I remember the first time I worked at a company that had to lay people off. It was back in the pre-dot com bust era but you could see the writing on the wall. The day that it happened and I watched good people walk out the door I remember thinking I NEVER want that to happen to me. However, I was lazy and didn't actively seek another job and was finally laid off during round 4 of the company's lay offs. When it happened I was in shock and my self-esteem plummeted to an all-time low. I felt so useless, like everything I had ever done at the company had been a failure. It wasn't until after I had got a new job that I didn't feel useless anymore. I know, I know, it is just a job, but...I think that silly work ethic gets in the way sometimes.
Why am I thinking about this again? Well, my current company has laid off some folks again. I think this is the 5th or 6th time in the past 18 months that they have let people go. This time they laid off a few people that I know, one is even a friend. Luckily my friend didn't have any kids or family to support. I remember when I was a kid (13-14 yrs old) my Dad got laid off. My parents really insulated my sister and I from it but I could tell there was an elevated level of stress between my parents. My Dad eventually found something that gave him the opportunity to go to work for himself. Funny side note: A week or two later his old company asked him to come back, he refused. Years later, I think he was much happier to have left the company.
I really think that these things work out for the better in the end but knowing that doesn't help when you are in the situation. There is just the dread of not having any real money coming in and still having to pay all your bills. In addition, you suddenly have all this free time in which to ponder your situation.
Sigh...writing is on the wall, again.
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- Kevin
- Evergreen, Colorado, United States
- Read my posts and draw your own conclusions.
2 comments:
So sorry for the long comment.....but I always liked this story. At one time, the Chicago symphony was considered the most prestegious symphony job in the country. Right out of college, a young trombone player named John Swallow had the luck of winning that job. The conductor at the time was a complete wack job genius who would fire people for looking at him sideways. I can only imagine how devastating it must have been for John to win and than get fired from "the dream job" a few months later! Years later he reflected that it was the best thing that happened to him because he went to new york and ended up becoming much more successful as a freelance commecial musician. Its all what you make of it. Embrace the mad adventure with wild abandon ;). Damn I love that story!
As always, you are correct.
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