I HAD a bad job. I was getting paid 28,000 after 12 years on the job with 60 to 80 hours a week. I was job leader 6 years into it, and running the business after 8 years. Every year I got told the same thing," the company just doesen't make enough money to pay you anymore." This man saved the worst jobs every day just for me, cause he new I would take care of it without a bitch. Most of my help was making 85% of MY pay after 2 years and had 0 responsibility and they were getting high on the job every day. They wouldn't let me hire or fire anyone no matter what they did. After 10 years on the job, I was so taken for granted that none of the ownership could even remember how long I had been there. Not a single person even so much as shook my hand and thanked me. After 3 years of negotiations for a real raise and no luck, I decided that I was going to go out on my own. I gave the company 3 months notice and told tham that I would train a replacement. Their responce was to fire me with 1 day notice or keep my job with a 1 year no compete contract. I took my right hand man with me and started my own business. Instead of going after his customers, I went after his helpers first. I hired the only 2 good employees he had left and waited for the company to fall apart. With in weeks the company's customers that didn't go with me right away started calling for work and I was glad to help. After 16 months in business I just signed the company's last 2 remaining customers. I get up and smile every morning and sing "How do you like me now?"