Lacking a Nail

We’re Going Down Swingin’

Recently, another big shift has occurred in my company – a jolting rearrangement of the top brass. It reminded me of the perceived expiration date on my role and renewed my urgency to prepare. It has also spiked my stress.

I worked through my past employment, experiences, education, etc. with ChatGPT and it created a pretty sharp looking resume. I also had mini-career coach session to figure out what fields best align with my past experiences, my interests, and my employment wishlist. We even had possible online training and certification programs I could do. But after the resume and certificate discussion I let life interrupt. Well the career prong has been picked up with vigor again. With ChatGPT we have developed a timeline to actively work toward certifications and snazzified LinkedIn profile and resume for a future job search.

Prior to the shake-up I had been working with ChatGPT to make this blog more professional. Evolving it toward a vision of multiple topics that I’m interested in without alienating readers who are only interested in one. With plans to expand to YouTube and Etsy as forms of growth and creation. Now, with ChatGPT, I’ve set up a plan to actively work towards monetization of the blog. Which is why there is a “Support the blog” page and buttons and links all over the place to Etsy, Ko-Fi, and Paypal. I’ve created two simple digital products and posted them in Etsy, with plans for more. I will also be increasing my posting, not just when I have an idea. All in the hopes of starting income streams outside of my 9-5.

Earlier this year, I added three lines to the family budget; monthly adventure, big adventure savings, adventure supplies. It was a conscious choice to create experiences for my daughter. (We have been having fun going on adventures too). I am not willing to give up these experiences but we are going to be going leaner with them. Our experiences will be limited to state parks, free (or under $10 admission if it’s something really special, or something we already have tickets for. This way the big expense will be gas in order to get to and from. Sadly, overnights, which we just had our first one, are off the table for now. There isn’t room in the budget for them.

My working assumptions? An announcement will be made early next year and due to company size it will activate the WARN Act which will in turn give 60 days. This would result in having employment until spring. Which would mean job hunting will probably occur in the second quarter.

The hope; that I’m wrong. That in January I’ll be looking back at this series as the chronical of paranoia and delusion and I’ll be still employed, have a sharper looking resume, have some certifications and increased knowledge in areas I find interesting, and I’m still on the way to having multiple income streams.

The purpose of this series? It isn’t to air out dirty laundry. I’ll be sharing big shifts that are the impetus of my actions to give context. This series is to help me stay calm and focused – maybe help anyone who is looking around and worried they are on the same path. I am Olaf letting the children decorate me – finding a slip of control in an uncontrollable situation.

ChatGPT has broken the plan into phases
Phase 0: Now to December – preparation but no announcement. Define path, start certifications, work on products, work on blog.
Phase 1: January – the announcement has been made, now we prepping for job loss in a couple months, worst case scenario job loss has just occurred.
Phase 2: February – still employed, depending on the last day we’re either polishing or starting to put out feelers,
Phase 3: March – definitely time to start applying for work, make plans for if a job can’t be found easily.
Phase 4: April and on – Either I’m in my new position of still looking.

My position is, I see storm clouds on the horizon. They are growing. They are moving this way. While I certainly hope that the storm doesn’t reach me I have two choices of action. Inaction, relying on hopes and being unprepared. Or, I can batten the hatches, move everything important somewhere safe from the winds and hope to minimize the damage without knowing what it will be. Best case scenario we’re better fortified and we have practice preparing. Worst case scenario, we’ve managed to be better prepared for the aftermath.

This will be a series as I progress through the ChatGPT developed preparation timeline. I will be sharing the basic steps/timeline of the career prong. The blog monetization prong will be occurring throughout this space. I am not in a position, or have the knowledge to accurately forecast the companies future. I just smell petrichor in the air and fear it’s more than a spring shower.

P.S. If this was useful my one-page Sinking Funds Tracker is in the shop, or you can tip on Ko-fi or PayPal. One tiny move is progress.

This post reflects my personal experience and opinions. I share our real-life money – rounded numbers, personal choices, (tiny) next steps. It is not financial advice. I’m not a financial advisor. Budgeting and money topics are shared for education and entertainment only. Your situation is unique; verify details before acting. Small steps count.

Personal experiences only—this isn’t professional advice. See Disclosures and Terms.