What a difference five years can make! Too many people now know the feeling of being called into an office with their boss, only to be told that they are part of the company "downsizing." I certainly know what that is like. As my manager said those words, everything slowed down and I felt like I was in a vacuum. I saw his lips moving, but I heard nothing. I noticed the surroundings -- the projector in the conference room, the pad of paper and pencil on the table. I was numb. I knew that day would come eventually, but that doesn't make it any easier. Before I even had a chance to plan my next move (literally), I was whisked away into the HR office to sign paperwork, etc. The poor woman was crying, since she had been through this process so many times before, and faced doing it many more times.Amazingly, I was actually relieved. Finally! It was like a burden being lifted. I was bored out of my skull in my job, and I just knew that I would be if I had to take another cubicle position. I love building and breaking things, diagnosing problems, and correcting the issues. Endless paperwork was definitely NOT the reason I worked so hard to get my degrees. The only engineering I ever saw was while I was preparing for design reviews or sitting through endless meetings (for design reviews). I just sat there and said. "Really? We are reviewing the SAME exact design as we did two weeks ago. If that one passed, how come we now have five action tasks if NOTHING has changed?" I realized at that point that the root problem was that people were creating work to prove that they were value-added. In other words, to keep their jobs! That is the problem with the corporate world (in my opinion) -- the job is primarily to keep the job. The further up the ladder they climb, the more true this becomes. No one is really accountable -- certainly not at the CEO level. If the company fails, so what? Whatever they did during their time at the company, it experiment and they get a golden parachute.
That lifestyle just wasn't for me. So when the woman in the HR department started telling me about the career counseling and resume classes being offered for free, I literally said, "Thank you, but I am going to open a bike shop. I already have a side business, so I am going to see where that takes me." She looked at me in disbelief -- I must have been in shock from finding out moments before that I was being laid-off, right? I didn't care how crazy it appeared, I knew right then and there that I was going to create my own destiny. As was required, I was led into an adjoining room with another woman with the career building information. I took the information packet I was given, but I politely told her that I was not going to be needing it.
It took five years of constant struggle, stress, and sacrifice. There were definitely times when I didn't know if it would be worth the effort. However, I never stopped giving 110% every day. I am my own worst critic, which drove me to always make sure that "good enough" was not good enough. As Alan has told other employees, I am hypercritical, but I am not hypocritical. I just want to build the best shop in Atlanta -- it is really that simple.
2011 was literally the best year of my life! Although the business has always made money (basically since day one), it is on incredibly secure footing now. I am hoping to have the showroom 90% completed by spring (if we ever have a slow day!). Most importantly, I met the woman I will be marrying in 2012. Yes, you read that correctly -- I AM ENGAGED!!! To make a long story short, I asked Ali to marry me last Thursday, in front of 20+ people (family and friends). It was really special because I asked her at her uncle Tommy's house -- the uncle who introduced us when he was a customer. Only her parents and her brother's girlfriend knew what I was going to do -- her mother even brought a champagne glass from her wedding for me to place the ring in. It was a total shock to Ali (see photo)!!! Amazingly, I didn't mess it up!I thought this week would be slow and relaxing, but that was a completely WRONG assumption! It was absolutely crazy! I completed the Gunnar Roadie build, performed multiple tune-ups, and even sold three bicycles!!! All in just four days! Needless to say, I need a break. We were closed today (New Year's Eve), and of course will be closed tomorrow. I am taking off Monday for some R&R.
One present we received at the shop was the return of Aaron as an employee -- much needed! He came back just in time, and plans to stay for the next few years while he attends Georgia State. It was definitely nice to have a "plug & play" employee this week!
Aaron mentioned VirtualBox to me, so I couldn't resist checking it out. WOW! I can run so many operating systems now without having to reboot -- just run them as a virtual machine! I have already loaded Ubuntu and Solaris. I will be experimenting with Fedora Linux and even load up the OS2 Warp which Alan gave me a few weeks ago. He did it as a joke, given my penchant for my 20-30 year-old computers! HA!
Of course, my year wouldn't be complete without a New Year's Eve operating system crash. Apparently I destroyed the Windows 7 64-bit on my home computer this afternoon. Luckily, the few files I have on that system are still intact (I think!). I just have to load up one of my drives with Windows 7 and add a few files. Since I run almost everything remotely on my shop computer (I am doing that now from Tommy's house while Ali and I prepare for the New Year), I never have much to worry about if my system crashes. Well, unless it is the shop computer, which happened a few weeks ago. Time to learn about RAID!
Speaking of failures, but pond pump failed after at least five years of constant running. What is life without unexpected expenses? Luckily the temperature is cool, so the fish can survive a few days without aeration until the new pump arrives.
Ali and I went to get one of the presents she got me for Christmas today -- a Motorola Droid Razr! Since one of my programs at Motorola was the battery for the original Razr phone, it is cool to have another MOT product. I waited FOREVER to decide on a new phone (I STILL have a 3G iPhone!). I think I made the right decision. Since I am so familiar with Android now, having rooted my Android, I was ready to convert. It only took me a few minutes to figure out how to move over my contacts (even without iTunes!), so I am fully converted now. She bought me some AMAZING toys (REAL toys) this year! I am so lucky!Speaking of Ali, I found out that she set the record for the most leads generated by a new hire! Amazing! Actually, I am not surprised at all. Zero technology experience, yet she is already at the top of her group. If you wonder why I have absolutely no respect for the "occupiers," I'll tell you why. I succeeded by myself, against all odds. Ali made her own "luck." If you want something in life, you can have it. Plain and simple.
Absolutely hilarious! Bieber in a nutshell.
As we close out the year, I want to wish all of my wonderful customers and supporters a wonderful New Year! I have no doubts that 2012 is going to be even more amazing!
For no particular reason, here is the last video post of the year...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
