To understand WHY the course of events happened, you must understand the character of folks involved.
Can we say, "perfect storm"?
Judas: At face value Judas is a good guy. He's kind, takes care of his wife that has Alzheimer's and seemed to genuinely love his step-daughter Darcy, and his grand-kids Syler and Jarod, among a few others who are not pertinent to this story quite yet. After all, he allowed Syler and Jarod to live with him and his wife right after they each graduated high school.
But there is another side to this guy.
A darker, much more sinister side.
The businessman side.
The side that makes me go What the hell man, there's family involved.
As you know from the last few posts, this man has been nothing but a cut throat businessman who would step on his own grandson to make a buck. Oh, I'm sorry - make $100k bucks at the expense of his grandson's company, all the while paying Syler and Kade less than half of that amount every year. Not. Even. Close. To. Being. Fair.
But again, at the promise of an incredibly lucrative business, Syler and Kade decided it was the best course of action.
Back to the character of Judas. Just as the person in the bible, Judas is true to his name. In the biblical story, it has been said that Judas carried the disciples money bag. The namesake betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. While there was much more at stake than a mere thirty pieces of silver, the betrayal became apparent nonetheless.
The history of Judas, Syler's grandfather, has come to light in the recent years. Of course hindsight is 20/20 of course, but the shady business practices of this man go much deeper than the current betrayal. More on that another time.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
How it all began - continued 4
Syler decided that he wouldn't return to work until everything was figured out. Come hell or high water, he was going to make sure that things were headed in the right direction.
But wait, there's a catch.
Since Judas decided that the companies would be split, Syler was merely an employee of the existing company DITW. So in essence, he just walked out on his JOB, not his COMPANY, since it was never legally his according to Judas.
Over the course of the next week or two, Judas and Syler exchanged emails. Did they settle their differences? No.
But Syler returned to work at the urging of Kade, and the pressure to provide for his new family. Remember, Syler had been married no more than a year before this all took place.
After many conversation, email exchanges and phone conferences, things were once again clicking along.
All the while, Kade and Syler kept requesting to see the company financials.
Denied
Denied
Denied
Time and time and time again..... Over the course of months and months, that eventually turned into a few years.
My question as the wife at this point was why? Can't you force him to turn over the financials?
Not without legal intervention.
One needs to understand the character of Judas, Kade and Syler in order to fully grasp why this did not take place. As the wife, I sat by pushing and prodding, getting into argument after argument about the money Judas was spending on his failing company, and HIS INCREDIBLY LARGE SALARY.
This will be the subject of my next post.
But wait, there's a catch.
Since Judas decided that the companies would be split, Syler was merely an employee of the existing company DITW. So in essence, he just walked out on his JOB, not his COMPANY, since it was never legally his according to Judas.
Over the course of the next week or two, Judas and Syler exchanged emails. Did they settle their differences? No.
But Syler returned to work at the urging of Kade, and the pressure to provide for his new family. Remember, Syler had been married no more than a year before this all took place.
After many conversation, email exchanges and phone conferences, things were once again clicking along.
All the while, Kade and Syler kept requesting to see the company financials.
Denied
Denied
Denied
Time and time and time again..... Over the course of months and months, that eventually turned into a few years.
My question as the wife at this point was why? Can't you force him to turn over the financials?
Not without legal intervention.
One needs to understand the character of Judas, Kade and Syler in order to fully grasp why this did not take place. As the wife, I sat by pushing and prodding, getting into argument after argument about the money Judas was spending on his failing company, and HIS INCREDIBLY LARGE SALARY.
This will be the subject of my next post.
Monday, April 18, 2011
How it all began - continued 3
About a year into the new business venture, DITW was at a negative. In fact, the corporation had been for quite a while. Good thing the company had about half a million dollars in the business account. Or so we were told.
Back to my point....
A year into Fresh Start, the company was making money had over fist. Kade and Syler estimated that they were bringing in about $50k a month. Where did that money go? We're getting to that......
Apparently Judas decided that it would be best to keep Fresh Start as a subsidiary of DITW and not follow the contract signed between him and Kade. The contract clearly stated that Fresh Start would become its own entity once it was profitable. That means that it would have had to pay back all past bills to DITW, and rightfully so.
Except Fresh Start did that within the first two years of business.
Did the companies get split out? No!
Judas made an executive decision to keep the companies combined. Much to the chagrin of Syler and Kade.
In an explosive phone conversation at about the two and a half year to three year mark took place. After repeated attempts to look at the books of Fresh Start, and being denied numerous times by Judas, Syler and Kade finally had it. Kade was getting incredibly upset on the phone, as was Syler.
Syler and Judas, being the same office were on the same phone line, while Kade was working from another town about 3 hours away.
Syler slammed down the phone, said "F-you" and he walked out. Judas followed him down the hall screaming the whole way and caught up to Syler. When Judas caught up to Syler, he physically assaulted him. His. Own. Grandson!
Disrespectful on Sylers part - yes. But did that warrant physical violence? Hell no!
There is never cause for physical violence.
Back to my point....
A year into Fresh Start, the company was making money had over fist. Kade and Syler estimated that they were bringing in about $50k a month. Where did that money go? We're getting to that......
Apparently Judas decided that it would be best to keep Fresh Start as a subsidiary of DITW and not follow the contract signed between him and Kade. The contract clearly stated that Fresh Start would become its own entity once it was profitable. That means that it would have had to pay back all past bills to DITW, and rightfully so.
Except Fresh Start did that within the first two years of business.
Did the companies get split out? No!
Judas made an executive decision to keep the companies combined. Much to the chagrin of Syler and Kade.
In an explosive phone conversation at about the two and a half year to three year mark took place. After repeated attempts to look at the books of Fresh Start, and being denied numerous times by Judas, Syler and Kade finally had it. Kade was getting incredibly upset on the phone, as was Syler.
Syler and Judas, being the same office were on the same phone line, while Kade was working from another town about 3 hours away.
Syler slammed down the phone, said "F-you" and he walked out. Judas followed him down the hall screaming the whole way and caught up to Syler. When Judas caught up to Syler, he physically assaulted him. His. Own. Grandson!
Disrespectful on Sylers part - yes. But did that warrant physical violence? Hell no!
There is never cause for physical violence.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
How it all began - continued 2
After all three started working on this new venture, as 33.3% equal share owners, it was understood that once the company began to make money, it would be split out.
Kade and Syler would than take control, leaving all three as 33.3% partners for all profits earned.
Except that's not what happened.
Shocking, right?
Judas was in control of the books. After all, he was the one who took on the extra liability for Fresh Start under the covering of his corporation.
Let's call his existing corporation "Dead in the Water" aka DITW.
DITW had not been an income earning company in quite some time - years, in fact. But Fresh Start was a new venture, even having its own name, identity and business idea.
Judas, the savvy businessman that he is, decided that the company should NOT be its own entity right off the bat in case anything went wrong with the new product launch. So Kade and Syler stayed on as 'employees' of DITW. It was discussed and agreed upon that this was the best course of action due to the fragility of a new business venture in the high tech world.
Things were clicking along without issue for the first year or so. This is when things took a bit turn.
Kade and Syler would than take control, leaving all three as 33.3% partners for all profits earned.
Except that's not what happened.
Shocking, right?
Judas was in control of the books. After all, he was the one who took on the extra liability for Fresh Start under the covering of his corporation.
Let's call his existing corporation "Dead in the Water" aka DITW.
DITW had not been an income earning company in quite some time - years, in fact. But Fresh Start was a new venture, even having its own name, identity and business idea.
Judas, the savvy businessman that he is, decided that the company should NOT be its own entity right off the bat in case anything went wrong with the new product launch. So Kade and Syler stayed on as 'employees' of DITW. It was discussed and agreed upon that this was the best course of action due to the fragility of a new business venture in the high tech world.
Things were clicking along without issue for the first year or so. This is when things took a bit turn.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
How it all began - continued
Judas decided to make Kade an employee of the existing company, directed under a signed contract that clearly stated that there were three partners in the new venture.
Let's call the newly created company "Fresh Start".
Fresh Start had three equal partners, according to said contract, and all three were owners. Kade and Syler agreed to this, but only after negotiating a salary, benefits, etc... Surprisingly enough, Kade was being paid more than Syler under contract, even though Syler is Judas' grandson and HE HAD BEEN WORKING THERE FOR YEARS AT THIS POINT. Strike two!
Do you understand now why I named the shady business man "Judas".
It gets better, much better. Stay tuned!
Let's call the newly created company "Fresh Start".
Fresh Start had three equal partners, according to said contract, and all three were owners. Kade and Syler agreed to this, but only after negotiating a salary, benefits, etc... Surprisingly enough, Kade was being paid more than Syler under contract, even though Syler is Judas' grandson and HE HAD BEEN WORKING THERE FOR YEARS AT THIS POINT. Strike two!
Do you understand now why I named the shady business man "Judas".
It gets better, much better. Stay tuned!
Friday, April 15, 2011
How it all began
When Syler was 18 years old, he moved in with his grandparents Judas and his wife. Let's not chat about Darcy and Spencer just yet - that story is more involved than this one.....
After moving in with Judas and wife, Syler started working for Judas' company - for free nonetheless. Judas paid for Syler to go to community college, and in turn, Syler worked for free in his spare time. Strike one! In any normal family, or at least the family I was born into, a grandparent would help out in anyway possible without asking for anything in return. Not so in this twisted family.
This is where the story begins.
Syler worked for Judas f.o.r. f.r.e.e., with very little in return. Well, they 'payment' was that Judas would pay for college......community college. Why would my wonderful husband ever question his grandfather. At the tender age of 18, after coming out of a household where mom and step-dad lived in complete selfishness and obvious favoritism to a select couple of children, he trusted his old little league coach - his grandfather.
Eventually Syler would go on to make around $8 and hour for work as an engineer for Judas. Did you get that? $8 an hour. Granted, this was in the 90's, but still, who the hell gets paid $8 an hour for engineering work? Slave laborers, that's who!
Syler spent many years being underpaid by Judas, eventually making a whopping $30k a year even after we were married in 2005. Working full-time. With a wife. And a house. In California. In the heart of the Bay Area.
Why did he do this?
Because there was a promise of something better. Judas continually dangled a carrot over Syler's head. He promised that one day he, after retiring, he would sign the company over the Syler. In the meantime, Judas was hoping that Syler would bring new and fresh ideas to the company so he can make a name for himself and get started on his own journey as a businessman. Empty promises.
Syler started his own company with Kade, apart from anything he was currently doing.
Separate.
For years Syler worked on this company idea with Kade on the weekends and at night, eventually realizing that they would need a financial investment, they brought the idea to Judas. After much thought and prayer by Judas and his wife - more on the whole God factor later - they decided it would be a good opportunity to expand the current company and allow for Syler and Kade to venture out in business together.
Everything is good up until this point.
But there was a promise. A promise of something more. A promise to venture off on his own. A promise to take over the existing company when gramps retired.
A promise that never came to be.......
After moving in with Judas and wife, Syler started working for Judas' company - for free nonetheless. Judas paid for Syler to go to community college, and in turn, Syler worked for free in his spare time. Strike one! In any normal family, or at least the family I was born into, a grandparent would help out in anyway possible without asking for anything in return. Not so in this twisted family.
This is where the story begins.
Syler worked for Judas f.o.r. f.r.e.e., with very little in return. Well, they 'payment' was that Judas would pay for college......community college. Why would my wonderful husband ever question his grandfather. At the tender age of 18, after coming out of a household where mom and step-dad lived in complete selfishness and obvious favoritism to a select couple of children, he trusted his old little league coach - his grandfather.
Eventually Syler would go on to make around $8 and hour for work as an engineer for Judas. Did you get that? $8 an hour. Granted, this was in the 90's, but still, who the hell gets paid $8 an hour for engineering work? Slave laborers, that's who!
Syler spent many years being underpaid by Judas, eventually making a whopping $30k a year even after we were married in 2005. Working full-time. With a wife. And a house. In California. In the heart of the Bay Area.
Why did he do this?
Because there was a promise of something better. Judas continually dangled a carrot over Syler's head. He promised that one day he, after retiring, he would sign the company over the Syler. In the meantime, Judas was hoping that Syler would bring new and fresh ideas to the company so he can make a name for himself and get started on his own journey as a businessman. Empty promises.
Syler started his own company with Kade, apart from anything he was currently doing.
Separate.
For years Syler worked on this company idea with Kade on the weekends and at night, eventually realizing that they would need a financial investment, they brought the idea to Judas. After much thought and prayer by Judas and his wife - more on the whole God factor later - they decided it would be a good opportunity to expand the current company and allow for Syler and Kade to venture out in business together.
Everything is good up until this point.
But there was a promise. A promise of something more. A promise to venture off on his own. A promise to take over the existing company when gramps retired.
A promise that never came to be.......
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Where to begin?
So many things have happened over the last 10 years, and more recently during the last 2, that I have no idea where to begin. I guess I should start out with the current situation. Here it is in a nutshell:
1). Husband started a company almost 10 years ago
2). A family member in charge of the finances bled the company dry
3). Husband now out of a job!
In short: Life Took A Turn!
1). Husband started a company almost 10 years ago
2). A family member in charge of the finances bled the company dry
3). Husband now out of a job!
In short: Life Took A Turn!
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