I had known that redundancy was on the horizon for months before the axe actually fell, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with.  I had loved the job I was in and at my age I would have been happy to stay with the company until I retired.  But the finance industry was hit pretty hard and as the Financial Controller I had an even greater understanding of the situation faced by the Board.  I helped formulate the plan that would enable them to let go of me (maybe a little too noble of me), and I left with no ill will towards my former employers.  But that did not stop me from feeling the devastation of the redundancy.  It hit me pretty hard, but I was determined that I would survive this as I have survived other challenges throughout my life.

First, I had to accept that the job market was not looking good and accountancy jobs were very thin on the ground, and secondly, I had to come up with a plan.  There was a three month period of no work at all, and I utilised that time by training online and getting together a business plan to launch my new business.  Being an accountant is very handy for that sort of thing!

I had to find another skill, something marketable and something I could excel at.  Having always been a bit of a computer whizz, and having an artistic flair I hit upon the idea of website design while looking for a better product to revamp my own website.  I’ve done photography as a sideline for a few years now and always have built my own websites.  I found what I was looking for on the internet and I spent a lot of time in that first three months of unemployment in my online classroom, learning code, and layout.  What separates good websites from bad websites and what makes a great website.  I learned about search engine optimisation (SEO) and how Google rules the world, and a whole lot of other things.  And through all this I kept positive, but with ‘the plan’ firmly  in mind.

And then I launched on 6th July.  I have been busier than I can ever remember being and although there is no security around money - I feel so much more alive!  I am learning the power of marketing and networking pretty darned fast, and have spoken to more people in the last seven weeks than in the previous seven years.  I have customers, I have sales. Lights! Music! Action!

I have found something that I never knew I wanted before. My logo incorporates a cartoon rat - and to me that represents survival, but with a sense of fun.  Most days I have a smile on my face and even in the busiest moments I find time to laugh.  The name I decided on also reflects that humorous quirkiness - Alirat.  Its easy to spell and easy to remember. 

You can check out my website at www.alirat.co.nz.  Email - alison@alirat.co.nz.

Company profile: 

Alirat Limited T/A Alirat Website Design

PO Box 10412 Lincoln North

Henderson 0654

Phone 09 832 5528 and 027 571 5585

email alison@alirat.co.nz

Directors: Alison Griffiths and Chris Winchcombe

Website: www.alirat.co.nz

Quality Affordable Websites.

Services provided include website design, and hosting and domain names.