Café contract

There was a time, long ago, when I signed a contract without reading it. I know, it was stupid, and I should have known better. I actually did know better really, however it was a very long document and I made the assumption that those preparing it got it right. They did not. Fortunately I went back over it and double-checked before I enveloped it up and sent it back. It saved me a lot of money.

That contract was a house mortgage document that ran for thirty years in which they'd got the bank interest rate wrong, had I returned the document as signed it would probably have ended badly for me. That was many years ago now though and I was a very young and stupid man, now...I'm not young, but still probably stupid...although I read contracts in full, then read them again these days.

Today I received my employment contract from a company who offered me a role and, considering the important nature of the document and my need to read it carefully prior to signing and returning it, I decided I'd better get myself into the right frame of mind...that means somewhere I could find coffee and a toasted sandwich...so I could focus.

Last year I left an industry I've worked in for twenty years; I knew everything there was to know and only needed to spend time developing myself, which I do consistently anyway.

Entering a new industry was always going to be difficult as I'd have a steep learning curve, and I did, but would need to perform commensurate to the level they were paying me at. I made it work though, with the company I currently work for, learned rapidly and became a valued team member...But now it's time to move on to bigger and better things.

I used this company as a stepping stone to get a little closer to a more ideal situation; better remuneration for sure, but also a job where my collective skills could be better utilised and somewhere I feel I could remain for a longer term.

I went through the contract twice, once reading right through and the second breaking it down into sections and stopping to comprehend the true nature of the words within it. Some was generic of course, but some was very role-specific and I needed to feel comfortable, especially when it came to the salary and commission structure which is two pages of complicated equations and formulas. Don't worry, I had a second coffee and that allowed my knucklehead brain the ability to make sense of it.

I signed and dated in several places, using the café owner (a friend of mine) as the witness where required, and a couple hours later sent it off to the recruiter who had chased me for the role in the first place. I feel content that I'm making the right decision and happy to be taking control and it felt good to have it finalised.

I'll be handing my resignation at my current job in a day or so, taking a little time off, then starting at my new company. It's a little exciting.

I was told my office is being prepared and they're relocating my company vehicle from an interstate location so it's ready for me on day one in a few weeks. Once I resign at my current company I'll start to think about the new role and lean myself towards hitting the ground running. I'll have a lot to do, a little to learn, and a bright future ahead if I apply myself, which I will. But again, never fear, there'll still be time for cafés and coffee's...and toasted sandwiches.