| The Downsize |
| By Mike Huang |
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http://www.mikehuang.com/blog |
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I expected stability here. A comfortable working environment away from the big corporate offices, where I could make a difference. Where I could grow and rise. Then came the mergers and the buyouts, and before I knew it,the small family-owned business was part of a gigantic conglomerate. But at least we retained our identity. Our branch survived the early years on incorporation, and we grew. It was thrilling to be back running with the big guys. |
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It was a cold gray winter day when we heard the bigwig was coming down to visit us. Such visits are usually planned in advance, and it was with an air of apprehension that I walked into the meeting room. This was a surprise, and not the happy found-a-hundred-dollar-bill-in-a-old- book surprise. |
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As the truth sank into my conciousness that I was one of the unlucky many being cut, I looked around the room to my soon-to-be ex-co-workers. Soon this office wouldn't exist anymore. The meeting was over. I had hardly heard a word. We were silent as we left. Shocked speechless. I wanted to scream. |
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Sadly I packed my office belongings into bulk letter-size boxes, every item heaved in either with utmost care or with utter disdain. The look of my co-workers was the same. We packed in silence. We didn't need to say it, but we were all thinking the same thing. We were caught unawares, and we had more problems now than we had woken up with this morning. I felt about as valuable as sawdust. |
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I wanted to burn. Burn brighter than anyone else. Others were just stumps of what they had been before. They were static, stagnant, unable to move. I didn't want to be chopped anymore. From now on, I was going to be the one doing the chopping. |
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