Feeling helpless, shutting down business after thirty eight years
Emotional stress, financial strain, guilt, anxiety and a dozen other gut wrenching sensations burning through me at this moment with my business closing down at the end of this month. It’s not going to be a happy retirement with a farewell party or planned future, I’m closing down because I have no choice. Amazon and this killer virus have forced me into this earlier then expected exit from my only job I have had for the last thirty eight years.
At sixty two years old, I have put in forty six years of work. In that time, I have never had a paid sick day, paid holiday or have ever had any benefits of any kind. I’m not complaining to you, just stating a fact I’ll talk about in a bit. But first, let me tell you how it all started. After my wife and I got married, we each did things the way that Americans are supposed to do, we worked. Many a times, we worked two jobs. We were proud to stand on our own two feet. We raised three great kids in that same fashion. All three worked their way through college and are very hard workers and fine human beings.
After working in the vacuum cleaning business a short time, we decided to open our vacuum cleaner repair and sales shop in nineteen eighty four. We have worked non-stop since, taking only three vacations in that time. We treated our customers with respect and fairness. So much so, we have a great five star rating all over the internet. But things have changed the last couple of years. Amazon has shown it’s ugly head and has taking away many of our potential new clients. Modern vacuums became disposable. Many brands, like shark, refuse to sell vacuum shops parts to fix them, simply expecting their customers to throw out their vacs and buy new ones. So here’s my dilemma.
The emotional strain of walking away from something you have done for thirty eight years is going to be difficult. It’ needs to be done, but wow, stress is building up. The guilt of leaving my good customers behind is going to be incredibly tough, as many of them are like family. There is a tremendous feeling of obligation weighing on my shoulders. But I know it was getting close to moving on to new adventures with my wife. We actually still like each other.
My biggest problem, and one I don’t understand, is the lack of help from our government at this time of need. I’m not saying I deserve help, as I always felt it’s our responsibility to fend for ourselves, and not expect handouts. We take pride in standing on our own two feet. But explain this to me please. Why, in this crazy tough time we are all going through, do millionaires get money so fast and in such large sums. Where is the help for the small businesses we keep hearing about? Why do we not qualify for assistance. I guess my forty six years of working, which I mentioned earlier, doesn’t count for anything. At sixty two, I have never broken the law, never overcharged my customers one penny, raised three wonderful kids, and did everything the way real Americans are supposed to do. Yet we, like so many other good people, are the last to be helped. Maybe it’s because we do things the right way that no one thinks we matter.
I’ll finish by saying that us, along with millions of other loving and caring folks out there, will somehow stay standing. We have family, friends and God on our side. It’ll just take a little more inner strength to get past these tough times, but we will do it. Somewhere out there is a new career for me. I’ll meet nice co-workers, get vacation time or maybe even affordable insurance. I only hope all of you who going through tough times now will move on to greater things and prove how strong you are. Oh well, thanks for letting me vent. God bless.