The recession has hit me hard financially. I chose to start my own business in March 2008, and for a couple of months things went relatively well. We had a turnover of about R500 000 by October, and things were picking up. Then came November 2008…
Suddenly, clients were playing hard-to-get when payment was due to us. All our invoices were scrutinised and clients wanted 'discounts', even after having signed initial quotes, and the work completed on time. We had to write off about R50 000 in bad debts, and still had to try not to burn our bridges…
We know that the design, advertising and publishing industries are cyclical, with November to March being quiet months. We had made provision financially, but by March 2009 things just didn't pick up again. The recession had everybody by the short-and-curlies.
Thankfully, my wife started a new job at a medical research firm, and it pays quite well, considering that it's only a half-day job. That has been a great means of survival, and she hasn't complained at all… I am grateful…
Thankfully, I have a small group of regular clients that I still do work for. For there continued business I am also grateful.
I have friends (and I'm sure that I also have someone up there looking out for me) that always come through when things seem bleak and hopeless. For them I am grateful.
I am sometimes a little despondent, but I always tell myself that there is always someone a lot worse off than me, and that I should count my blessings, the small ones as well as those that come in disguise. I have more than enough to be grateful for. I have my eyesight, both hands, most of my faculties and a sense of humour, lots of artistic and creative talent, a roof over my head, a car, food in my belly and a wife who, in her quiet way, is always there for me. I am even grateful that I have three dogs and a cat. I am partial to cats, and Alley is the first pet I have ever truly owned. She is a little feral, but I've had her for almost twelve years now. She is timid and aggressive when cornered, especially to strangers, but I love it that she follows me – and only me – around everywhere, and that she chooses to sleep in my arms every night. I am grateful that I've had the privilege of having her around for that long.
I am grateful for my Apple computers. Without them I would be lost. They are my work tools, my link to the outside world, my company and my entertainment.
I know it seems a little soppy and saccharine, but it is a good starting point for my blog. I have a lot to be grateful for, so why not say so? I am counting my blessings, and I seem to have run out of fingers and toes to count the blessings on…
