My liberation day

[DavidDvorkin]

Five years ago today, I was laid off from what would turn out to be my last full-time job. It's been a psychological journey, and I've been very lucky in that I'm able to be most retired now. My wife and I now call this date "David's Liberation Day".

http://eyeblister.blogspot.com/2014/05/davids-liberation-day-5.html

[livetohike]

1. Happy Fifth Anniversary! Love what you wrote on your blog. It's a perspective many people could use

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Thanks!

[Egnever]

3. Nice!

Mine was almost 12 years ago. It pushed me to go out on my own and make my own job. I now have hundreds of customers and work on my schedule.

Some months are lean and some are fat but it has been steady enough for at least ten years to keep clothes on my kids and food on the table.

Occasionally I pine for the steady paycheck but it doesn't happen often.

[DavidDvorkin]

4. My wife and I do have a small side business

But it just sort of happened.

We help people self-publish (http://dvorkin.com/ebookpubhelp.html). It started by chance with one client and grew by word of mouth. I had meant to mention it in the blog post.

Still, our Social Security checks and a small pension I get from a previous employer are our main income, and those are much like a paycheck -- regular, reliable, and giving psychological security.

[Egnever]

5. I am still a few years off

From having that SS check as a backup. It will be a nice added piece of mind.

That is awesome that you created something that will help others.

I have found that the best thing I ever did was take the leap and just do something I enjoy for a living instead of working for a living.

Some times when that phone doesnt ring for a few days it gets a little scary. After the first couple of lean years for the most part it has been very steady.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Congratulations on building it up to that point

Years ago, I quit my job as a software developer and tried working only as a consultant. Didn't succeed, and I ended up scuttling back to the warmth and protection of a paycheck.

Another time, I quite a software developer job and tried to make it as a full-time writer. Same result.

I was very lucky that the last layoff happened when I was already 65. If I had been too young for SS, and if the job market had been as dismal, it would have been a serious matter.

[Egnever]

8. I have been incredibly lucky

I got lucky mostly with a few customers who had large networks that went and promoted me to those networks. They got me my start really.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. That blog post has been getting hits from the FR Crazy Place

There's a link posted there, followed by "Barf alert". That's probably because of the way I described the Great Recession.

Funny.