My life was a circus!

1988: It all began simply, pick up the phone receiver and dial the number. You were given an approved script from the charity in question and you simply asked for people's support.

Skipping forward seven years, you were given a task to run a telemarketing fundraising office. The catch? In order to secure a promotion you had to close it without litigation or be unemployed like everyone else. So you began to call the charities, vendors, and staff either over the phone or face to face and advise them of their options, accept a transfer or be out of their job. Oh, did I mention without due notice?

Success! I avoided all legal ramifications and was promoted to the event arm of then Great West Entertainment which eventually changed their name to Xentel Direct Marketing Incorporated. My life as a corporate puppet had begun.

My introduction was to live on the road facilitating the needs of a circus being staged in Eastern Canada as the Royal Canadian Circus or Shrine Circus depending upon the charity in question. As operations manager, I oversaw logistical needs for the circus, from banner placement under the big top or in an arena, to venue contracts, health permits, business licenses, electrical permits, dumpsters (yes you guest correctly) and portable toilets, all the way to media and promotions. Salary $350 per week gross.

In 2007, being associated with many kind, care giving individuals from police, firefighters, and non-profits, I realized that they all were for the most part Masons. I loved the care towards society. Who could wake up every morning and feel great about themselves for helping facilitate money for these charitable causes?

My promotion came all of a sudden, my former boss had died. They promoted me (after realizing that I was running everything). The catch? I received a salary based on performance of $80k a year, plus expenses and bonuses. My boss who's role I assumed had been making a great deal more. Success! No issues! The one hundred million dollar banked budgets for the Shrine were secured because of my efforts.

Unfortunately, it came about that I was never fairly compensated for my efforts. Every year at the end of the tour I was advised that although I did everything asked they could not pay me as much the next year. Sounds real fair right?

Skip ahead to my last year 2010, as General Manager I oversaw many other events while living in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

Suddenly, my roommate of 14 years had died. She hid her illness from me. I could not sustain my condo and became homeless while still running the shows. For the next seven months I ran flawlessly their events while living without a fixed address.

During this period, while being on the job I realized that I was working too hard and being taken advantage of. I was a team player, so I made it clear to my CEO that it was my final year, I quit.

Reasons were many, but it boiled down to renumeration is the highest form of appreciation one can receive. I was not properly appreciated.

Now there were a laundry list of things that contributed to my decision to walk mainly my health. But I am not going to state them presently.

Rather than sell my possessions I gave them away helping people I did not know. What little I possess today as far as furniture was from back then.

So, on November 3rd, 2010 I became no one once more. I cut all the strings of fellowship and moved back to Winnipeg to face my health issues...

Skip forward four years, mobile crisis, and the police were called into help me. I was found wandering the streets without any knowledge of whom I was and my four months plus vacation in a psych ward had begun. Oh it seems that rather than seeking medical assistance earlier, I was confronting my illness on my own... stupid decision.

It took another four years to return to being employable.

This is my story and entry based upon the prompt. 685 words.