[Gort]

About 6 years ago I came on board to help start the creative initiatives of a small startup; I was one of 4 people that came from a web development department of a large corporation. The Internet bubble was growing, so we were all eager to start someting new with the hopes of selling out one day. A little over a year ago our CTO and President (one of the four and great friend of mine) finally had enough with the people that owned the company and left under grievous conditions. One by one over the last year we followed suit, except I stayed and dealt with the new high levels of management, which turned out to be a disaster; this new relationship wasn't working out, and it was apparent I didn't like them, and they didn't like me.

On April 26th I was fired, and in the next two to three weeks to follow, I found myself wrangling and negotiating a severance, while at the same time on the market for work. There were a handful of jobs I interviewed with that I was more than qualified for, but they just weren't coming through. Although the severance would be good for a short while, I wanted to get something lined up. Keep at it. Keep at it.

Three weeks ago I interviewed through a staffing agency (for creatives) and landed a short contract stint with Turner Sports Interactive on their enormously popular NASCAR.com website. The work has been tremendous, as I have been busier than ever, and I've been doing some of the most fun and creative stuff I've probably ever done. Yes, it's a large corporation, but it doesn't feel like one. I can wear jeans, a t-shirt and my Vans, and the people I work with are great too. It's a good place to work. I hope it turns into something long term.

The moral of this story is that sometimes following the money may not be the best thing, as I did that with a small company, and for years found myself in a creative vacuum and eventually wrangling with what I deemed to be incompetent people. I just turned 40, and all of this hit home and had me on the ropes and emotionally entrenched, so I've been working on a rebirth of sorts - getting back to square one, so to speak.

So follow your dreams. Work hard and keep at it. Don't take no for an answer. If you think you can't make it, well, you can - pick yourself up, dust off and keep going. Every step is one closer to where you want to be and farther away from where you don't want to be.

CURRAHEE!
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[eyewoo]

Amen!

I have a similar story... I was working as the lead designer in a group of five website designers for a larger company that got seriously caught in the dot.com bubble burst. As a result I was laid off in November of 2000 with a severence pay package that only lasted six weeks. My unemployment took me another nine months. I used the time to put together a portfolio that would appeal to an art agent. It took about four years and some living off of credit, but it finally worked and now I am making a nice living as an illustrator, doing a variety of things.... but no website design. That I am very happy about.

Most of my illustrations are pretty standard and mundane... but they are fun and I am making it as a freelancer with a wonderful agent who works hard to keep me and about thirty other artists busy.
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HonePie.com
tumblr blog
digtal art

[Impaler]

Haha, you're 40, Tom? I always had you pegged for late 20's/early 30's, for some reason. Great that things have worked out well for you, too.
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QED, sort of.

[Gort]

Yeppers - I'm an old dude (although I'm quite immature sometimes), but I'll kick your *ss on the mountain bike.


_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Freebooter]

Well I guess things are going great for me.. I just got into University of Art & Design, well renowned institution with international connections and chance to graduate straight to business. If things go my way I'm going to be a bachelor of arts at the age of twenty-five. This definitely built up my self-confidence, if not my level of skill.

I am so grateful of this opportunity, mainly because it gives me the freedom to pursue my desires instead of working my arse off at the construction site or so. Now I'm not dependant on some lucky streak to allow me to draw for the next five years.

[Jimmyjimjim]

Right on, Gort!

You kinda pegged the reason I went back to school at 27. Too bad we're on opposite ends (of the country), you sound like my kind of people!

Continued good fortune!