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10 years ago today I walked out of Cisco Systems for the last time and started my own business...

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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 10:54 AM
Original message
10 years ago today I walked out of Cisco Systems for the last time and started my own business...
...and what I can share with those of you who haven't is yes, there's a price to be paid. In my situation, it was a bigger price than I ever thought I'd be willing to pay, and I'm still paying it...but if I could go back ten years in time, I'd do it all over again, even knowing what I know today. It was worth it. These have been the toughest...and in may ways the best...years of my life.

Life is short indeed...do what you want to do, not what other people think you should do.

And keep on rockin' in the free world.

Yer pal,

A.V.

:toast:
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CaliforniaPeggy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:00 AM
Response to Original message
1. My dear Amerigo Vespucci!
And damn it, good for you!

I know it's been tough. But you are tougher.

Rock the free world, sweetie...

One of these days, it will pay off, big time.

:hug:

:toast:
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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #1
6. Thanks CP...I know you're right.
Edited on Wed Jun-01-11 11:09 AM by Amerigo Vespucci
One of the most powerful parts of Napoleon Hill's book "Think And Grow Rich" is the story of a guy who prospected for gold, and then...when he got to the point where he believed the vein had been thoroughly tapped...sold the property and all of his equipment to a salvage guy.

This guy went to the local experts, returned to the property, and uncovered a major new vein of gold three feet away from where the previous owner gave up.

So I decided long ago that I am going to be the guy who keeps digging, no matter what the odds.

:toast:
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TuxedoKat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:00 AM
Response to Original message
2. Wow
good for you and congratulations. What area of business are you in? Don't answer if that is giving too much info away.
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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Strategic Marketing, with an emphasis on Web Design & Digital Photography
I've posted a number of pics from client photoshoots on DU...here are a few:

















:toast:
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KamaAina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #3
9. Food porn!!
Don't'cha know, I know someone here in town who's interested in marketing and is also going it alone. :hi:
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TuxedoKat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 09:49 PM
Response to Reply #3
22. Very nice work!
Thanks for sharing. :)
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targetpractice Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:07 AM
Response to Original message
4. Literally "walked out"?
I quit an unbearable situation a few years ago at a company I loved... I didn't walk out, but told HR that I wanted to leave that day.

I needed to leave, but the stain of quitting without notice has been hard to shake off.

I'm glad to read that it gets better... Thanks for the post!
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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #4
8. I was part of the layoffs (8500+)...
...June 1, 2001 was the day I went back for the last time to return my laptop, employee badge, etc.

I walked out the back door to the parking lot for the last time...stopped in the doorway...looked up, and said "You and me, God...you and me."

Then I walked to my car, drove away, and didn;t look back.

:toast:
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hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #8
21. What's that laptop worth now?
I think I saw it on a shelf at Weird Stuff for $10...

(There's a moral in there somewhere, I'm not sure what.)
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Steerpike Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:08 AM
Response to Original message
5. Good for you!
Love me some Menudo in the morning!
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bigwillq Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:09 AM
Response to Original message
7. Great post.
I like your attitude and thinking. All the best! :hi:



I try to rock the world everyday. We all should.
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hamsterjill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 11:18 AM
Response to Original message
10. And you are strong!
I can sense the strength in your postings here. Good for you! Best of luck for the next ten years!
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 12:04 PM
Response to Original message
11. I've heard some really nasty things about the company, but Cisco makes some really cool shit.
The 2900XL Catalyst switch, in particular, was one fucking nice piece of equipment. I know, I know - legacy stuff now.
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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 01:58 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. Really cool equipment, really uncool management.
Worst place I've worked in, period. Cut throat, back-stabbing, apple-polishing, ass-kissing hell on earth.
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 02:00 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. That's pretty much what I heard.
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Tripper11 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 12:52 PM
Response to Original message
12. Your words are taken to heart...
and your timing is very good as I work to move forward in my life.
Things are starting to happen, small moves, some very small, but it's forward momentum and it's making me feel good again.

Thanks for the quick pep talk Amerigo!
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mikeytherat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 02:10 PM
Response to Original message
15. I did the same in March 2000
After over a decade of network enginerding with a Big Six accounting firm and a consulting company, I headed my own way in March 2000. I still do some system development and small-biz IT services, but mainly work as a musician, which I'd always wanted to do. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.

mikey_the_rat
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applegrove Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 06:14 PM
Response to Original message
16. Good for you it worked out great. Must be nice to have your own business.
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Auggie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 06:35 PM
Response to Original message
17. Congrats A.V.
Those ten years have seen web design change almost exponentially too. Kudos for keeping up with it.

:toast:

I've been on my own since 1996. And I didn't leave my ad agency voluntarily.
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lifesbeautifulmagic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 06:59 PM
Response to Original message
18. are you hiring?
:) :) :)
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Amerigo Vespucci Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. If I could, I would...
...right now it's "sole proprietor." Every time I want to give my boss a piece of my mind I have to go look in the morror.

:eyes:

:-)
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pacalo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 08:14 PM
Response to Original message
20. You've got the talent & personality to make it work, Amerigo.
I applaud you!

:applause:
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OhioChick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jun-01-11 09:53 PM
Response to Original message
23. Congrats!
Here's to another good 10 years :toast:
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AngryOldDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jun-02-11 04:28 AM
Response to Original message
24. A tip o'the hat to you.
I really, really wish I could do that. I do freelance work, and I would love to expand that into a true vocation but I'm not sure how to go about it.

I am working now, but at a place that I can only generously describe as a sweatshop. I know I should be grateful for the job in these hard times, and I do appreciate getting a check -- but there is something missing when you leave work everyday exhausted, frustrated, and often angry.

There is indeed a lot to be said for being one's own boss, as well as taking pride in and actually liking what you do.
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