Unfortunately, losing a job affects people - whether they want it or not
In my case, the company that “purchased my previous job position” decided to say goodbye to its headquarters in Poland and move its services elsewhere. “Of course, no problem - after all, business is business”, “I’ll rest a bit and go in search of further adventures elsewhere”. These were my first thoughts. I was positive - after all, I have a dozen or so years of experience in programming and more than one hardcore project to handle in my career has appeared, so it’s only a matter of time when I put “green” on my LinkedIn profile and someone responds. Heck! With such a background, I can even be picky in choosing offers 😊
Hell no!
Do you want to be “in a sweet spot? - forget it!” reality quickly set me straight. After a few offers and sending a few CVs (to companies that REALLY interested me) it dawned on me that something was wrong.
I started following the market more closely, analyzing the world’s economies and the political mood to understand “that the heck is going on…”. And it emerged - the image of the present: economies restarted by the pandemic in which companies are facing inflation, the post-pandemic dust settling in which you can still hear the echoes of the employee boom, mass layoffs of big-tech employees in the US, “artificial intelligence” peeking out from every corner and shouting, like the donkey from Shrek: “oh… pick me! pick me!!”, serious reshuffles at the top of the political ladder and shouting over sanctions.
Yes, that’s right - ideal conditions for companies to think carefully about whether it’s worth it for them to employ someone on a permanent basis to pay ZUS, taxes, health insurance, maternity, paternity, grandmother’s, FGŚP, PPK and a lot of other fancy levies (btw. I wonder if any company offers 4.5% PPK as a motivational bonus 😉 ).
Well, that’s a bummer…
In such conditions it may be difficult to find a good job with an employment contract. At some point, it came too - a mental crisis. I had no choice but to greet it with the words “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again…”
what now? savings are shrinking, something has to be done…
or maybe I’m not as pro as I thought I was?
hmmm… how long will potatoes last?
Those little voices were getting louder and louder, and it dawned on me that losing a job wasn’t such a walk in the park and “ohh well - I’ll sort something out”… nothing could be further from the truth - This is serious business!
So what - are we lying and crying in the pillow?
The moment I wanted to delay so much has finally come: time to seriously start looking for a job. Unfortunately, the awareness of the savings melting like the Arctic glaciers and the lack of perspective on the “here and now” made the commander-in-chief - the brain and, led by it, the army of organs commonly called the organism, want to “just lie down for a moment, rest… let’s say somewhere… for the rest of my life?”.
All in all, a pretty good option: lie/sleep? under a warm “blanket”? with a dog by our side? watch TV series? not worry about anything? not think?… awww how great that sounds!
although on the other hand… the electricity will be cut off soon, it will be cold, they will complain that I have to pay something, the potatoes will indeed run out at some point… Ahh, and the wife and the dog - they probably won’t be happy about this turn of events… 🥴
The first spring ray of sunshine
Completely independently of my considerations and worries, a company I used to work with contacted me.
Maybe you could help us sort out one topic? You are an expert, so you will know better what and how
I thought “why not, after all, our cooperation was going very well.”
The next sentence - something like “maybe we’ll even work together longer” released a whole series of thoughts from which the most important one emerged: wait a moment… what if I set up a company?
Been there, done that
I’ve thought about setting up my own business more than once on various occasions and ideas - whether it was side projects for friends, or fixing some mistake “because I clicked something…”. Sometimes, when there were no specific tasks at work, I thought to myself that maybe I’d try my hand at trade - after all, I have some experience in it. Or maybe I could try producing well-thought-out and, above all, well-made decorations? Such an alternative to the ubiquitous, mostly tacky crap straight from the world’s largest marketplace 🤔
Unfortunately, each time it ended with a theoretical idea, mainly due to fear of the mission impossible in my head of running a business in Poland. The complexity of the processes that I would have to deal with, my own interpretations, sometimes contradictory, regulations that even tax offices cannot properly handle, treating “Hustle heroes” as cash cows 🐮, taxes on taxed taxes with taxes on taxes, outdated and unclear procedures - that was my vision of running a business in Poland.
”I Am the One Who Knocks!”
Literally from one day to the next I thought - I’m doing it! From a small man, sitting secretly in his inner, safe shell and in a warm position of “a bug in a rug”, a man who accepted everything with a Buddhist mentality “whatever will be will be and I’ll take it” in a short time I understood that I was tired of waiting for the economy to improve, for a great job opportunity, for “better times”, for more convenient regulations and I don’t know what else. I want to regain control, I want to rule, I want to decide! It was very nice, warm, comfortable and safe to live peacefully in my small comfort zone like Walter White from Breaking Bad. This guy also had to deal with the constant feeling that nothing depended on him and to accept what happened to him. However, even he at some point decided “enough is enough” - it’s time to give way to Heisenberg!
Do or die!
Not to make it too rosy - it’s not like every person can just like a TV series hero change their attitude and beliefs… oh no - that’s far from the truth. Of course, it’s quite possible that there are such strong individuals with “awesomely strong psyche”, but in my case it’s a kind of thick steel or, if you prefer, concrete “overlay” on a soft, sensitive interior. On the outside I may have become Heisenberg, but inside, my gut was swirling with anxiety about how it would all turn out. Doubts were trying to drag me back into the familiar and trusted “comfort zone” I’d grown so close to over the years, while my mind was being torn apart by countless questions and visions of an uncertain future.
However, the die had been cast, and my fuel became the old saying: do or die! And I’m not speaking metaphorically — if you don’t do anything with your life, don’t try something new, and the potatoes and groats run out, well… that’s it — game over. Maybe not instantly, but I’d probably start spiraling into depression, breakdown… Eventually, it would hit me that life had lost all meaning, and the most realistic plan might be scouting for premium-grade cardboard boxes, just in case I ended up living on the street with the local drinking crew — the kind of guys who cheerfully hustle passersby with lines like, “Bossman, just being honest here… need a fiver for a beer…” Though even that wouldn’t be easy — I’ve been completely sober for over two years now 😅
Enough chit-chat - let’s get to work!
So, despite the wild mix of gut turmoil and party-in-the-head vibes, I’m handing the controls over to Heisenberg! He’s got a solid plan: the company reached out because they know my skills and professional attitude toward tasks, so let’s act! Head to the meeting, help the guys with the topic, and we’ll see. We’ll kick off the cooperation, and it could be a great start for the business. Later, I can look for projects or B2B partnerships.
So here we go - I reviewed what’s needed and by when, prepared an initial report, and went to the meeting. The technical stuff was easy - the technologies are familiar, and I’ve got loads of experience. The soft skills and talking to serious players? That was a newer thing for me. But surprisingly, I felt super calm. And not the fake kind - like chill outside, panic inside - but genuinely calm and composed. I realized I might be able to handle way more than I thought. Maybe it’s this whole cooperation with Heisenberg, maybe it’s just that “fake it till you make it” kicking in - who knows. Either way, it gave me a solid foundation for a relaxed, productive convo.
After that, I knew for sure - I’m starting my own company!
”Starting a Business for Dummies!”
Now came the best part - bureaucracy. How do you even handle this? Where do you start? What do you need? A thousand similar questions.
I started reading, analyzing, combing through the gov portals, blogs, “how to start a business” guides. I talked with more experienced folks, including a friendly accountant. Fired up calculators, Word docs, and all kinds of handy tools. I even consulted ChatGPT (until it got lost in the forest of regulations 😋). After around two intense weeks, my first business plan was born. I wrote what I want to achieve, how I’ll get there, what development will look like, how much it’ll cost, what tax form to pick, and a ton of other useful stuff for starting up. I also included goals for the next few months and companies already potentially interested in working with me - in short, my own private business almanac.
It took a ton of effort - the kind I could’ve easily handed off to a firm specializing in this (consulting, setting up and running sole proprietorships), but I’m just not that type of person. I need to do everything MYSELF.
Everything myself…
Right - let’s talk about “everything myself.” I’ve heard and read a lot about this approach - not just in business. Most of the opinions are negative:
- too much effort for one person leads to chronic fatigue and even illness
- more mental strain - burnout is just around the corner
- no one’s a know-it-all in every area - you have to delegate and balance your workload
- it’s easier to make mistakes without experience - you need to listen to pros in the field
Those four came to mind on the spot - I’m sure there are more cons.
So why, with all those red flags, did I choose the “all me” path? In short - because that’s who I am. But that answer doesn’t really satisfy you or me, so let me elaborate.
Let’s start with “that’s who I am.” Since I was a kid, I’ve had this massive curiosity about how things work. Sadly, the first victims of that curiosity were usually my toys. 😁 I had to take everything apart and figure out how it lit up or made sounds. That curiosity paid off - I became a pro thanks to it. I’m not just interested in code from StackOverflow or ChatGPT that works - I want to know why it works, how it works, and how I can make it better! That curiosity also makes me unable to outsource stuff like this - I needed to know why the accountant calculates things the way she does, why I should pick general tax rules over flat rate (yep - I did that, and on purpose 🤑), whether or not to choose VAT, where to register the business, and which office will hit me up first (shoutout to the friendly guy from the tax office). I could go on forever - but the point is: I need to understand and stay in control!
(ps. from what I’ve read, strong need for control is a sign of… -holism, but that’s a topic for another post.)
Next reason I went solo is responsibility. It’s not a consultant who’s responsible - it’s ME. It’s not them in CEIDG and GUS - it’s ME. The accountant or the bank don’t carry the risk for my finances - I do. This is my company and I’m responsible for everything. That’s why I want to learn as much as I can about the nitty-gritty, the traps, the offices that might “want to have a chat” 😋 It’s about preparation and safety - I can plan ahead, predict issues, allocate time and money for problems, or just avoid them altogether. As the saying goes, “better safe than sorry.”
Final key reason: experience. I remember being a kid and wondering how anyone drives a car. You’ve gotta use pedals, hands on the wheel, shift gears… what if it rains? Where are the wipers? Are the lights even working - what if the bulb’s out? It felt overwhelming. I remember asking drivers, and everyone said, “chill, it’s easy - bit of practice and it becomes second nature.”. Now I’ve been driving nearly 20 years, and I had to really focus to recall those early worries. It did become second nature. I don’t even think about how to drive anymore (not to be confused with paying attention on the road - always do that!). Same goes for every new life experience - something that feels like black magic now can become totally natural later. A few weeks ago I had no clue about starting a business. Heck - I used to reply to B2B job offers with “thanks but I’m not into paperwork, I prefer a safe full-time gig.” Now? Still ready for surprises, but feeling way more confident - it’s just a few forms, some clicks, a solid plan - and boom, let’s roll.
…but not everything myself
Going back to those earlier “cons” - I once worked at a company where I was the alpha and omega of all things technical and more - let’s call it a micro CTO 🥴 And I still remember how exhausting that was, even though I was young. Back then, “rest is for the weak” was my motto. I was full of energy… and also not very wise - typical youth syndrome. Thankfully, with age comes experience and shifting priorities - that overworked guy who did grind hard and polish his skills eventually had to give way to a calmer version of me. Now I know I can’t do it all alone. I’m learning to delegate, to care for my mental health, and to ask for help in other areas.
Okay okay - let’s not pretend I figured this all out on my own. I owe a lot to my wonderful wife, who kept noticing my bad habits and constantly nudged me back to reality - whether it was fixing the damn bathroom door handle (yes, I know… you don’t need to remind me every six months 😘) or going for a walk with the dog because the weather is nice.
To sum up - I’m not getting any younger, and with every passing spring I can afford less and less bravado - after all, not all spare parts for humans are available yet (although I haven’t checked Chinese sites, so who knows) 😂
Pixel Online Solutions
Okay, I went totally off track in the last section - so let’s get back on the rails 🛤️
So - I had the business plan ready, time to execute. Step 1 of 15: come up with a company name.
”easy-peasy” I thought - it’s not that important, right? Surprise twist: I made like 20-30 name options and had to evaluate each one for future growth, current profile, domain availability, Google Workspace name clashes, etc. Obviously had to consult ChatGPT too. Total madness - first task and already 16 hours in 😅
Thankfully, I decided to stop being so picky and settle on something with the word “Pixel.”
Two reasons: 1. That’s the name of our dog (he got it at the shelter - clearly meant to be ours 🐾💞), 2. Pixel is the smallest unit that makes up web-dev reality - my main passion in the coding universe.
Alright, PixelOS.pl is free - taking it before I lose my mind. Quick consultation:
“Hey ChatGPT - what could OS stand for here?” Yep, I invented an acronym and ChatGPT expanded it to fit my business profile - welcome to the future 😎 (side note - turns out PixelOS is also the name of an Android-based mobile OS. Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember Niebezpiecznik.pl mentioning it 🤔)
Next steps were smoother: getting a virtual office, handling formalities - PKD, CEIDG registration, paperwork, offices, etc. etc. I gotta say - it all felt like a nightmare at first, but once I had a plan I handled EVERYTHING (office, registration, tax office, bank account, accountant) in just two (yes, TWO) very busy days!
Another day to sort services (domain, hosting, invoicing, etc.) and boom - the company was ready!
Honestly, I was shocked - something that haunted my thoughts for years and recently took over my life ended up being surprisingly simple to handle. Online applications, e-signatures via Trusted Profile, all contracts signed digitally - a dream. Only one visit to the bank, just to meet a real human (a very pleasant one, by the way).
Offtopic:
This post was originally supposed to be about the absurd overlap of two nearly identical entities - Trusted Profile and Qualified Signature. I only discovered the difference when setting up the business. Honestly, everything should be signable with a Trusted Profile - after all, the government itself confirms your identity and endorses the document.
I decided not to rant in this post and just transitioned naturally into the business setup story. But I’m still curious - do people think we need one unified, state-backed digital signature? No more paper stacks just to scribble a name? In my opinion, Trusted Profile already does the job - just needs proper legislation.
Summary
So many unjustified fears, doubts, thoughts, worries, and anxieties over the last few weeks - and now I can proudly say: I own a company, I’ve got solid ideas, a few starter contacts, tons of new info and experience. I’m thrilled I took the leap!
Maybe for someone else, starting a business is just a normal, simple thing. For me, it’s a little revolution I’m proud of. At the end of the day:
Turns out Heisenberg is a pro. 👏
What’s next?
Company’s set up, short-term plans defined, following the early roadmap - good vibes all around.
What’s next? Well - I’ve got ideas, project drafts, motivation, a buzzing brain, and flying fingers - so I’ll just keep going! No idea how things will turn out, but I know nothing comes for free, so it’ll be ME working for my own success, brand, and value. And every failure will teach me something for the future.
I have no clue how this adventure will unfold, but I’m super happy I packed my bags and set off!
PS: One last bit - this was my go-to motivational track (yeah, maybe more gym than startup vibes 😋): Electric Callboy - PUMP IT
PS2: I wrote this article for a few hours with breaks, so every now and then I thought that maybe it was too much, that it was pointless, that I was opening up too much.
Nevertheless, I decided to publish it 🤗