Career Changes Support Group

I have never written on this board before. I tried to find a support group for the self employed. This was the closed group I found. But then when I read a few things, wow, I realize how many people are hurting out there to not have jobs. So it made me feel very greatful, but also a little doubt ful about what I'm doing.

I have a business that sort of got bigger than my energy, motivation, ability to handle the stress. It is because I expanded my business several years ago. Having both divisions of my company has been gosh, TOO MUCH for me at times. It just seems like there is always some major problem here or there and I'm tired of problem solving. It isn't that I work too many hours but that I have had a great deal of trouble finding a happy balance between the two divisions of my business plus family. I feel I never have time just to shop or to have the energy to exercise and take care of myself.

Also in the newer division my staffing is way more needy. The managers I have are not exactly weak but sort of don't want the responsibility an owner has. And they both need quite a bit of support. I should mentioned in the last 5 years I got married and had a son, who is 2 and I already had an 11 year old that was used to having a lot of my time and attention. The last five years have been a time of real growth for me in many ways, but I just feel like I began to fall apart from the stress of it all.

Last spring I began having trouble handling the stress. My brain began reacting by just forgetting important or unimportant things, just total brain scatter is what I call it. I was breaking down. I did slow down and things have improved for now.

So during the time my husband and I agreed I needed to try to sell this division of the company where I have so much stress. This means we are selling it 3 years before we planned. I found a broker and signed an agreement to sell a couple months ago. I have my first appointment next week.

The broker has explained to me that financially this IS the time to sell this division b/c the area of town it is experiencing a serious decline which is beginning to effect my business but has not shrunk it yet. That is true. But the problem I have is that I have not yet finished paying for the real estate of this business. I am half way there. If I stay and finish paying it will take me 3 more years. But he says at that time the area could have declined more and the business could be worth less.

So I am going to proceed to see if we can find a buyer. But I feel like a creep to my staff - kind of like a traitor. I also am very disappointed I can't make it less than 3 more years to get a greater return. And I can't really share any of this with the staff I just have to hold it all in. I feel like I'm sneaking around to show the business, etc.

The people the broker shows the business to are likely going to be completely different than me which is going to change all these peoples jobs I'm sure. In many ways I do think I could make it, but I think the broker has a great point about the neighborhood declining. Similar businesses to this one have already started to fail in my area whereas we have not dropped in revenue but are having to work harder to get the sales than we ever have.

I just feel very uncertain. Selling I will get a chunk of money, but it could have been 1/3 more or so if I could hang in there. But I'm tired of trying to juggle b/t these businesses. My other division of the business requires less of me to operate. I could just work part-time basically b/c I have a manager that has been doing it all by herself anyway for the last 5 years.

It just feels unsolveable.
Posted on 10/16/09, 06:10 am