Wow.
Wow.
Ten days ago I had a job I liked working with people I liked. Moreover, my friend and colleague and I were in a position to purchase the company very soon. We had big plans and an opportunity to make a lot of money in a very short period of time. Everything looked great. The buyout was going to be leveraged so the risk to me was negligible. It was going to take a lot of hard work, but the work and the flexibility of owning the company was something that I was really looking forward to. I saw my professional life in front of me and the sky was the limit.
Nine days ago I found out that the widow of my former boss (and de facto owner of the corporation's stock) decided to sell the company to someone else. She had promised to sell to me and Tom. She did not even give us the courtesy of informing us that she wanted to sell to someone else. And - this is the real kicker - she sought out the buyer, he did not approach her with an offer she couldn't refuse.
The buyer already owns a collection law firm in San Diego. I can't see any reason why he would keep Orinda open. He is going to get a sweetheart deal and then transfer the firm assets to his other firm in San Diego and close up this office for good.
Tom and I are devastated.
Oh, and I have a new home and my wife is pregnant and due to deliver in January.
No pressure.
Earlier today I was made an offer to join the in-house legal team of a large, multi-state corporation. Its a 30% raise. And I respect the people I've met there so far and think that I will probably be a good fit and get to like most of the people there. But, although there is plenty of room to climb the corporate ladder, I will never have an opportunity to own the company.
I have never in my life been so sad to get a job offer. I think it is inevitable that I will take the new position. But I will miss my friends at EJL very much. And I feel like someone has stolen my golden opportunity.
What a year.
Like my old grand-pappy used to say, "Sonny, life is a hell of a thing to live.
Ten days ago I had a job I liked working with people I liked. Moreover, my friend and colleague and I were in a position to purchase the company very soon. We had big plans and an opportunity to make a lot of money in a very short period of time. Everything looked great. The buyout was going to be leveraged so the risk to me was negligible. It was going to take a lot of hard work, but the work and the flexibility of owning the company was something that I was really looking forward to. I saw my professional life in front of me and the sky was the limit.
Nine days ago I found out that the widow of my former boss (and de facto owner of the corporation's stock) decided to sell the company to someone else. She had promised to sell to me and Tom. She did not even give us the courtesy of informing us that she wanted to sell to someone else. And - this is the real kicker - she sought out the buyer, he did not approach her with an offer she couldn't refuse.
The buyer already owns a collection law firm in San Diego. I can't see any reason why he would keep Orinda open. He is going to get a sweetheart deal and then transfer the firm assets to his other firm in San Diego and close up this office for good.
Tom and I are devastated.
Oh, and I have a new home and my wife is pregnant and due to deliver in January.
No pressure.
Earlier today I was made an offer to join the in-house legal team of a large, multi-state corporation. Its a 30% raise. And I respect the people I've met there so far and think that I will probably be a good fit and get to like most of the people there. But, although there is plenty of room to climb the corporate ladder, I will never have an opportunity to own the company.
I have never in my life been so sad to get a job offer. I think it is inevitable that I will take the new position. But I will miss my friends at EJL very much. And I feel like someone has stolen my golden opportunity.
What a year.
Like my old grand-pappy used to say, "Sonny, life is a hell of a thing to live.