Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Getting fired 1

So what do you do the day after you get fired? Pretty easy I think, whatever you feel like doing. I can't think of another day were it is more important to do what ever you feel like doing. Why not? Clearly there were few or no plans on the schedule for the day that are not work related. So the termination has just created an uncomfortable level of free time.

Here is what I have done in the first 4.5 hours. Emailed and talked to my former employer trying to locate a small brief case I left behind. It looks like one of the vultures picking over my old office may have absconded with it. Sent and email to the VP of HR requesting clarification on a verbal commitment that was made in my termination meeting that is not supported in the document. Maybe another instance of the CEO writing checks that can't be cashed. I wiped out my business to-do list of 122 items on my web based task list. That felt pretty good. I removed my work email account from my I phone. That was a near orgasmic experience. Note that I said near orgasmic because I have been trying to limit those experiences only to when my lover is in the room with me. I made myself some eggs for breakfast. Dressed to go swimming (haven't left yet to do that but I'm ready) at the health club. Took a call from my unemployed attorney cousin and commiserated about the plight of the 50ish unemployed and how we don't want to work for corporate assholes anymore. Did a blog post of an email I sent to my daughters last night.

Last but not least I was able to deduce a simple reason why I was terminated. I think it is important to distill this down to an elevator speech. Meaning a few lines that could be told to a person during a short elevator ride and they would understand the situation. The is a sales concept. Here is mine.

My primary motivation in business is to treat all people with dignity and respect. This unleashes the creative power and energy in every individual who chooses to use this power. This in turn multiplies the power of the organization many fold. This is the key ingredient in building a successful long-term business. The people I worked for shared none of these values and principles and neither one of us wanted to compromise. Enough said.

That's done and probably a very large accomplishment. Perhaps I deserve to take the rest of the day off after that one.

Last but not least did this blog post.

Thanks for reading.

Lester

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