Don’t panic!  It’s only a web comic!  But it sure is fun.

Many of you who know me also know Howard Tayler and his web comic Schlock Mercenary.  I met Howard 18 years ago at WordPerfect Corporation.  I attended a training for WordPerfect’s online volunteer support team (there were some of us from CompuServe and The Source there – that should take some of you back a bit), and Howard was doing training on “WordPerfect Office”.  Howard later became the Product Manager for Novell GroupWise.  For the past 11 years, Howard has been penning a fun and daring web comic, and a few years ago he decided to give it a try for “real” and made it his full time job.  I frequently remind Howard that he is my proof of “life after IT”.

I’ve been a recurring “character” in Schlock for about 8 months now, but it’s not looking good for my long-term survival there I’d say!   I used to feel like that in the “corporate” world too.  So many people look at their corporate job as the “safe” path.  A guaranteed income that takes the risk out of their lives.  But that’s really no longer the case!  The economy we live in means that (in the US at least), people out in the corporate world are at risk of losing their jobs every day.  By working at home, for ourselves, we are totally in control of our destinies!  Isn’t that a comforting thought?  I know that this goes against the conventional wisdom that working for yourself is risky and perilous.  And granted, it CAN be.  However, at its very core, self-employment is the ultimate in self-determination.  So keep up the good fight!

While you’re at it, check out our company’s great ongoing contest.  Enter once to be eligible for the daily drawing for the next two years!  How easy is that.  Go check it out here.

Watch out for space zombies!

Danita