Gregory

Smith

Business

Columnist

This has been a particularly hard week for many of my friends and people I know. One friend was home on sick leave recuperating from knee surgey when he got a phone call. His boss called him up and said, "Thank you very much, but we don't need you anymore." His company's stock price had dropped 15 points that week so my friend became part of cost-cutting strategy . . . no severance package, no warning, no income.

A couple of weeks ago, I was supposed to have a meeting with another friend who was CEO of a large medical clinic. When I called to confirm our meeting, his secretary told me he had "resigned" unexpectedly. No more details were offered.

I was hired to speak at another company last week. When I showed up to deliver the speech I found to my amazement that the meeting planner who hired me was also upon the ranks of the unemployed. What's going on?

All these people were in the 40's and 50's. All had families to support and all seemed quite talented. I am burdened when I realize the difficulty they may have finding another job at the same level of income and responsibility.

For a guy who makes his living saying things, I frankly don't know what to say. I could take a verbal stick to all those companies who are more concerned about their profit and loss statements than those who work for them. I could stand on a soapbox, beat my chest and scold those managers and tell them "I told you so." "You should have seen it coming." "Don't expect loyalty from any company today!" Being vindictive may make me feel better, but it would be the wrong approach.

Instead, I want to offer encouragement. The Chinese word "crisis" comes to mind. The word crisis means "opportunity riding on a dangerous wind." Is losing a job a crisis or an opportunity? Is it the end or the beginning? I guess it depends on how we look at it.

Losing a job is serious particularly if you are the sole breadwinner. However, there are more jobs today than there have been for decades. The economy is fine. Yes, you may have to adjust to a new lifestyle, but it is not the end of life, as we know it.

For some, losing their "job" was the best thing that happened to them. They were finally free from a job they disliked and now have the opportunity to do what they really want and enjoy.

When I left my job years ago and started my own business, life began for me. I am living my dream today. Sure, I had to eat macaroni and cheese for a while, but now I have everything a need. For others, losing their job has been a spiritual awakening, a time to put life in right priority-to get straight with God.

The older we get the more important our job becomes to us. Some of us need the job more than the job needs us. We start living only for retirement or for the paycheck. The paycheck becomes more important than what we do with our life. For many people the job becomes part of our ego-who we are.

I have found that when knocked to my knees, God was always there to provide for my needs. We will only be on this earth for a short time then we have the big hereafter. What can we do now to make a difference? I didn't intend to turn this into a sermon, but maybe it's time for all of us to evaluate what we are really doing with our life. Decide if you are going to be a victim or a victor.

Gregory P. Smith, author of The New Leader, and How to Attract, Keep and Motivate Your Workforce. He speaks at conferences, leads seminars and helps organizations solve problems.

He leads an organization called Chart Your Course International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at (770)860-9464 or send an email at greg@chartcourse.com. More information and articles are available at www.chartcourse.com.