Well, with your experience maybe you could help me build a minature mag lev track for tiny cars with neodium magnets set in them. It could be even better than Hot Wheels.... driven by pulses to the coils embedded in the track.
You were written about in a Yahoo feature story about your job at Mattel. I've seen your picture in robots magazines. I've studied your YouTube videos. I'm thinking you have celebrity status among roboticists and other techies.
As you are an experienced robot expert, "What's Luck Got To Do With It?" You have an in-demand skill set. I would be extremely surprised (and disturbed) if there were 'crickets'. Your continued success will inspire a bunch of us. I, for one, will stay tuned!
Erco, your attitude and helpfulness on here speaks of a man who can only do well in this case. Good employers recognize and reward creative inventive types, and as word gets around, it wouldn't surprise me one bit to find that you become the object of a bidding war!
I worked for the Wall Street Journal for 18 years before they told me my job was moving to NYC. I've been self-employed since then, that was in 2000. I'm just 50 now, but despite it being a little scary at times, self-employment can have some great rewards, even if you just do it as an interim solution.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll do fantastically well, you're a quality person.
I haven't been able to visit the forums much at all this summer so I was surprised to see this post.
I imagine this is a bit scary at first because the routine, security and processes you are used to have evaporated. Almost nothing is as important as being in a work environment that you enjoy, whether it's alone or with a group. It sounds like you may have been in a situation where you were not happy with the management, so this warrants a change.
You will have multiple opportunities. My suggestion is to head out on a few big bike rides and think over what aspects of Mattel you really enjoyed. List them out, along with the skills, interests and capabilities you have developed and enjoy using. Take a bit of time so that you don't get committed to any employer too fast.
Working on your own in the meantime isn't a bad idea if you can charge all of your time to capable clients, too. I imagine that healthcare will be a big determinant of what you elect to do next because of the family. In California these costs have become a killer in themselves, no matter what kind of insurance you have.
And consider a trip up to Parallax to visit us, too! Know that we're all here for you to offer good and bad advice, contacts, and any kind of assistance we might be able to offer.
Thanks for the good feedback and wishes (and prayers, Whit+!). Per Ken's recommendation, I went for on a nice 200 km bike ride with some good friends on Saturday. Everything's looking up.
I'm sure you'll do all right and you'll end up finding something new, refreshing, and a better fit all around. I doubt you'll have any trouble finding something good.
Sometimes the breaks in between can do wonders. Maybe go for a Corvair ride too.....
Maybe call Elon Musk, isn't that what he's doing these days? Just slightly bigger?
My experience:
First time I got laid off, I felt like crying; it was like being dumped by a girl I really liked.
Second time, it was like being dumped by a girl I DIDN'T really like.
When Motorola laid me off (as they lay off all engineers eventually) it was like a party started.
Last time I got laid off, I started the LittleRobot project, and actually taught the session a couple times. While not a financial success, the material was a great success.
Next time I work for a greedy, selfish, narrow minded, inconsiderate twit, his name is going to Professor Braino.
There was a young woman that put up a Kickstarter project to write and illustrate a kid's programming book on Ruby. Last time I checked the status the pledge was well over $200,000. Now, that was for a lot of copies, but I know she built a small royalty into every copy sold. Even at 10 cents a copy, that's $20K.
I realize Erco isn't a charming 20's something young lady from Finland, but there are tons of people out there with various skill sets. The key is to look half-way decent on camera. Erco is a natural, and he's got a couple of pretty models to make it cute.
You are quite right, George. It was a great ride, and now I'm. off on another chapter. Have made many interesting connections and visited some places with amazing potential already. Lots of friends in the industry, and news of my availability has traveled surprisingly fast. I'm still a lucky fellow!
Comments
I wish you the very best in finding employment that is both lucrative and enjoyable.
No, man - back then.
I know the maglev toy concept may seem absurd, but look at this.... It could just be a good fit with a new employer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnoz9RUoyso&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnTQgYDY-kw
As you are an experienced robot expert, "What's Luck Got To Do With It?" You have an in-demand skill set. I would be extremely surprised (and disturbed) if there were 'crickets'. Your continued success will inspire a bunch of us. I, for one, will stay tuned!
I worked for the Wall Street Journal for 18 years before they told me my job was moving to NYC. I've been self-employed since then, that was in 2000. I'm just 50 now, but despite it being a little scary at times, self-employment can have some great rewards, even if you just do it as an interim solution.
Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll do fantastically well, you're a quality person.
Dave
I haven't been able to visit the forums much at all this summer so I was surprised to see this post.
I imagine this is a bit scary at first because the routine, security and processes you are used to have evaporated. Almost nothing is as important as being in a work environment that you enjoy, whether it's alone or with a group. It sounds like you may have been in a situation where you were not happy with the management, so this warrants a change.
You will have multiple opportunities. My suggestion is to head out on a few big bike rides and think over what aspects of Mattel you really enjoyed. List them out, along with the skills, interests and capabilities you have developed and enjoy using. Take a bit of time so that you don't get committed to any employer too fast.
Working on your own in the meantime isn't a bad idea if you can charge all of your time to capable clients, too. I imagine that healthcare will be a big determinant of what you elect to do next because of the family. In California these costs have become a killer in themselves, no matter what kind of insurance you have.
And consider a trip up to Parallax to visit us, too! Know that we're all here for you to offer good and bad advice, contacts, and any kind of assistance we might be able to offer.
Ken Gracey
I'm sure you'll do all right and you'll end up finding something new, refreshing, and a better fit all around. I doubt you'll have any trouble finding something good.
Sometimes the breaks in between can do wonders. Maybe go for a Corvair ride too.....
Keep you spirits up my friend!
Robert
Maybe call Elon Musk, isn't that what he's doing these days? Just slightly bigger?
My experience:
First time I got laid off, I felt like crying; it was like being dumped by a girl I really liked.
Second time, it was like being dumped by a girl I DIDN'T really like.
When Motorola laid me off (as they lay off all engineers eventually) it was like a party started.
Last time I got laid off, I started the LittleRobot project, and actually taught the session a couple times. While not a financial success, the material was a great success.
Next time I work for a greedy, selfish, narrow minded, inconsiderate twit, his name is going to Professor Braino.
Welcome to Freedom!
I realize Erco isn't a charming 20's something young lady from Finland, but there are tons of people out there with various skill sets. The key is to look half-way decent on camera. Erco is a natural, and he's got a couple of pretty models to make it cute.
Any updates?
Jim
One no one has ever heard of, I'm afraid. Hot Wheels.
Anyone that has had a 30 year run with one employer is an extreme rarity these days.
@Erco
You are one lucky fellow.
You are quite right, George. It was a great ride, and now I'm. off on another chapter. Have made many interesting connections and visited some places with amazing potential already. Lots of friends in the industry, and news of my availability has traveled surprisingly fast. I'm still a lucky fellow!