The value of working for yourself.

For the last 30 years I have watched from the sidelines as people have embraced the new computer age, almost all have passed me in the wealth rankings by taking risks and exploring the possibilities that I had ignored, or more realistically been unable to exploit.
I had the opportunity way back in 1984 to get on the computer bandwagon with a training company in the United Kingdom called Computeach. They still do the same business today and have been established for over 40 years now. They are basically a training company for the computer industry. When I first found out about this company they were offering guaranteed employment on completion of the course. Cast Iron guaranteed employment, wow what a bonus - right. Well I thought so at the time and still do today. However my circumstances then were less than ideal, I was a new father of a young girl and I was in full time employment in the Royal Navy as a mechanical engineer. The course cost a huge sum of money back then, at almost a thousand pounds. My average monthly wage was around 500 pounds back then so the cost of the course was a significant amount of money when taken in perspective. I was "interviewed" by a sales person that travelled to my home for that specific purpose. The interview was also a test of my mental ability. After all who would want to employ someone who had only just qualified if they were unable to expand their knowledge once the course was complete. Plus the company has to protect itself and its reputation as a leader in that industry so it wanted only the brightest. Well I passed that interview and they considered me suitable, trainable and that I had what was required to go forward to do the course and begin the career path to greatness in that industry.
Reflecting back to that time I realise now that it was an enormous risk to the security of both my family and my future prosperity. After an agonising period of consideration I turned down the offer of the course to preserve the life I had and the future that I was assured was mine for the taking if I worked hard at my current position.
I cannot deny that the career path I had was lucrative but contained limits that were for the most part beyond my control. I had prospects and promotion that with hard work was within my grasp and capabilities should I choose to pursue them. Hard work and ability were only some of the attributed required; being highly regarded and connected had little relevance for me at my lowly position at that time but would become a factor later on.
So following on from a career rich in world travel and a certain kudos, (well come on not everyone can say they were a chief engineer on a nuclear submarine now can they) I made a momentous decision to retire from that lifestyle which was getting to be a little too demanding on both my mind and my body.
I spent almost 9 months scouring the labour markets for work that was within my comfort zone and ability, but which was at least interesting. I eventually found myself in Rotterdam Holland going for an interview with one of the most prestigious cruise companies afloat, Holland America Lines. A solid, well established, historically based enterprise with one small flaw, it had lost touch with its roots in the dash for cash that was demanded by its parent company, Carnival cruise lines. I confess right now my first few weeks onboard my very first ship, MV Westerdam was absolutely unbelievable. The ship was brand new straight from the building yard in Fincantieri and was sailing out of Venice Italy every 10 days.

It was a period of reflection and of lost opportunity coupled with renewed adventurism and a fair splash of devil may care scorn that lasted around 2 years or so.

This page, you could say is the end result. Here I am writting from my computer to a website that will be published for all to see, with not a lot of knowledge about the process on my part. So as afyten happens in such circumstances the world has turned full circle and i am once again setting off to see if I can make it in the world of web 2.0 with its ever expanding social network of global representatives.

As i travel on this journey I hope to be able to objectivelly document the variety of problems and triumphs (hopefuly there will be some of those)that I encounter along the way. Maybe just maybe I can help others who may follow from this point to maintain their faith and fortune and above all to avoid those more experienced ruthless scammers who we all know exist.

So watch for more as the months pass.