I vividly remember the time I cried to my headhunter just four days into my new job, exclaiming, “What did you get me into?” The cash forecast indicated they wouldn’t be able to afford payroll next Friday.
Before joining this company, I worked for a multi-billion-dollar public company where cash wasn’t a concern.
The lengthy commute and an almost tragic incident made me reconsider my daily 100-mile commute, prompting me to seek a new position closer to home through the headhunter.
Despite having revenue just shy of one billion dollars, the company faced cash flow issues due to over-leveraging on debt and high overhead costs, typical of many privately owned companies.
Despite my initial distress, I ended up staying with the company for over eight years, driven by three main factors:
Great Culture: I cherished the camaraderie with my colleagues. We organized events like bowling nights and competitions such as “the biggest loser” without company sponsorship, showcasing the tight-knit community we had.
Autonomy: My boss provided a vision and allowed me the freedom to innovate and produce. I developed a Treasury Application from scratch, enhancing my financial statement skills and creating a system for easy forecast adjustments for various scenarios.
Personal Connection: Unlike the focus on EBITDA and massive layoffs in public companies, working for a privately-owned company meant management prioritized preserving the company and its employees. I witnessed owners and executives going to great lengths, including personal loans, to ensure the company’s survival.
Even years later, I maintain strong connections with former coworkers, some of whom I’ve even recruited to work with me in the present day.
