I think everyone has been let go at least once in their careers….and usually it ends up being a blessing in disguise. At least that the case for me! The best thing that ever happened to me was being “let go” from a position as a temporary finance and accounting Account Manager for a national well known staffing firm.  I hated the job, I did not enjoy the people I worked with and on a day to day basis I was miserable, but being the competitive driven person I am, I exceled. I was fired based on some crazy antics of some crazy co-workers. At first my ego was bruised and I was shaken up and I had planned to take a couple weeks off….yeah right…I was on the prowl for a new position the very next day and ended up working two blocks from my apartment on South Beach and recruiting nationwide for fashion and that’s right….footwear. So you see….It really was the best thing that ever happened to me and I am now where I am now because of losing my job. In these situations it is always better to look ahead to the future and how you can be better, rather than focusing on the past and what you lost. This article by Ken is spot on and for any of you going through this situation….just remember that if you fight through it, you will be stronger and you will be better!!  :) -Julia

“You are being let go – now for the good news”

Julia has once again granted me “freedom of expression” by allowing me to pick the topic this week.  Based on a conversation with a friend yesterday, the topic for this week is “You are being let go – now for the good news”(Isn’t Shoebizness supposed to be about good news)?

Yesterday, I spoke with a friend  who is a long time employee of a very large company.   About this time every year, my friends’ company goes through a ritual that everyone dreads…Downsizing.   Usually, management teams finish the new years budget around the end of October, and Senior Management must now set the foundation for these plans to be executed.   This typically means “reduction of expenses”…The largest expense in any organization – head count.

Speaking personally, I have been let go twice in my footwear career.   Both times came as a complete surprise to me.   The similarities however, are quite noteworthy and will benefit  those who go through it or who have gone through it recently.    First, let me tell you what to expect in the weeks following being let go:

Week One – Lots of phone calls from other colleagues offering sympathy and support.   A few may even tell you that you are “lucky”.

Week Two – A few phone calls from other colleagues.

Week Three – No phone calls.

The emotions you go through are(and this is the exact order):   1. Shock    2. Anger   3. Sadness   Usually there is a two to three week period in between each emotion.

Now for the good news…

Once you are able to pick your head up off the pillow, you start to really think about why you were let go.   It forces you to look hard at yourself, as well as forcing you to admit the flaws you have and  the mistakes you made.   It is during this introspection that you truly grow.  

I can say with almost 100% certainty that at your next position, you will do a better job than  while in your last position.   You will not repeat the same mistakes, and you will have a better focus of what management is looking for.   You will also learn a new set of skills with the new position.   Finally, you will realize that if you did not have this past job, you most likely would not get the one you are in.

Cycling through the stages mentioned above is not an easy task, and my words are meaningless unless you have gone through it yourself.   However, getting let go, fired, downsized, right sized whatever you want to call it should not be looked upon as a failure.   It should be looked upon as a catalyst.  

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

~ Michael Jordan

Ken Proctor

Front Man

Twig Footwear, LLC

c: 501.276.0140

e: Ken@twigfootwear.com

 www.twigfootwear.com