Well This Is Weird

[BarryBobPosthole]

I got notified this morning that I am 'being impacted by a Reduction in Force', which is a fancy way of saying I am getting my pink slip. We've been preparing against this day for many years so no worries about me please. I just got off the phone with Birddog to let him know about it and he said 'Sorry, and congratulations!' which I think is about the closest I can say is the way I feel about it too. I had a glimmer of hope that I'd be able to call my own shot whenever I finally decided it was time but that's really the only thing to be sorry about. My honest to God biggest feeling right now is one of relief. Kinda feels like there was an invisible weight there that ain't any more. that's why I said, 'This is weird'.

I worked on my first telecom circuit in 1975, damn near 40 years ago. I was lucky enough to see technology change and keep up with (prolly proud of that most of all) and a few times even make impacts that were felt across my part of the industry. Its been a great career. I'd be lying if I said I have had much fun at it the last ten years or so. It kind of feels like I spent 30 years helping build a business and then spent the last 10 years tearing it apart. We got a letter the other day from our Chairman describing our third quarter results. In the letter he lists three things that he said were our most important assets for success: Our network, our systems, and our technology. Flash back to 1979 when I attend a training class for a startup company I'd went to work for called MCI. The President and the Chairman of the company came to the class and talked to us new hires for about an hour. Just sat down at a table with us and looked us in the eye and told us "The number one resource in this company is our people". When those values changed is the point in my career when I stopped having fun working hard.
So I guess that's the part that's the weight off my shoulders.

Now its time to come up with a new plan. We're pretty well prepared financially I think and at the risk of being overconfident I do know there'll have to be some changes made in how we live our life. I still hope to get to dive every year but prolly no more two weekers in the Caribbean. But who knows? Sure was fun though while it lasted! I don't know if I'll work at something else or not. Prolly will. Maybe not though.

Now maybe I can grow my hair long and .......wait, what?

BKB

[Chicken Dinner]

Congratulations in deed! I hope you'll still have gas money to come east for a little fishing or hunting.

[Hombre]

BBP - You have a career to be proud of for sure. Not only for the changes you've made in the industry but, I think, more importantly the people you've impacted. You were a great mentor and boss of mine, and I know many others. In my opinion that is the legacy you leave the young people that are now active contributors to this industry.

And in my opinion you're already saving money, not wasting any cash on haircuts these days!

[Chicken Dinner]

And, any company that doesn't think its people are one of its three biggest assets and is short sighted enough to put it in writing doesn't have much of a future. Wowzers...

[BarryBobPosthole]

Hahaha thanks Boh! Gotta cut corners anywhere I can ya know!

BKB

[BarryBobPosthole]

And, any company that doesn't think its people are one of its three biggest assets and is short sighted enough to put it in writing doesn't have much of a future. Wowzers...

I think that is a direct result of the core of the company coming from a unionized environment. I don't think any company with an antagonistic relationship with its worker base would list their people as their biggest asset. Despite what unions may have done that was ever good, and that's very debatable, I think that those values are a product of that environment. Its not just Verizon, its a lot of places. My offshoring experiences in Buenos Aires and Manila changed me forever as far as how I look at corporate values.

BKB


BKB

[quercus alba]

I understand Walmart is hiring

[LJ3]

I can completely and totally relate, my friend. When I got laid off two years ago, the very first feeling/emotion I felt was "Oh thanks sweet Jesus lord in heaven for releasing me from this!" THen I got a little worried and got my plan together but that relief was real and it was a beautiful thing. May you continue to feel that for a long ass time!

And now, if you feel like it, you can get a job doing anything you please, or fish, or anydamnthingelse you feel like doing.

Congratulations on your next chapter!

Maybe Julie could hire you as a stock boy or something?

[BarryBobPosthole]

She said she only hires young swarthy and svelte stock boys.

I am going to have to produce some income I believe but I am going to keep an open mind about how I'm gonna produce it. The picking thing that Thumper does for example is from I can see something that'd be a fun thing to do. And its not like I need to produce a lot of income either. I really don't wanna work for 'the man'. Been there done that, got the cast iron underwear. I need a job as a full time curmudgeon. Maybe I'll become a barber and open a barber shop. Owasso needs a barber with a pony tail.

BKB

[Hombre]

Three of my favorite Barry Learning Moments were:

1) The MCI / WorldCom Merger - We were growing like crazy literally hiring in 15 new people a week to try and build a provisioning organization. I can't remember exactly but Barry must of had 200 or more people at the time. We were talking at the time and he said "I'm ashamed that when I walk on the floor I don't know everyone by name" I was shocked. Why would you know everyone we were a huge organization and new people were being added daily. It took time but it finally sank in. The job we did was always second, connect with the people was first. Its not something I've always been good at but have tried more because of that day.

2) Focus on your strengths - I've always been notoriously poorly organized. Not good with meeting notes, and those are the ones that I remember to get to. One day I was talking to Barry about how I really needed to fix a lot of my own short comings. I can't remember the verbatim words but he basically said " you should focus on the things you're really good at, leveraging those will help you more. It wasn't really a don't try and improve, but make sure you are using the skills that got you here. I've used this the rest of my career. I always try and remember some things are ingrained, and hard to change but there are things I do really well and those can have immediate impact.

3) Insight - The last one is just funny and gave me insight into Barry's management style. He had 3 senior managers, me and two ladies. The ladies use to love to argue about things. I would always just sit back, never, speak up, and let them go at it. It was the perfect situation for me they're creating the drama and I'm not pulled in. Great! After a while Barry pulls me aside and says "I see what you're doing". That was all I really needed to hear to know he was watching. Barry had a great management style, he let his group work through problems making them better employees, without a lot of micromanagement; but, he was always observing and directing.

Next time I'm in town Barry we'll have to put down some whiskey to some great years!

[Thumper]

Hey! There's always eBay and estate sales!

Seriously, I can totally relate to everything you've said above ... been there, done that ... more than once! I know you'll be fine ... you're at the point it's not devastating news, but you're a survivor who can accomplish whatever you want.

[HideHunter]

Sorry and Congratulations. Bet you're like me and will wonder how you ever had time to work.. and not like my buddy who sits on the couch and talks about how much he liked hunting and fishing..

[Thumper]

Well dang! You posted about "picking" while I was typing!

[BarryBobPosthole]

Dang, thank you Boh for those words. Its that part of my career that I'm most proud of. I always thought that if a person managed that way it would work. I was gratified with how it worked out then and it's cool to hear that feedback from you now.

BKB

[Buckrub]

If I had your number I'd call you.........like I did in 1997 when I got riff'ed. You wuz first one. I have NO idea why!

You do seem to be taking it well. I cried like a little girl.

But............you should have enough to get by. How old are ya? You might sue 'em for age discrimination. I wished I'd have pitched a bigger fit when I walked out.....I regret that. I shoulda made 'em nervous and told 'em what my boss called me, and all that. But I took the high road. Like a little devil, I've regretted that. ha.

Now you and Keith can fish every day. And maybe you MIGHT find time next year to come fish with me. Or you can come by here on the way to Cappy's and we'll go visit.

Those are the upsides. You're a PP........Positive Person.......so there's the positives.

If you need a loan..........just ask................cappy.

Call if you need me.

[Buckrub]

And you DO know that it was High Karma that Bernie and Bill didn't make the merger happen, or you might have been working for me, dontcha?

[BarryBobPosthole]

I don't know if I ever told you but I actually worked on that deal several months ahead of it ever being talked about publically. Went up to 'the campus' in Kansas City several times. I think we did talk about it because you knew the director I was working with up there. It actually got down to the systems and processes and everything before it died.

and thanks for those kind words too. I do remember those calls very well too!

BKB

[Captain]

Dang Barry I'm just now reading this and getting caught up. Congratulations and I mean that seriously. You will hate you did not get out sooner. I know this might not be exactly when and how but trust me you will find out you actually worked too long!
You will fill your time and like me you will begin to wonder how you ever had time to work.
I still think me and you should take a month and drive up to Alaska. I bet all kinds of lies could be told between here and there.

[Captain]

And what is Shawnna gonna do with out you there to not pass on phone messages too?

[Arty]

Awesomeness

I'd love to hunt out there one day. For the scenery if nothing else.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Thanks Larke. And that trip has never been taken off my bucket list that's for sure. I think we oughta do our homework and find out what kind of motor home, boat, and trucks would sell for the most up in alaska and then buy them here, get a group of four or five guys together and pull them sumbitches up the Al-Can highway and fish all the way up, and then when we get ready to come home, sell all that shit and fly home. I'll bet you could do it for real cheap and would come damn close from breaking even.

BKB

[Buckrub]

And what is Shawana gonna do with out you there to not pass on phone messages too?

Ha. Posty's gonna have to go out and buy his own phone.

I betcha he calls you before he calls me. But I don't betcha much.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Now that I'm unemployed I'm getting me an Obamaphone.

BKB

[Buckrub]

Haste is recommended.

[Captain]

Thanks Larke. And that trip has never been taken off my bucket list that's for sure. I think we oughta do our homework and find out what kind of motor home, boat, and trucks would sell for the most up in alaska and then buy them here, get a group of four or five guys together and pull them sumbitches up the Al-Can highway and fish all the way up, and then when we get ready to come home, sell all that shit and fly home. I'll bet you could do it for real cheap and would come damn close from breaking even. BKB

I'd be on that like white on rice. Never been in a airplane but there's s first time for everything. Fishing all the way up would be heaven.

[Buckrub]

Being nosy............did you get a semi-decent package?

[BarryBobPosthole]

Oh yeah. Real good. One of my fears was that when it finally happened it'd be after they changed the severance policy. Its still one of the best. Changes to severance have been rumored for the last few years but nothing has been done yet. We have some debt, hell I just bought a new truck and for the first time in about five vehicles I didn't pay cash for it, so I have a truck payment. There's some other stuff too, but I think we can get real liquid real fast and then see what we need to do from an income standpoint. I have a while to sort through that plan. Probably will take off in a week or so from actual working and spend until after the first of the year looking at stuff. This might or might not be a huge tax hit if it all has to be taken at the end of this year. I'm hoping I can defer some of it until 2015. Might sell the house, might not. I have a shitpot of equity but don't know if I need it or not yet. We'll see. In meantime I might actually go down to the ancestral stomping grounds and put the hurt on a deer or so.
BKB

[Buckrub]

You're welcome to come over and hunt with me.........I'm around for 5 weeks hunting...

Course, you'd have to call me, so..........I guess that's out.

[BarryBobPosthole]

Hahaha, Bucky don't feel picked on. I don't talk to ANYONE on the phone. Maybe that'll change now. But after spending damn near 7 or 8 hours a day talking on the phone or listening on the phone, there ain't nobody gonna get me on the Gentner these days.

That's what Shonna is for anyway.

BKB

[Hombre]

One of the things my dad did after retirement was crop adjusting...seems like you might like that BBP. Out in the country talking with the farmers...I know he enjoyed doing it.