I've been in fulltime work, working for other people for the last 20 years or so. In that time, I've been a school teacher, vocational trainer, business analyst, project manager and held various different roles in IT departments. For the last five years I've also been doing some work on the side as a freelance writer/journalist and have managed to secure regular work for a number of the most respected mastheads in the Australian IT publishing scene as well as doing a couple of spots on national television. But it's only been the last few weeks where I've been working full time for a new boss - myself.

I've been very blessed to have worked with some very talented and dedicated people over the years. Some will remain friends for life while others have been friends but I suspect we won't keep up for ever. Such is life. I was once told that it's healthy for friendships to only be transient. In any case, I've never left a job because of the people - my driver has always been a more personal one. Like a desire to do something new or because I've felt that the partnership is no longer delivering benefit to both parties.

So, a few months ago, I realised that the relationship I had with my employer was no longer all it could be. The company I'd worked for was changing and it was clear to me that my personality and the new corporate culture weren't a good match. So, I started to think about what was next for me. And it was clear that my personal goals weren't going to met by simply looking for another fulltime job at another company. I knew that the next step for me was about working for myself.

Such a decision isn't easy when you're a single income family with a wife, three kids, a mortgage and all the usual stuff. The decision required some planning in order to make sure that we could maintain our family life while I switched from a regular paycheck to the peaks and troughs of self-employment. Having worked for over ten years at the one employer has some advantages. In Australia, employees have the benefit of Long Service Leave. After 10 years of continuous employment, employees are entitled to three months of paid leave. If you leave at that time, you get that paid leave as cash.

With some backup funds, a steady set of great editors and publications that I write for and the opportunity to seek out work in some other roles, I've embarked on the journey to independence.

I don't think I've gone without a blog update for this long but it's been a very busy six months for me. I've been dealing with my mother's protracted illness (that, thankfully, is over now), building up an increasingly busy freelance practice, finishing a post graduate degree (topping it off with my hardest subject) and transitioning out of my full-time job. So, while Pocket Mojo has been backburnered, it hasn't been put to death.

I'm now on the home stretch with studies - I have one last unit to complete. The course work is done through a study tour of Germany, Switzerland and France. So I'll be off soon for a couple of weeks in Europe. Then, theres a report to write and I can graduate. Hurrah!

Work-wise, I've been writing a bunch of stories for several new outlets. The easiest way to track down my latest work is to head to http://news.google.com.au and search for "Anthony Caruana". Most of my recent work has been with

ITNews
ITWire
PC Authority
CRN

That's in addition to my ongoing work with The Age and Australian Macworld.

I've also updated my business web site at Gestalt Communications.

All of that makes me wonder what this blog will turn into. On that score I'm not sure but I've never really had a grand plan so I'll just keep posting whenever the urge takes me.