Losers

(I was searching for pictures of "profit" and this pic was in there. It's not really relevant but I needed a laugh)

On the day before I voluntarily left my job with my heartless employers, they fired another 25 of my friends. If your goal was to find a group of people who collectively held most of the remaining knowledge in the company, were consistently respected and loved by both coworkers and clients, who were dedicated, hard workers, and whose loss would most greatly devastate the remaining workforce, you couldn't have selected a better bunch.

I'm certain that this will prove to be a great opportunity for all of them, eventually, and that they'll find other jobs where their skills and work ethics will be treasured as they once were at this company. That said, people have lives to lead, rent to pay, mouths to feed, and I'm angered and disgusted that the company is holding these people to a two-year non-compete after less than nine months of employment.

It's tempting to offer as consolation, "You'll be better off not working for such heartless bastards." But that's a little like saying, "I'm glad you got out of that burning house-- it was getting way too warm in there anyway." I miss the house that wasn't burning, and it was none of our ideas to set it ablaze.

To those recently departed, and to those left behind wondering what will come next, I offer a couple of book recommendations:

DO READ: "Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes" by William Bridges. I'm working through this book now, and it's a great framework for handling the end of one part of your life, the beginning of a new one, and the scary zone in between. (Great recommendation, Dad, thanks!)

DON'T READ: "Who Moved My Cheese" by I can't be bothered to look it up. Imagine if a drill instructor wrote a fairy tail called "The Littlest Maggot," about how to develop self discipline. "There once were two whiny little maggots. One of them sucked it up and grew a pair, and is now a respectable human being. The other one never stopped whining. Be like that first maggot. The end." WMMC is the corporate equivalent of this little parable. The premise is that change is inevitable and you should accept that fact, then shut up and deal with it. There's literally no other useful instruction or compassion. Read it in ten minutes at the library if you must.

DO READ: "When Bad Things Happen To Good People" by Rabbi Harold Kushner. A classic and hugely helpful text that helps deal with the question "why?" Whether you're religious or philosophical or just hurt and angry, Rabbi Kushner helps you think and feel through the pain of injustices small and great.

Even though I left the burning house voluntarily, I'm still just starting to deal with the "ending" phase of my transition-- losing a way of living that I've become used to. For those of you who just joined me on this journey involuntarily, or who are contemplating joining me soon, you have my blessing and kinship, and I wish you much luck on your own transitions.