CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- They went from the corner office to the unemployment office, but now former top executives are finding a way to be their own bosses.
Dogs Ruby and Dixie are two of Ramon Constante's new "colleagues."
"There's definitely pros and cons," he said of his new way of life.
He used to be in charge of Wachovia's information technology department.
"All air conditioning. I didn't have to worry about this heat. Nowadays I'm out enjoying the fresh air -- well, it's not always fresh," he said with a grin.
That's because his new gig is picking up dog poop.
"Definitely on a hot day, summertime, it's easier to pick up," Constante said.
This former executive was forced to think outside the box.
"It was part of a layoff, part of the economy. They were trying to cut back and middle managers, friends of mine essentially got the ax form the big banks," Constante said.
He says they all went the normal route first.
"I went on a number of interviews, all the same result. No calls back, nothing," Constante said. "We found out what a lot of people are finding out. It's tough as you're getting older -- mid-40s and trying to find a job."
Then, he says, many did what he did – bought a franchise and got to work again in Charlotte. Constante and his wife started Doody Calls, and he says he is loving the call to duty.
"We took the opportunity we were given and decided to do something different," he said.
The tools are different. His surroundings are different. And he admits, the pay as a startup is different, too.
"I don't have a secure pay, definitely a paycheck every 15 days is not there," Constante said. "But that's the fun part. I have control over how much I work. You have to rethink your life and do it differently and for us, opening our own business was a long-time dream of ours."
