I found this post in my drafts...figured its about time I published it..
I remember it like it was yesterday...
An all hands meeting in the atrium to discuss the future of the company. During this meeting 350 employees learned that 60 jobs would need to be cut to continue business. However, we had options. You could volunteer and receive a severance with extended benefits. Or, if 60 people did not volunteer it was up to HR and management to determine which positions to eliminate - with a smaller severance and eligibility for unemployment benefits. To help everyone determine if the lay-off package was more sustainable then unemployment benefits, financial advisers were brought in for one-on-one meetings. I'm not great at math, but I knew that the 'voluntary separation package' wouldn't last me very long. Everyone speculated on what the 'criteria' would be to determine which jobs to cut...seniority, salary, and a ton of other corporate politics... I did my best to ignore everything and keep my head down, but I had a strange feeling that my position would be axed! I can't put my finger on what it was...but I just knew...So the week leading up to 'D-day' I cleaned out my desk, backed up all my personal files, itunes, emails, pictures,...everything! On D-day there were two waves of 'walk-outs'. During the second round Holly, my supervisor, asked me to join her in Jim's office. So we sat down and with tears in her eyes she told me that my position was eliminated. I've known and worked with Holly my entire moto industry career, approx 8 years, so it was hard for her to break the news to me. I was not at all surprised and was actually quite relieved. The waiting and speculation was over. Luckily I had already packed my desk in boxes. She helped me carry them to HR and we said good bye. After a short meeting with the HR manager, I was walking out of Kawasaki for the last time after 6 years.
I honestly LOVED my job, but was not the least bit upset about losing it. I hopped in my truck, grabbed my cell phone and started sharing the news with my ex, parents, and best-friend. As soon as I arrived home, Mandy had the beach cruisers out and beach bags packed. I had a drink in hand less then an hour after walking out of Kawi. That day I decided I wouldn't look at it as losing something I loved, but gaining an opportunity to do all the things I've been procrastinating on. I spent the following few months on the beach, by the pool, at the bars, trips to Arizona, Vegas and Idaho, stayed up and slept in late. I would wake up everyday and ask myself 'If I was at work today, wishing I was doing something else - what would that be' and I would go DO IT! It was magnificent, and I will miss it!
The past 11 months have been some of the best months of my life!! I've met some amazing people, learned a lot about myself, and accomplished things I would have NEVER imagined I was capable of! I remember it like it was yesterday...
An all hands meeting in the atrium to discuss the future of the company. During this meeting 350 employees learned that 60 jobs would need to be cut to continue business. However, we had options. You could volunteer and receive a severance with extended benefits. Or, if 60 people did not volunteer it was up to HR and management to determine which positions to eliminate - with a smaller severance and eligibility for unemployment benefits. To help everyone determine if the lay-off package was more sustainable then unemployment benefits, financial advisers were brought in for one-on-one meetings. I'm not great at math, but I knew that the 'voluntary separation package' wouldn't last me very long. Everyone speculated on what the 'criteria' would be to determine which jobs to cut...seniority, salary, and a ton of other corporate politics... I did my best to ignore everything and keep my head down, but I had a strange feeling that my position would be axed! I can't put my finger on what it was...but I just knew...So the week leading up to 'D-day' I cleaned out my desk, backed up all my personal files, itunes, emails, pictures,...everything! On D-day there were two waves of 'walk-outs'. During the second round Holly, my supervisor, asked me to join her in Jim's office. So we sat down and with tears in her eyes she told me that my position was eliminated. I've known and worked with Holly my entire moto industry career, approx 8 years, so it was hard for her to break the news to me. I was not at all surprised and was actually quite relieved. The waiting and speculation was over. Luckily I had already packed my desk in boxes. She helped me carry them to HR and we said good bye. After a short meeting with the HR manager, I was walking out of Kawasaki for the last time after 6 years.
I honestly LOVED my job, but was not the least bit upset about losing it. I hopped in my truck, grabbed my cell phone and started sharing the news with my ex, parents, and best-friend. As soon as I arrived home, Mandy had the beach cruisers out and beach bags packed. I had a drink in hand less then an hour after walking out of Kawi. That day I decided I wouldn't look at it as losing something I loved, but gaining an opportunity to do all the things I've been procrastinating on. I spent the following few months on the beach, by the pool, at the bars, trips to Arizona, Vegas and Idaho, stayed up and slept in late. I would wake up everyday and ask myself 'If I was at work today, wishing I was doing something else - what would that be' and I would go DO IT! It was magnificent, and I will miss it!
Even though all the unemployment freedom will be gone, I am extremely excited to start my new adventure at Cycle World.
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