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TwitterIt’s official. My company has downsized (Reduction in Force), and I am one of the casualties. Many families are suffering from similar cut-backs, but I didn’t think it would happen to me. I wasn’t properly prepared, and I’m having difficulty adjusting.
Why me? I am the quintessential “Company Woman.”I arrive at work bright and early with a cheerful disposition – at least half the time. I stay late and work overtime whenever needed. When there is a job that no one else wants to do (which happens quite often), I do it with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. Granted, its AC/DC’s “Dirty Jobs Done Dirt Cheap” sung in an angry-guttural tone – but it’s still a song.
I seldom complain and never ask for a raise, although it would be well-deserved. I give my heart and soul to this job every day, so to be informed that my services are no longer needed is heart-breaking and very difficult to accept.
Some of my responsibilities were outsourced to Kearney, Neb. Evidently, in Kearney, experts can provide on–the-job training and continuing education that will help the company grow and expand into new areas. Unfortunately, I don’t have the skill-set necessary to provide the services my company needs at this stage in its development. It feels like part of ME has been outsourced.
Another part of my job has been assumed by a much younger woman who has very little experience. I should know! I trained her. Granted, she has potential, but the fact that my protégé can assume these duties at such a young age validates my teaching skills, and I have so much more knowledge and experience to share!
How did this happen? Where did I go wrong?
To add insult to injury, it was my husband and I who started the company from scratch almost 19 years ago. It wasn’t easy. Although it took us forever to get things going, we felt fortunate to have the opportunity to “grow” our own company. We had big dreams of what our company would look like some day, but as with any start-up, not everything went as planned.
We experienced many ups and downs and more than once, we darn near crashed and burned. When the company was in crisis, we asked each other, “What were we thinking?!” My husband and I enjoyed working together but didn’t always agree on what was best. We threw in the towel a few times but retrieved it each time before the count of 10 because it was so important to us that the company not only survive but also succeed.
A few years ago, the tables began to turn. I wouldn’t call it a coup exactly, but in retrospect it was coup-like in that it was a brilliantly executed stratagem by our subordinates to eventually take over. My husband and I were still officially running the company when we realized that we were the ones doing all of the running. We still called the shots and made the important decisions, but bit by bit, the underlings learned the ropes and began not only having opinions but also voicing them! My husband and I dutifully listened and were open to their thoughts and ideas, but WE had the experience, and WE needed to be in charge and maintain control. It was OUR company, not theirs.
Well, it isn’t the first time that a company’s founder, who selflessly sacrificed for years for the greater good, was ousted by the peons. (Maybe a bit harsh, but my emotions are rather raw!) True, I haven’t been totally in charge for some time. I acknowledge that there comes a time in all successful companies when the next generation must step up and take more responsibility; however, I believe I can still bring value to the company in many ways.
There is some good news. I have been asked to stay on as a consultant and to occasionally visit the Kearney location to check on how things are going! Also, my protégé, who just turned 16 and is now handling all deliveries, asked me to continue managing the company’s cafeteria and janitorial services.
The other good news is that even with reduced responsibilities, my compensation hasn’t been cut! The bad news is, there is no compensation – at least not monetary, but I own stock options, and they are priceless!
Mara’s oldest daughter is now attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and her youngest daughter is a junior at Elkhorn South High School.
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Posted by: Heidi W on 09/04/2010 @ 2:22 pm:
I really enjoyed this post. You are giving me a nice taste of what it to come. Those of us who are still in the building stages of our company can all learn from your wisdom.
Posted by: Mara on 09/05/2010 @ 3:52 pm:
Thanks Heidi – but I don’t think you will be learning from my “wisdom” as much as you might learn from my “experience,” a.k.a. mistakes! Some things are hard to prepare for no matter how much you try or think you are ready. Often wish I could go back to when mine were in elementary school. I miss everything about that time. (Maybe my memory is failing…..)
Posted by: First Mom on 09/04/2010 @ 5:44 pm:
Very Clever and so true.
Posted by: Cat K on 09/04/2010 @ 7:10 pm:
Mara – I will bring you on as CEO any day!
Posted by: Mara on 09/05/2010 @ 3:44 pm:
Thanks Cat! Maybe I can out-source myself.
Posted by: Melissa on 09/04/2010 @ 9:30 pm:
Mara this is hilarious. I am pretty sure the coup was being strategically plotted for some time now. Watch out though, because I think there may be another one coming in a couple years!
Posted by: Mara on 09/05/2010 @ 3:43 pm:
Melissa – I agree that another coup is coming in two short years and I am going to work very hard to make it easier to handle. These transitions are much harder than I thought they would be!
Posted by: Working woman on 09/05/2010 @ 1:55 am:
I’m trying to read between the lines and I still can’t figure out how you made the leap from owning the company to being on the outside. What am I missing or perhaps – what aren’t you telling?
Posted by: Mara on 09/05/2010 @ 3:41 pm:
WW – I’m not sure how it happened other than as I trained my subordinates to be more independent so they could run their own subsidiary someday, they thought they were competent enough to take over my Company. I just need to restructure and take my Company in a new direction and focus on those things that there was no time for over the past 19 years. Stay tuned and maybe I will share some of those new projects! Thanks for writing!
Posted by: nebraskafan on 09/05/2010 @ 2:30 pm:
great post. all moms should be prepared for a rif. great writing.
Posted by: Erin on 09/06/2010 @ 1:58 am:
Mara, my company is run by insomniacs. And some insubordinates. But I love them anyhow.
Posted by: Mara on 09/08/2010 @ 3:30 pm:
Erin – you are definitely in the start-up stage. Many challenges and sleep is a big one!
Posted by: Amy G on 09/06/2010 @ 2:56 pm:
Great post, Mara! I try to remember that there will come a time when I wish I was still the epicenter of my childrens’ lives so that I can fully enjoy the here and now. You always have such great wisdom to share!!
Posted by: Z. Carlson on 09/06/2010 @ 10:18 pm:
I am just being down-sized, the son has his first job. The most junior member still has me on retainer, but I am still the majority holder, and the final veto. It’s on like Donkey Kong!
Posted by: Lisa M on 09/07/2010 @ 2:47 pm:
Great post–very clever!
It seems in my corporation there are at least three who would like to upsurp my CEO duties, but I am holding firm against hostile takeovers.
On a separate note, I went to UNK (Class of ’98) and I loved it. If your daughter is considering law, encourage her to talk to Dr. Peter Longo in the political science department!
Posted by: Mara on 09/08/2010 @ 3:26 pm:
Thanks Lisa! It is always nice to hear from Kearney graduates who enjoyed their experience there. Did you study law? I practiced for 20+ years and I’m not so sure my daughter will be interested but you never know. Thanks for reading.
Posted by: Chris J on 09/07/2010 @ 10:46 pm:
Ha! Love it. Good luck with the next few years. I’m sure the “Kearney location” will need more help than they think they will.
Posted by: Kim V on 09/09/2010 @ 3:32 pm:
Next thing you know, you’re a holding company for some operation in Brooklyn. Turns out, all you’re “holding” is stuff that wouldn’t fit in the luggage. And the autonomous corporation wants you to mail that.
Posted by: Judy D. on 09/09/2010 @ 5:25 pm:
Oh, Mara. Beautiful. Ultimately, as the CEO of our company, we hope to be outsourced. Great perspective and incredibly witty!
Posted by: AJ on 09/09/2010 @ 10:02 pm:
My favorite blog on this site ever! TY
I think I have a solid 10 years to continue as CEO, we’ll see:)
Posted by: Mara on 09/10/2010 @ 12:48 pm:
Thanks AJ!! Enjoy those 10 years – I’m sure they will be very exciting, rewarding and at times – very challenging but always worth the investment.