Fired

I never thought that word would ever be something that would be applied to me, but as of Friday morning, I am unemployed. I'm still in a bit of shock that I won't be going into work tomorrow morning, but overall, I am amazed at how well I am taking this.

Looking back, I can sort of see it coming. Ever since we broke off from CG, it's been a struggle to find the work that would allow me to perform at my experience level. I wasn't yet bringing in the business that would justify my salary, and I was just too expensive to keep. It was so much as dissatisfaction with my performance as a business decision.

I can also see now how dissatisfied I was, which is also helping me cope. I would ask to sit in on the higher-level consulting engagements so I could see that process, and was regularly being left out (not particularly on purpose, but the end result was the same). I asked for more review work, and I would get it for a while, and then they'd forget, or it was just easier to do it themselves.

So I'm seeing this as more of an opportunity to get out of a rut and look for something that's going to be more challenging and fulfilling for me. I'm not particularly worried at the moment, as I have plenty of savings to live on for a while (and they're giving me a rather generous severance package), and I have very marketable skills. A quick search for postings led me to two very good prospects, if that's the direction I decide to go. I could also go out on my own, maybe as a contracted financial director, for people or organizations that can't afford a full-time person, but need someone who can read financial statements and give advice.

Tomorrow I go to the gym, update my resume, file for unemployment, and start thinking about the next step in my life. I'm actually looking forward to it, and being laid off may be the best thing that ever happened to me.