Just over a year ago I decided to leave a massive organisation – the National Health Service which is the third largest employer in the world after the Chinese Army and Indian Railways.
Here are just a few unstructured random thoughts about the differences I have noticed between working for the NHS – and working for myself.
- I used to have a boss – now I am the boss
- I used to believe I was accountable – now I am accountable – If I don’t work, I don’t eat
- I used to have appraisal meetings with my boss – now I just look in the mirror and ask the person I see – ‘did you try hard enough Trevor?’
- I used to work in an office – now our front room is the office – budgies, music and all
- I used to work the hours the organisation expected of me – now I work when I want
- I used to frown a lot – now I smile a lot
- I used to dress within organisational requirements – now I may not shave for three days
- I used to work through lunchtimes – now I might take a three hour break with Annie to go to the gym in the middle of the day and we both might then work till midnight
- I used to have a Finance department – now I am the Finance department. I used to have a Human Resources Department – now I am the HR department. I used to have a Complaints Department – now I am the Complaints Department. You get the picture, etc., etc.
- I used to sit on groups and committees – now I wonder why we needed them
- I used to regularly feel negative stress – now I am always excited about possibilities
- I used to believe I took risks – now I try something new almost every day
- I used to feel controlled – now I feel free
- I used to feel there were things I could not say – now I say what I like
- I used to think there was a place for planning – now I realise John Lennon was right “Life is what happens while we are busy making other plans" – well said Mr Lennon
- I used to get angry and frustrated – now I know I control my own destiny
- I used to think I might be in the wrong place – now I know I was in the wrong place
- I used to be sad quite often at work – now I am happy
And finally, but most importantly - I used to be not in love – now I am in love.
Annie and I raising a glass to Simplicity in the summer of 2005 .