I love this. (But then, I expect this kind of compassionate brilliance from you). When an enterprise shuts down for whatever reason, it cuts more than cash flow. It severs relationships, separating friends and colleagues who have supported one another over years. Still deeper, it strikes at one's sense of life purpose. And for those of us who struggle with imposter syndrome, it cuts at the core of one's being. The psychic trauma of layoffs means more than money. A dream dies every time. I can't imagine turning a sufferer away, "You voted for this." Not that I'm telling anyone what to do or how to be, but if someone said that to me, I'd question the friendship.
That said, no one has any guarantees in this world, but until now a government job was as close as it gets. The corporate world has suffered offshoring and layoffs for decades. My partner and I, and both our exes, went through corporate musical chairs multiple times (even survival hurts). Running our own business, Rich and I had to fire employees and senior partners; it stings every time. Yet sometimes it has to be done, like getting a divorce, or making any number of painful far-reaching decisions (abortion, cancer treatment, emigration...you name it).
"When one door closes, another one opens." That's the best I can say to a friend or anyone going through this. To that I would add (but not say aloud), every enterprise should be audited. To do so invites criminal enterprise. The corporate world regularly goes through audits and board reviews, but the government, never. A fiscal colonoscopy is long overdue. The government wastes billions --- even trillions --- every hundred days, and for what? To blow things up overseas? I'm happy to see every CIA agent fired and hope the Pentagon is next. I'm sorry if your husband or lover had a career as a spook, but, when does the madness stop?
Skills transfer. I hope people took advantage to build skills during their tenure; pray those skills will find better use.
One more thing. Eight months' severance is a dream in the corporate world (not that that is a model, but still). Take it and build your dream. Find work that holds personal meaning, continues your mission, fulfills a vision. Start an ice cream business; go back to school; travel. Keep in touch with colleagues and friends, they mean more than money.
When one door closes, another one opens. For those affected, this could be the best thing that ever happened. If you know anyone affected, please support them in fulfilling their dream.
Thanks, Pam. It's always interesting to hear your perspective on things. The doors that are closing with these decisions are a far greater threat than simply an individual's career. I don't think any of us can fathom the level of ripples and destruction that is in store for us now. As always, I hope I'm wrong...
100%. It's like you read my mind with this (I mean...not surprising, we are the same person after all, but still...)! I've been going back and forth with my Republican cousin on FB today, and I was about to post something along the lines of: I don't even care who you voted for at this point. We need each other. I will work as hard as you, but we need folks who are or were formerly on the right to work hard as well.
Anyway...you said it so much better, but I will just share the link instead :)
Thanks, Jenn! I always appreciate your thoughts, and I have to believe we all have family with differences...that's where possibility lies. Would love to see that link.
Thank you for this reminder. It’s so easy to “us/them” humanity when we’re pixels and digital quips. But as you say, when we invite “the other” into the fold, they become “softer, fuzzier, more nuanced, more loving…situated closer to [their] humanity, [their] limits, [their] complexities…”
My wife and I have borrowed a term from Maurice Mitchell of the Workers Party: A Bigger Us. I read this in your thoughtful and wise advice here - wrap these folks into the Bigger Us because together, we are unstoppable; because together, we all win; because together is values-aligned, ethical, and a truly radical response to the MAGA messaging. I'm not saying moving toward a Bigger Us is easy; I'm saying all the effort is worth it.
Agree 💯 - We gain nothing by feasting on retribution.
I love this. (But then, I expect this kind of compassionate brilliance from you). When an enterprise shuts down for whatever reason, it cuts more than cash flow. It severs relationships, separating friends and colleagues who have supported one another over years. Still deeper, it strikes at one's sense of life purpose. And for those of us who struggle with imposter syndrome, it cuts at the core of one's being. The psychic trauma of layoffs means more than money. A dream dies every time. I can't imagine turning a sufferer away, "You voted for this." Not that I'm telling anyone what to do or how to be, but if someone said that to me, I'd question the friendship.
That said, no one has any guarantees in this world, but until now a government job was as close as it gets. The corporate world has suffered offshoring and layoffs for decades. My partner and I, and both our exes, went through corporate musical chairs multiple times (even survival hurts). Running our own business, Rich and I had to fire employees and senior partners; it stings every time. Yet sometimes it has to be done, like getting a divorce, or making any number of painful far-reaching decisions (abortion, cancer treatment, emigration...you name it).
"When one door closes, another one opens." That's the best I can say to a friend or anyone going through this. To that I would add (but not say aloud), every enterprise should be audited. To do so invites criminal enterprise. The corporate world regularly goes through audits and board reviews, but the government, never. A fiscal colonoscopy is long overdue. The government wastes billions --- even trillions --- every hundred days, and for what? To blow things up overseas? I'm happy to see every CIA agent fired and hope the Pentagon is next. I'm sorry if your husband or lover had a career as a spook, but, when does the madness stop?
Skills transfer. I hope people took advantage to build skills during their tenure; pray those skills will find better use.
One more thing. Eight months' severance is a dream in the corporate world (not that that is a model, but still). Take it and build your dream. Find work that holds personal meaning, continues your mission, fulfills a vision. Start an ice cream business; go back to school; travel. Keep in touch with colleagues and friends, they mean more than money.
When one door closes, another one opens. For those affected, this could be the best thing that ever happened. If you know anyone affected, please support them in fulfilling their dream.
S
Thanks, Pam. It's always interesting to hear your perspective on things. The doors that are closing with these decisions are a far greater threat than simply an individual's career. I don't think any of us can fathom the level of ripples and destruction that is in store for us now. As always, I hope I'm wrong...
100%. It's like you read my mind with this (I mean...not surprising, we are the same person after all, but still...)! I've been going back and forth with my Republican cousin on FB today, and I was about to post something along the lines of: I don't even care who you voted for at this point. We need each other. I will work as hard as you, but we need folks who are or were formerly on the right to work hard as well.
Anyway...you said it so much better, but I will just share the link instead :)
Thanks, Jenn! I always appreciate your thoughts, and I have to believe we all have family with differences...that's where possibility lies. Would love to see that link.
Thank you for this reminder. It’s so easy to “us/them” humanity when we’re pixels and digital quips. But as you say, when we invite “the other” into the fold, they become “softer, fuzzier, more nuanced, more loving…situated closer to [their] humanity, [their] limits, [their] complexities…”
Thanks Kim. Hilarious: as soon as I wrote that sentence, this thought popped into my mind: "This is the one Kim will like." Ha!
Ha! See? We are sisters from other misters.
My wife and I have borrowed a term from Maurice Mitchell of the Workers Party: A Bigger Us. I read this in your thoughtful and wise advice here - wrap these folks into the Bigger Us because together, we are unstoppable; because together, we all win; because together is values-aligned, ethical, and a truly radical response to the MAGA messaging. I'm not saying moving toward a Bigger Us is easy; I'm saying all the effort is worth it.