If there’s a good part about losing your job after years and years and years of selfless service it is this: the opportunity to be alive and kicking to hear people say nice things about you.
Like being alive at your wake. Ew, but really.
To hear directly from the horse’s mouth exactly how you made a difference in someone’s life on a daily basis. And to hear it from a whole lotta horses.
Is there anything else that matters? Besides orthodontic coverage, 401k, and pre-tax medical reimbursements, and a regular paycheck directly deposited twice a month? And not wondering what you did wrong over and over and over again?
Here’s the cool thing about getting the axe: you’re not six feet under turning into compost when all the people reflect, remember, and want to give back to a guy that gave so much.
You get to hear quavering voices that call in disbelief that you’re gone from a company that they think will suffer greatly without you. You get to field the texts, emails, and phone calls from people so far up the ladder they are shocked this decision was made without their input. And from people below that share their loss of a mentor, leader, and friend. From colleagues you knew no more than by email and phone that your integrity and patience is in your DNA, not an MBA. You ask for and receive multiple recommendations and referrals and voicemails from people anxious to pay you back for all you’ve done for them.
When in fact, you think you did nothing at all. You were just doing your job.
May you rest in peace? So sorry for your loss (that is not meant in a cheeky way…I just couldn’t readily think of another way to say it, so I went with the current theme)….
I’m so sorry. What jerks. Those are the only ‘clean’ comments I can type.
And taking all those calls from your old collegues about how much it sucks without you there.
this makes me sad… and angry… Those that do great work should be valued and treasured, not discarded…
This scenario reminds me of movie Crazy Stupid Love…’cept Crazy Stupid Job. So sad to see the bus stops loaded with people now jobless. Lucky kids, until the cobra runs the families dry. Still not all bad news, I firmly believe brighter days ahead, especially for this fam.
“and phone calls from people so far up the ladder they are shocked this decision was made without their input”
1) Huh – never a good sign for the company’s overall health when people that far up the ladder are shocked at loss of good talent.
2) Get those people who are shocked to network and say nice things!!