Wow, where has the last 10 years gone? It seems like only yesterday that I walked through the doors of the Toronto Business Development Centre to apply for the Self Employment Assistance Program. We were told to turn our phones off but Siobhan was expecting to give birth to Jaden any second so I refused and put mine on vibrate. Two very important things happening at the same time!
Fast forward 6 weeks and I started the program. It was a blur of information and on October 24th I graduated and The Virtual Alternative was born. It was a very scary day but the TBDC took us out to lunch at a local Portuguese restaurant and Joe, not yet my husband, picked me up and whisked me off…somewhere,,, (funny the details we remember and the details we don’t).
There have been a lot of highs and lows since then…applied for my HST number at the end of 2005 – not bad going for 2 years in business – then suffered from a pretty bad low. But here I am, 8 years after that, still going strong and loving being self-employed.
I have some terrific clients that I enjoy working with and every day is a new adventure. Despite some days being at the computer at 5:45 a.m. and still at the computer past midnight, I would rather stick pins in my eyes than go back to working for someone else. I’ve made some terrific friends, worked with some terrific colleagues and wouldn’t trade the last 10 years for anything.
So, to all my clients, friends and family, thank you for your support, it’s been a pleasure working and playing with you over the last 10 years and I look forward to another 10+.
Liz
Love you Liz! and Congratulations on your first 10 years!!!