For Sale: The end of a Career

 

This hub is really an update to my previous hub entitled “Ashes to Ashes, What’s left of my business after the bust”. So, if you couldn’t tell from the title, I decided to sell my dog grooming shop to my independent contractor, which in essence is good news for several reasons.

1. I’m lucky she actually wanted to buy it.

2. I am feeling really burnt out with all the stress and responsibility of keeping the shop open, so selling the shop is a huge relief.

3. With business so slow, I had to cut back my working days to only 2 a week. This helps me be able to pay for summer day care without going broke.

4. I actually get to stick around and continue to work after the sale as an independent contractor. This means I will still have a small income, with lots of flexibility, while I secure another line of work.

5. I made the leap of faith to start my education at University of Phoenix online now that I have a lot more free time. This will allow me to train for another career. (That is a different hub.) . Plus, the sale will help me to pay for some of my college expenses.

Selling the business to someone who currently works for me has been a really interesting experience. We talk almost daily about the “takeover”. I give her business advice about just about everything, from what to charge her independent contractors, to advertising ideas, and how to work with outside vendors. In the interim between me still being the boss and her taking over, we have started working the business more like a traditional partnership. We split the bills down the middle so that I am not solely responsible, and she gets a feel for the weight of the business. I now show her all the bills so she can get a behind the scenes look at the business. As a courtesy to her, I am giving her all the new clients that call or come in, to help her build up the clientele. She is giving me the privilege of continuing to work at the shop as an independent, keeping my own clientele, so it’s really a win-win situation.

The interesting part is that although I am currently still the “boss”, working with independent contractors is far from being a real boss. Legally, I cannot tell independents when to come to work, or make them come for certain days or hours. I don’t book their appointments unless they ask me too, and they deal with their own advertising. So after the takeover, I don’t see a problem with me not being the boss anymore. There won’t be any loud sucking noises as the vacuum of power trades hands; just the sound of me sighing in relief at the release of a huge burden. She gives me a big check, and we trade places.

The new “boss” already has a couple of independent contractors willing to come in and pay rent, so this is really good timing. In a way, it makes me jealous to know that she will be getting a decent income from them, but I just keep reminding myself that I really don’t want the responsibility anymore. I have been a dog groomer for 12 years, and have been self-employed for the last 7. Being burnt out at work is a lot like being really old. Not much motivates you, and it’s hard to get excited about anything.

I am hoping my next career will take me through the rest of my life. I am going to study Human Services Management. If you have read my other hubs about my oldest son’s mental illness you can conclude why. I know that my first few years will be a training ground as I learn the ropes of the social services arena. Eventually though, the entrepreneur in me will come out. My life’s goal is to open a non-profit organization to benefit single mothers and their children. This is a subject that is close to my heart. Doing what you love is very important to me. It’s the second question I ask people that I meet. The first question in always, “what line of work are you in?” Followed by, “do you like doing that type of work?”

I loved pet grooming; and I will always love animals. But for now, I must follow my heart into my next career, and that is showing love and mercy to hurting people. HubPages has helped me to see how much people value love and encouragement, even from a stranger with only written words. I’m excited about my new adventure and that is a glimmer of light, in my burnt out state.