Here is a reply to a post by Cubert at Abandoned Cubicle regarding layoffs… which somehow seems appropriate for Labor Day…

Best damn thing that happened to me – twice. The first time got me thinking about starting my own business — the second time (a dozen years are) cinched it.

Thirty+ years of running my own consulting engineering firm was great – much better than another thirty+ years of cubicle life!

The first layoff came two years out of college, with a very pregnant wife. Fortunately, soon found another job, but the experience profoundly affected me. I became a frugal Mr. Money Mustache (a fellow blogging engineer) of the 1970s.

I also started planning my escape – whatever it was going to be. Dropped the MSEE studies. Got practical — took a class on TV repair (not practical today), followed by getting a Master Electrician’s license (a bit more practical.) The goal — be able to put food on the table for a now growing family.

Stepped in up a bit when a friend (who became my business partner) and I started moonlighting. Got my PE (Professional Engineer) license, something I had blown off in school. Spent time learning and doing, not wasting time on TV or sports events.

Even made a career change to Sales Engineering to hone my business skills. 

The second layoff came twelve years later with a startup. After providing much needed help with sales and marketing, got laid off (OK – fired) after 18 months when the founder’s buddy joined the company. (The buddy that did not have the cojones to do so at the start. )

Oh well — it was a “learning experience.” That means it cost me, was painful at the time, but in retrospect worth it for the experience gained. Plus it vastly improved my BS detector.

So I hung out my consulting shingle. Bad way to start a business — I lasted about three months before climbing back into the corporate womb. Was not FI (Financially Independent) and could not generate income fast enough. But even more determined to have my own consulting business.

Socked money away, and started creating credibility and visibility via writing and teaching. When it became apparent layoff number three might be on the horizon, I made my JumpToConsulting.

That was in October 1987 — the day the stock market crashed. But once again I survived, and was now OI (Occupationally Independent.) Thanks to hard work, frugal living, a very supportive spouse, and a bit of luck I achieved full FI status a few year later. 

The last 30 years have been a blast. I’ve traveled the world solving problems and teaching classes in my engineering speciality. In 2010 I started a blog (JumpToConsulting) to help guide others who might be so inclined to pursue this path to independence.

In 2015, my business partner and good friend of 40 years passed away, and I decided to wind the consulting practice down. I still do about 6-8 projects a year, mainly training which I love to do.    

Now semi-retired, I split my time between MN (where there are grandkids) and AZ (where there is no snow.). With LI (Location Independence), I achieved the “hat trick” of FI/OI/LI.  

Those are MY layoff stories. Last fall, Cubert and I met for coffee in MN. I encouraged him (and encourage all of you) to make your dreams real. Frugal living and focused hard work pay off. 

Independence rocks — Uncle Daryl

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