I haven't blogged for a couple weeks. First it was a vacation break from everything, mandated by my wife who insisted I not be focused on the Internet, but rather on her. Fair enough. We had a lovely week in San Diego, relaxing on the beach, going to museums, enjoying each other for the first time as empty-nesters on vacation. So then I return to work this last Monday, to find out that while I was gone my company re-structured and I and 20 other people are no longer employed.
"You're kidding, right??"
"Sorry, no."
I am totally in shock. I've been with this great company for a little less than two years. I worked as a food scientist in a small R&D group. I was valued and respected. I was inventing really cool stuff. But then the company 'merged' a few months ago. The acquiring company didn't have an R&D group. (Would that be a red flag?) Last week they ousted the wonderful and vibrant CEO with all his positive values, and established their own way of doing things, which obviously will be without his vision of the future that included me.
How could this happen? Shit happens. But nothing happens in a vacuum. Reverberations happen. Well, it so happens that the founder's daughter was out driving drunk and killed someone earlier this year. They needed money to protect her in court with high-powered attorneys; they had to sell the company. We all wondered if there would be fall-out from the 'accident.' Yup, there sure was. It all rolls downhill. But maybe not without a purpose.
So, where do you want me to go, dear Lord? I'll do what you want me to do. The reverberations are not finished yet. We'll be starting again somewhere else, and only the Lord knows the end from the beginning. This isn't the first time of packing up and moving on for us. A new horizon, a new calling, a new opportunity to serve, and new important lessons to learn. Given my love for change, it's always a new adventure--maybe my dreams will come true, this time around...
6 comments:
Wow! I am so sorry to hear about this... I've been wondering where you were.
Any chance you'll be coming back to Minnesota?
Back to Minnesota? Not that I can see in the near future, but you never know... maybe I'll get a job interview in the Twin Cities.
If I could go 'back' to anywhere it would be Oregon, but that's a wishful dream.
I'm sorry to hear about this. It sounds like you have a good attitude about it, though. I'll be praying for you and your family. By the way, I missed your posts while you were gone, but I definitely understand the need for a break from all of this!
As a self-employed individual, I can't get fired, but I'm one lawsuit away from bankruptcy. With your talents in R&D, can you market yourself as a consultant?
My thoughts and prayers are with you as well...
a few weeks ago i "replied to all" in a company broadcast email, a parody on a leader's retreat. the rank and file loved it; the leadership did not. then i went on vacation for 3 weeks and when i returned i went to turn on my company email from home, hoping to catch up before i went into the office--couldn't get on, password rejected. surely, i thought, i couldn't get fired over a single email. wouldn't they have to warn me or something? clearly, i let my natural paranoia (too many years in the closet) get the upper hand, but for a a few days i was really worried. it can happen to any of us
san diego is the best isn't it - thats where I live!
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