It’s Official! I’m Resigning and Going Travelling!
7 July, 2008 - General Business - 21 Comments
So here it begins. 30 seconds ago I sent an email to my entire customer base to tell them of my departure from my business and ultimately, my impending 12 month working holiday in Australia.
I can’t express how mixed my emotions were when I clicked the “send” button. I knew that once I pressed that button, there was no going back. This is a business I’ve built from scratch for the past six years, since I was 14 years old. And suddenly, with one simple click of a mouse button, I would be changing the course of my life.
It’s so very strange how a structure, albeit a virtual one contained within accounting spreadsheets and Inland Revenue tax documents, can be dismantled so easily. A business that has received love, sweat and tears over six years is now without one of its three business partners because of a simple click of the mouse.
But with that said, I can’t express how excited I am about the coming year, both for myself and for the business and my customers.
I’m currently being bombarded with emails and phone calls from customers who wish to express their thanks and best wishes, so I’m struggling to type. Instead, I’ll just paste here the message I sent to my customers.
“Dear Customers,
It’s with mixed emotions that I’m writing you today. For the past seven years I have designed, developed and hosted Web sites. In those seven years I and Equentity LLC have been through some incredible moments, from the day I decided to make the decision to finish college a year early to work full time from home, to the day I received my first major newspaper and live BBC radio interviews, all the way up to the day when I received a phone call from Endemol, the producers of Big Brother, to be asked if I would appear on their reality TV show as their resident young entrepreneur. Not many of you will know about the latter event in the Equentity timeline. In this day and age, going on Big Brother isn’t really the kind of thing the average Joe shouts about. Fortunately, yes, fortunately, I wasn’t chosen as a housemate.
As an individual I’ve always enjoyed travelling, having done my fair share throughout Europe and North America. With more and more Generation-Y, fresh-out-of-college individuals extending to the realm of backpacking, I felt I couldn’t possibly ignore the opportunity to join them when it arose last month. And that’s why I’m writing you today. To proudly, sadly, and excitedly announce that I will be stepping down as co-owner of Equentity LLC in August 2008 to embark on 12 months of travel within Australia.
On 1st September 2008, I shall be departing from Manchester, England, flying to Singapore and then forward on to Sydney, Australia (in the lovely new double-decker A380 aircraft, might I add!). I shall then be making my way around Australia, going when and where the wind wants me to go.
So what does this mean for you and your favourite Web design and hosting company?
1. First and foremost, I want to make it absolutely clear that my decision to step down has no reflection on the business, my friends Paul Hirsch and Paul Riddick (the other co-owners) or you as customers. This decision is a reflection only on me as a person. As I’m sure you understand, now getting close to my 21st birthday, my priorities in life are shifting. Equentity LLC is as strong, if not stronger than ever. Having recently purchased brand new hardware for our Web hosting customers, brought online several new servers and taken on plenty of high profile Web development projects to a point where we’ve started creating a queue for future work, the business has never been in a better financial and emotional position. This decision to step down was arrived at for one single reason: My priorities in life shifted to a point where I wanted to see the world before settling down in to such a successful business with such fantastic customers.
2. If you are a US customer, nothng will change for you. If you are a UK customer, Not much will change for you either. Sure, you may have a new UK phone number to call once I leave (say hi to Paul Riddick in Yarm, County Durham), and you may have a new address to send your Web site photos to, but ultimately the thorough, high-quality service, friendly response and everything that has made Equentity LLC what it is since November 2004 will still be here when I leave. My departure will be seamless, the only thing you’ll notice is a lack of a Yorkshire accent.
3. For those customers for whom I’m currently completing Web development work for, please don’t worry. Your work will be completed before I leave in August and/or on schedule with the deadline we may have given you. I’m as committed to Equentity and you as customers as I ever was and my travels will not interfere with the work you are expecting to be completed. Besides, your money will pay for my Fosters beer and Kangaroo sightseeing.
Like I said at the very start of this message, I have so many mixed emotions about this decision. I’m very sad to be leaving. This is a business I have built with my bare hands, alongside Paul and Paul, since the day I left college. It is, in fact, a business I started at just 14 years old, way before Equentity LLC was ever conceived. As I sat in this very spot, albeit with a much slower computer back then, with school work on one side of my desk and a business plan on the other, I never imagined that my first two customers I ever got at that young age of 14 would still be using my services to this day, six years later.
As well as being very sad to be stepping down, I cannot express in words how excited I am about the 12 months ahead. I’ve not been this excited since my brother and I heard Santa’s sleigh land on our roof all those years ago. With the likes of scuba diving, sky diving, bungee jumping, kayaking, surfing and yes, sun bathing all on my list of things to do, I cannot contain my excitement.
But one thing I’m not experiencing is worry. You have two of the best people I have ever worked with, Paul Hirsch and Paul Riddick, to take care of Equentity and your Internet holdings once I leave. And while, to our UK customers at least, it may not seem like they have as much an input in the business as I have, I can assure you they have built Equentity every step of the way with me and have a larger role in the work you send our way than you may think. Often, I’m just the project manager, relaying the work they have completed back to you, the customer. They have their own solid base of Equentity customers for whom they work on a daily basis. I am sure I can speak for those customers when I say they wouldn’t use the services of any other Web developers. As my UK customers, you will continue to experience this level of customer service and support with two of the finest Web developers and business owners I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. If I had any worry at all about the level of service you will receive after I leave, I simply wouldn’t be leaving.
As I travel around Australia I will be blogging about all the wonderful activities I do and places I see. I’ll also be staying in regular contact with the team here at Equentity to see how things are going. If you would like to follow my travels, please head over to my blog at http://www.jamieharrop.com. If you would like to receive an email each time I write an update, put your email address in the form at the right hand side and press your enter key.
With all that said, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me via email or phone. I’ll still be here from 9-5 until Mid-August. An official departure date hasn’t yet been set in stone, but once we’re closer to the time I will send you another email to let you know when my last day will be.
It’s been a real pleasure working with you all for the past six years. When I arrive back in the UK in September 2009, I sincerely hope all our customers are still using the services of Equentity LLC.
Warm Regards,
Jamie Harrop
Equentity LLC”
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Posted on 7 July, 2008 by Jamie Harrop
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You lucky git! Spare a bit of room in your suitcase for me mate!
Good luck, you will have the time of your life. Cant wait to hear what you get up to, will the blog be uncensored and no holes barred? If so, ill subscribe!
Entirely uncensored, and plenty of video.
Thanks bud!
As per my email - all the best!
Thanks Ross!
Wow Jamie, this must be a very exciting time for you! Having the guts to make a major life change when necessary is an admirable trait. I hope you find everything you’re looking for. And I can’t believe you started that business at 14!
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..2007/2008 Human Development Index Rankings
Hey Hunter,
Thanks for the kind words.
Making this decision was probably one of the hardest in my life. But you’re right, it’s a very, very exciting time for me right now.
Yep, I was 14. 13 when I started designing Web sites, and 14 when I first got paid to create a Web host and host a Web site. Fun times, for sure.
Wow Jamie, I just saw the news! I’m in absolute shock right now! I should have known this was coming, but still amazes me! When you think Equentity, you think of you three. It’s going to be quite odd for me not having your name associated with it.
I wish you the best of luck Jamie! Enjoy every last second of your trip! And best of all, don’t screw up and land up in prison!
Have a wonderful trip Jamie, and I wish you the absolute best — you sure as hell deserve it.
Hey Tyler,
Thanks for the kind words. Means a lot to me.
Yep, it’s going to be quite strange once I leave. It was bad enough when I stepped down as a WebHostingTalk moderator, not having access to the moderation forums. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like when I can’t do my morning routine of opening WHM and billing systems.
All that talk of you aged 14 makes me feel old!
Good luck with the travelling, I hope you find the future direction for your life and hopefully see you at another E-Camp!
It makes me feel old too!
Thanks Jon! I won’t be at E-Camp next year, but I should be at the 2010 camp.
Hey Jamie,
Best wishes as well. Seems we’re going to do a swap - I’m taking a break from work ‘down under’ and traveling around the UK for six months from January next year. My clients don’t yet know ;-), but fortunately I have equally capable partners so it should be smooth.
Have fun on your trip. Definitely recommend a road trip from Sydney up to Brisbane.
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Hey Andrew,
Make sure to stop in Yorkshire on your travels. We don’t bite, I promise.
A road trip from Sydney to Brisbane sounds lovely. I don’t drive, but I will be going by bus from Sydney to Perth.
That’s going to be a veeery long bus trip - hope you like buses
Oh, we’ll be stopping along the way. Three nights on Fraser Island. Three days at surf camp etc. The bus allows you to stop wherever you feel like stopping, and then jump back on at specific points. The ticket is valid for six months so you can hop on and hop off for a full six months, making your way up the coast as you go.
Hey Andrew,
I just realised I said “Sydney to Perth” when I was talking about my bus ride. I actually meant “Sydney to Cairns”. Doh!
Good luck Jamie…A changing could be an opportunity for something better and worse. It all depend on how we handle it. But, I’m sure you’ll be doing great during the time.
Thanks Susan.
I’m sure this move will be very much for the better.
Good luck Jamie - I’m sure that this will be a great experience for you. I’ll be looking forward to reading about your adventures on this blog.
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Thanks Cath. Likewise, I’ll be following to see whether you decide Oz or Canada is right for you.
Hey Jamie,
Your story is very inspiring. I wish I was switched on like you at 14. LOL. I know you will have a fab time while traveling in Oz. After all, I made it my home after migrating from cold Europe ten years ago.
Best of wishes and have lots of fun. If you happen to land on my shores lets have coffee. (I live on the Capricorn Coast)
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Hey Monika,
I wouldn’t say I was switched on. I’d just say it was an easy way for me to get out of doing my schoolwork.
I would absolutely love to meet up for coffee. As I was just telling Andrew further up the comments, after spending a week in Sydney when I land, I’ll be travelling up the East coast from Sydney to Cairns on the Oz Experience bus, stopping off wherever I feel like stopping. So the Capricorn Coast is a place I’ll certainly be visiting and no doubt stopping off at.
I’m noting down names of all the people who have offered to meet me on my way around the sunburnt country. I’ve just added your name to my ever growing list, so I’ll be sure to get in touch closer to the time.