So, You’re Out on the Street

How does Robert Dilenschneider attack this major problem of an increasing number of individuals, oftentimes in mid-career? Your company has been taken over by another and their philosophy is fundamentally different than yours. Or your company has begun that inevitable Wall-Street demanded downsizing, outsourcing and “right-sizing” - - which all translates into getting rid of a lot of employees. Then there’s the purge of the high-priced folks and those over 50.

He puts it bluntly: “In this age of corporate downsizing, mergers, outsourcing, layoffs, and mass dismissals….” Know that the so-called paternal corporation is dead. Hating them after you leave is to hate nothing. They may hate you two seconds. Try not to give it another thought—just about impossible advice to follow, but outwardly to a spouse, maybe, your Blogster says.

How do Power and Influence factor into this situation. Here the book falls somewhat flat, since not a lot of unemployed people want to exercise power and influence where they pick up their unemployment insurance! They may want to go back and put their former employers in bondage or set fire to their old office, but that’s another sort of book called: “Revenge of the Once Working.”

Yet, he does cite personal examples, several actually, of people who did this very thing, though most are top, chief executives already, so that “climb to the top” has been skipped.

He notes the importance of relationships with former employees in your old company (not to let these relationships dry up) and relationships with former clients. Many of these contacts could empathize with your situation, even loan you money for that start-up you’ve always planned, perhaps. (He claims to have turned one of these venture capitalists down, though this seems just a little far-fetched…). Power plays, one supposes, like to run the show and keep the spoils, not share them or be run in their organization by someone else!

The key message: Power and influence, while heady and lucrative, also are “transitory and elusive,” he notes. Be ready and be prepared (it never let the Boy Scouts down…). In fact, preparations can take place while ON THE JOB.

The message: Know how you got power and how easily it can be taken away…and what to do about it. But also be realistic: Know that many alternatives you try may not work. Moving on mentally and emotionally can help.

He points out that one should be ready to start over, start over and start over again during one’s career.

He adds that it takes nerve, smarts, a plan and technology’s reach via on-line job searches, etc. Never let the organization beat you down, an associate adds.

Remembering one’s strengths, while keeping in mind that people are willing to let you help/serve them and pay for things of value. Become valued and prosperous at the same time.

Betting on yourself can hurt, too.

While somewhat placating and pleasant reading, this chapter might be worth a quick read only, without pondering hidden meanings. It’s a straightforward treatise on getting things right, despite humiliation, and forging ahead in your field. When in doubt, form your own business - - truly the neatest revenge, one has to believe after reading these pages!