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So March 24th. I was furloughed as a director for an Audi / VW store. I was crushed at the idea of not knowing want tomorrow would bring. I had to switch jobs before. Sometimes by my own doing. Sometimes by force. This was different tho. The world stopped turning due to Covid
I went home and started looking online as if jobs were going to be available in the Automotive space. Of course there was nothing but old ads and such.
now my job promised to bring me back but honestly, I don't trust anyone and don't out stock into promises I wasn't going to wait for that sunny day to appear. But in the event it did. I didn't want to walk into a mess 90 days later.
So I went into my job two days a week to keep inventory in order and the place from falling apart. For free. Weird. I know. But I treat things like they were mine. Even if I shouldn't.
In the meantime. I come across this job posting in the tech startup space that requires automtovie background and it was in my wheelhouse. So I figured why not. I submit a revised resume with a cover letter explaining why they can take the listing down since I applied.
I get an email in 5 minutes asking to set up a call. Now I'm not being cocky, but I consider myself an elite interview. I would often go on interviews for jobs I don't want as practice to keep my sword sharp. True story
So I killed the interview. Then I have a few more phone interviews because covid didn't allow for F2F interviews. Including one with the CEO.
Now in the Automotive space, interviews and hires happen pretty fast. This took a little longer but I guess different industries move at different speeds. I'm used to getting an offer in 48 hours max after my interview
So after a week that felt like a month. They call me explain that ok who they want. I'm happy. because we went over my previous compensation, I assumed we were on the same page. And they asked me to create my own pay plan. so i did just that. and emailed it off to them.
A few days pass and paranoia sets in. did i outpeice myself? turn them off? my lady tells me to relax. so i’m trying but i need to work like i need to breath.
so finally they get back to me and explain their limitations financially. and it’s probably 40% less than what i was previously earning. so i’m like “fuck” and go into negotiation mode. start pressing them as to why that doesn’t work. my value. etc.
now he agrees with me and says he’s going to try and get an approval for a increase. not where i want to be but any increase is an increase and i’m about increases. so let’s go. get back to me and let me know what’s going on.
i’m trying to keep my poker face on through the emails and phone conversations but inside i’m low key panicking.
i’m like what if they just hire someone else and i’m left with nothing. follow up. give it 48 hours. don’t hear nothing back. my lady telling me chill. trying to keep me calm.
meanwhile pandemic news is making it seem like the world is going to never return to normal. and i have a good 10k in liabilities every month so 1100 a week from the government feels like $11.
after long conversations with my lady. i ask her if she thinks i should buckle down and just take the offer and work my way through the first 90 days with the hope of then getting the paper i’m used to making. she encourages my thought process.
so i email them and explain to them that i don’t wanna drag this out. i’ll take the offer with the contingency that after 90 days if i move the needle as expected. we renegotiate terms. they accepted. boom.
48 hours later i get emailed the contract to sign. i send it back. ready to get back into the work force about 45 days after being furloughed. i start the new job on May 11th.
i signed the contract Friday morning. And of course Friday afternoon Audi calls me back and says they want to bring me back and I can resume work monday. WHAT?
so now i’m in a real pickle as my caucasian friends would say.
i kept thinking about the comfort of my old job. the money i was used to making. but i worked in that position for 17 years at various places and part of me was honestly bored. i also was thinks about the “what if” factor. i didn’t answer to be back at work wondering......
so i sat real hard all weekend. pause. my lady encouraging me to take a chance. i also was concerned i may go back to work only to be furloughed again later because corona paranoia was still at elite levels.
Monday morning comes. i call my ok’d job and explain that i am not coming back. they advise me it’s a bad idea, they have future plans for promotion for me etc etc. and i’m telling you, i wanted to just say ok and go bacause the devil you know is better than the one you don’t.
but i stuck to my guns. declined and marched forward with my decision to give the tech startup a swing. scared as hell. i doubled down and moved out my comfort zone.
now this job was very different. i worked from home. i was building something from scratch. literally. just me and my ideas and my horsepower to plow through obstacles and challenges.
now if you know me know me. you know i have this incredible will to achieve what i set my mind to. almost a get rich or die trying mentality except i don’t compete for money. i compete against myself and people who doubted me in my lifetime.
so the first month. marginal success. july we double the past month. and august i double that. and i start to feel the leverage tipping in my favor at the company. because i’m actually doing the shit i said i would.
i mention to the CEO that 90 days is coming and it’s almost time to pay me what i’m worth i let him know “i’m not worried because i know you’re gonna do the right thing” got to plant seeds in the peoples mind of the outcome you want. that’s a jewel. trust me.
so long story long. we sit down discuss it. i ask him a series of questions to validate my worth. those questions were....
“would you say i was below, met or exceeded your expectations in the following categories... my skill and ability, my production for the company, and my overall intelligence and knowledge” he admitted i exceeded in all 3. so at that point, i knew i was holding a loaded hand.
he asked me to design a pay plan again. i did. one that allowed me to earn what i was accustomed to but with tremendous upside to make more than i have ever before. every good deal has upside. or it isn’t a good deal.
i expected so negotiations because that’s life. but to my surprise. he accepted my offer. and added stock option incentive for me. wow. i was shocked.
he later called me and told me that i was the first person in his life he never negotiated with max it’speaks to my character. i explained that money is important to me but being appreciated and recognized are just as important. and i thanked him for the kind words.
one of the things he said that stuck out to him was that when he asked why i took the job for the lower # initially and i said “i’ve always bet on myself in life and i won in most instances.” he respected that and commented on my risk tolerance and it being an asset.
now to be clear. in my mind. getting my new contract doesn’t mean the journey ends or it’s a happy ending. it just means now i have something to race for. i’m actually in the game. the real pressure starts now.
it’s one thing to be working to build something. it’s another when you lay the foundation and now have the chance to get paid for real for real. you don’t want to fumble that bag. so now i have to work even harder because i know what’s at risk between my success or failure.
but i say that to stay. in life, always bet on yourself. never stop running tho. ain’t no finish line. just laps. now grab the baton and go get what’s yours. thanks for listening y’all. 
