Great Expectations!

Imagine losing your job during the worst global recession since the Great Depression. That’s what happened to me. I knew it was going to happen. I sensed it coming for several months. No, I’m not psychic or anything like that. I’ve been in this position before.

Three years ago, I was working for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals’ R&D Division in New London, CT. After two very large mergers over a 5-year period, my position was eliminated in their “Adapting to Scale” initiative. That’s just a fancy way of saying “RIF,” reduction in force. I was one of an estimated 40,000 world-wide who learned to adapt. This time, I was working as the Director of IT Process Improvement for CARQUEST Technologies, LLC, the IT group supporting one of the largest automotive aftermarket parts distributors in North America. The CIO walked into my office on December 9th and said my position was being eliminated in the 2010 budget cycle due to continuing economic concerns. Instead of feeling upset or fearful, a sense of relief warmed me as I responded, I’ve been anticipating this. I asked him to keep this quiet.

Dec. 9th was the one year anniversary of a 2008 RIF where we lost 200 on the corporate campus. It was the first time in the 40 year history of the company people got laid off. It was a bad day and it was still fresh in the minds of those who survived. The last thing I wanted to do is cause a panic. If my colleagues saw me packing my desk and leaving, there’s no telling how they may have responded. So, we kept it quiet and I want to publicly apologize to all of my friends there for not saying a proper “so long.” Keeping things quiet was needful. Please understand my motives.

After our discussion, I filed everything I was working on, packed my office and left the following day. When I got home, I said to my wife Praise the Lord! God is moving in our life and I’m expecting great things. Today, 12/30, is officially my last day with the company.