Twenty-thirteen has been a good year.
One year ago, I left a great job and a great firm. As part of a global cost cutting and shift towards a focus on product revenue, Mercer said goodbye to me (and quite a few others). I celebrated the holidays without income and quickly moved out of my pricey apartment near Marina Bay and into much smaller quarters. Looking back, it was stressful, but at the same time I sensed all would be OK.
With encouragement from family and friends–and especially a few trusted professional contacts–I decided to explore the freelancing option while looking at full-time corporate opportunities. Having consulted for both Hewitt and Mercer, and having spent five years as a corporate executive (VP Comp & Benefits for InterContinental Hotels Group) I was confident in my capabilities, and as a lifelong student of management, I felt up to the challenge of setting up my own business.
Starting with only one training relationship (as a GRP certification faculty with WorldatWork), I had a starting point. The way forward, I decided, was to build this relationship and find others like it, to develop a monthly training income that would meet my basic costs. Once training income was established, I would focus on consulting.
I am happy to say the model worked. I now have six training partners, two consulting clients, two referral partners and I am an executive coach as well. Along the way, I conducted original research on global mobility trends, spoke at eight conferences and corporate HR meetings.
Whatever 2014 brings, I am proud to be an HR professional, a rewards professional, a mobility professional.
Thanks to all of you for your support.
Congratulations Tom! I had no idea about this… but I’m glad that you landed on your feet–and were quickly running forward! I have no doubts that you will be successful in the future..
Your liberal cousin (who you get into arguments with on FB sometimes… ) who wishes you all the best…