age, family structure, past employment history, and current job market that has left me, somewhat at least, unattractive to most employers in my area.
It’s also not that there aren’t jobs in my area. But, here is the thing. Let me lay it all out. I am 45 years old. A divorced father with 2 kids who are 13 years old and 10 years old. My children are with me every other week and I live an hour away from their school. That means that one week I have to drop them off at 8 and pick them up at 4 an hour away from home, and drive them to all their extra curriculars also. The next week I am free to work all day every day. However, an hour commute is a long commute. This means working part time or working for minimum wage doesn’t pay the bills.
Becoming Unemployable – What they see
My background is in landscaping and civil (and environmental) construction. Those jobs are daylight till dark jobs. Unless I want to find a job that is a fly in and fly out job one week on and one week off. Which I could do, I guess. But not Ideal. Plus, I have worked those jobs and that is why my resume looks like it does. 1 to 2 years per job at different employers with large spans of time working for myself at Eat My Shrubs.
So ultimately, when a human resources person, or a hiring person, looks at my resume it doesn’t scream long term employee potential. Which is what they are looking for. It looks more flakey than it should. It wasn’t on purpose, its just the nature of the jobs. I would get laid off in the fall and then go somewhere else in the spring hoping for something better. Maybe year round work. My resume also doesn’t scream young person who will work for nothing and take all of managements crap. That part is true, I can’t help that. I won’t be walked on anymore.
So where does that leave me?
This means I am becoming unemployable and I am now fully dependant on myself to provide for myself, and my kids. And I’m kind of okay with that. I mean, I am okay with it. I just really need to focus on the business and getting clients.
The safety net of someone else is not there. But was it ever there? Or was it just a guise? I was always 1 screw up away from getting fired, even if I was one of the best employees. Heck the only boss that ever fired me spent the whole time I worked for him telling me how great I was and how he wished he had more of me. The problem was I said no to a promotion because I knew it would take me away from my family more. I then complained about the foreman’s attitude that I was working under and he fired me. For being unhappy of all things. So there ya go.
So now I have to focus on advertising campaigns and getting more clients. Rather than resumes and interviews.
Time Management
Making things work for my family now that I have become unemployable is all about time management. Being present and available for my kids when they need me and being with them as much as I can. That is what really matters. That is what I am focussed on. I also want to be able to do things and take them places. So I have to work and provide. Not just the bare necessities either. I have to be more assertive with those clients paying me on time.
Revenue streams is also something I have to spend more time on. I can’t just do hardscaping landscaping anymore. Come October, that stream dries up till spring and I still have to live the rest of the year. I also, don’t want to invest in anymore equipment to do that work. Tampers and saws and the like. So I have to figure something else out. I have some things in mind. Making and growing things, but I just have to be more serious about it.
Becoming Unemployable – Documenting The Journey
One of the revenue streams I am attempting to build is documenting this journey to self sustaining living. Both here in this webpage and in these blogs. But also on a YouTube channel. Much like the pottery and other things. I have never done this before and I have no equipment or funds to put toward it. I am just starting, building as I can, and getting better with every failure.
Starting your own business and becoming unemployable means that you have to be a butcher and baker and candlestick maker of your own life. To be the estimator and labourer and human resources department and truck driver and accounting etc., for the landscaping business. The videographer and editor and presenter and sound person etc., for the videos. The writer and editor and IT person and web designer etc., for the website. Oh, and guide and cab driver and coach and cook and housekeeper etc., for the kids. Which sounds like a lot.
But, the alternative is to not be around as much. To miss the kids growing up by only being there on the weekends or on days off because I am constantly being put on someone else’s schedule. Someone who is only thinking about their bank account and doesn’t care about me and my family. No. I’ll take the becoming unemployable, thanks.
