Mary Lou,

Please don't think that I want to discourage you. I'll be in your boat too. The difference is I'm in a large corporation with hundreds of employees. People come and go frequently. I've worked for very small companies too and similarly you are in what sounds to be a very small group. When a group is that small things tend to be very intimate and accomodating. That being said please be prepared for your employers to be shocked and angry along with possibly hurt and betrayed.

You are excited because you are on a new road. They may possibly feel they've hit a huge road block...even with you standing there solutions in hand. If betrayal is on their emotions list they may not even want you to stay out a full two weeks, let alone continue to work for them!

Along with solutions on how to work your job virtually you might want to have, as a back up plan if they won't let you stay, a plan to work contractually to get a new person up to speed with what you do in your position. With options like this on the table and well thought out, once their emotions run the course I think they'll see you do have their best interests at heart!

Should things head south the main objective is to stay on YOUR plan. If they don't want to hire you virtually then immediately discuss staying on until they hire someone to replace you. Willingly doing this will put YOU on THEIR schedule. If they drag their feet on hiring someone new you'll feel stuck. So have ground rules ready of how long you'll stay - period. After that you are out and when they hire someone you'll fulfill your end of training someone on a contract basis.

Now, I'm not saying that your deadline is the rule to die by. If you see that they are actively seeking and a candidate with the right skills hasn't shown up then give more time. That is understandable. However, if your deadline is a week away and they haven't even begun looking - stay strong!

Either way it goes I can see the relationship change ending on a positive note. Good luck and remember...if you are stong enough and determined enough to START YOUR OWN BUSINESS then this should be just a pebble in the road!

You'll do great!

Sundi