I hope that you found your way to this post through Facebook and that you might have thought, I wonder what the heck is going on with the Pilkington's....? If not that is o.k. too.
Not even sure when the last time I wrote on this blog but wanted to touch base with you and of course myself as this poses as a makeshift journal. It has been a wild ride over the past 6 months or longer. Back in the day our lives were so much different. Feeling a sort of freedom from not taking care of Al after his passing gave us some time to re-learn how to be a couple again. We do very much miss "Pa" and his laughter and stories. Linda was working for Wells Fargo and I was struggling to find a job in my field and playing with a dream of owning my own shirt business. Reality was I had to go back to the phones and get yelled at each and every day by customers not happy with whatever service I was working for. Xerox hired me in January and I was there taking calls for Verizon Wireless and Linda in the mix moved from Wells Fargo to a weird project for Teleperformance with Cricket Wireless.
One day at work and just out of training and on the floor taking live calls, waiting to hear back from a job interview 2 weeks out for a great Graphic Design job that I landed 2 interviews for, I suddenly froze and a great since of reality hit me. THIS IS MY LIFE? Doomed to this life and tied to this phone and to companies that spit us out like used tissues... I spoke with my supervisor and was in tears and felt so scared for my future. This is not where I am suppose to be and being yelled at is not going to help matters from the customers. I left and took the day off to re-group and to re-focus myself - but did not quit. I came the next day, the next week even - but yet again I sat at my cubicle with fear and an overwhelming feeling that I should not be here...? My mind or spirit wanted me to go home and apply for another call center? In Orem? I sat and sat and wrestled with that...and then never clocking or looking back left Xerox. I got Hired at Vivint with the hopes of a better call center experience that would help me later find a job in my field, I just did not want mean customers and mean staff support.
Well - Vivint was like going from the fire to a much hotter fire. It was a lot worse then Xerox and in the process Linda left her job got hired as well plus we commuted each day to Orem from Salt Lake. Why was I given this inspiration to leave a job and then to find myself in a worse situation?? It was truly inspired because it was the last straw I would ever take working for the call centers. In a strange twist of events, Linda and I left Vivint with no jobs in hand and not a clue of our next move...
This puts us on a timeline of around the end of May and 1st of June. I decided that I would prove to myself of my self worth and my ability's in graphic designs. I decided to start my own business!!! With that said, I froze again and the fear overwhelmed me yet again.. what have I done? We need to pay bills and rent and and so much more.. What are we going to do. I decided to go forward and work as hard as I could with little business experience at at all. Linda would find a job again at a call center but would not start until July 24th at Century link. So it was down to the wire in all accounts.
Through the help of the Bishop, Selling our Jeep, and some inheritance money and some gracious help from Linda's Family we were able to maintain our self in this transition period.
Truly blessed... has been on my mind just over that past few days. In sure ah and amazement I find myself on a vista of the journey and what has transpired in just 6 or so months. I have met the right people at the right time. I have impressed the right people at the right time. My fruits of my labor is being shown in so many amazing ways. Through one single thought to change my status from a worker to a boss and to make my own dreams come true I have been blessed to meet great and amazing leaders, mentors, and humble millionaires that have more heart then I ever thought they had. My perspective has changed, and realize that in some cases they have become successful because they do have a good heart and want to help out others along the way. I found a networking group that is free and its whole purpose is to help start-ups and small business. Since I am a graphic designer most small business need design work and I have landed some small jobs and some large jobs and has made it possible to provide some paychecks along the way. I expressed my willingness to do some free work to those that wanted it and out of that I was met with Ron Baron who I actually knew when I was doing my shirt idea. I was asked to meet with him to be a mentor to me and to help out with one of his projects for a lady who owns a daycare and is a refuge and provides daycare for refuge mothers. He was so amazed by my work that he is one of my biggest clients and supporters.
Through a simple act of helping out I have now landed larger clients, and long lasting accounts that can provide for my family. There is so much I would love to share and the amazing people I get to work with and the over whelming creative force and talent I meet with. I also forgot to share with you that my first month on my own I met with a gentlemen and he became a client for motorcycle underwear and we were able to pay rent as he paid in advance for the work I was commissioned to do.
This past week I landed a great account that is helping people enjoy their music and be safe and my designs will be on the actual package for retail this winter!!! Then I am starting another side project /company that will be involved with K-12 schools with graphic tees and it is called Advocate tees that will help promote self esteem and education on ANTI-BULLYING; through the mentors and connections I have it is moving forward rapidly!!! Look for more information on this in 2014. Again truly blessed and I owe it to the Lord, my wife and for listening to the holy ghost and taking a risk. Linda now works for CenturyLink downtown and we are working with a specialist in fertility to work on a family as well.
Thanks to all those that have supported us and look forward to seeing how all this unfolds. I am actually going to be on a board of directors for this networking group in Sandy and will have more opportunities to network. Have a great day and I am thankful for anyone that read this and was inspired to think outside of your box and take risk sometimes.
The true life tales of the Pilkington adventures!