- W. Clement Stone
These are not the days when companies are loyal to employees. Long gone are the days when you served for 40 years in one job, retired and were given the proverbial gold watch and a handshake as you went off into the sunset of your retirement.
Today, companies are savagely profit-driven and, if their bottom line is written in red ink, in many cases one of the first options is to make staff redundant.
Redundancy, however, is an interesting thing - a two-sided coin. It is at once a devastating event in the lives of some employees who, having served for many years, are suddenly called into the manager's office one Friday evening and handed the dreaded 'pink slip' - the redundancy letter. Clearing out one's desk can be an emotional undertaking.
Other views on redundancy
But, on the other side of the coin, redundancy can prove to be one of the greatest positive events in the life of an employee, freeing him or her to develop entrepreneurial talents that were hidden as he/she sat around a desk.
You cannot prevent redundancy. But your reaction to it can be either a debilitating, demotivating, depressing thing, or the greatest springboard to personal success, wealth and happiness. It's not the firing or redundancy that is important. The REAL issue is your reaction to it. You cannot prevent the wind from blowing, but how you set your sail takes you either north or south with the same wind.
Let me tell you two true stories. A contemporary of mine, a colleague in the life insurance business, did well and rose through the ranks to become a successful manager. He is not Jamaican, but we kept in close touch as our careers seemed to move together.
Handling the situation
His company was bought out by a rival company and he was made redundant. The surprising development hit him like a ton of bricks given what was probably a handsome separation package, he took the whole thing badly. His personality changed. He went into depression, living off his savings, staring blankly at the walls in his home. For him, the world had ended.
Years passed and his savings evaporated. At nearly 70 years of age, he is staring at the daunting prospect of a cashless retirement. He has rejected many good opportunities to prosper and grow. Someone 'moved his cheese'.
The second story is of another friend who was also made redundant. When this happened to him, he saw opportunity, not defeat. He quickly invested the money from his separation package and went into business for himself. His first attempt at business was not successful, but he kept going, undaunted. Today, he employs 130 persons and is a multimillionaire. On his investments alone, he does not have to work for another day in his life. Looking back to that day he was terminated, he says, with a big smile on his face, "What a blessing that was for me!"
Tony Williamson is an international motivational speaker, sales trainer, author and lifestyle consultant. Email tonywilliamson_57@yahoo.com.
Things you can do
If you are fired or made redundant, do not take it personally. This is one of the best things that may ever have happened to you. Here's what you could do:1If you receive cash on separation, consider how to invest it. This cash can become the seed for highly profitable businesses for people who were once salaried but had entrepreneurial talents. Be sure to secure good advice from competent, qualified investment counsellors. One mistake you do not want to make is to waste your capital in non-profitable businesses.
2 Believe in yourself. My late mother always told me, "It is darkest just before the dawn." Many times the best things in life come after the worst things in life. Tell yourself 'The best is yet to come.'
3Associate with positive people. Separate yourself from those who see a problem in every opportunity. Find people who see an opportunity in every problem. Speak with successful people, people who have overcome obstacles, those who have risen from the ashes of defeat to achieve great wealth, success and happiness after crushing disappointment.
4Finally, see yourself as a winner. You are a champion in the making, a diamond in the rough. Champions get knocked down six times, but they get up seven times. You can, and will, succeed. Look to your redundancy as the break you need to unearth your hidden talents.
Rise and prosper!
