As many who follow my blog know, my employer declared me surplus last December.  I can't really criticize my immediate supervisory chain for what they were forced to do.  They simply implemented policy that was handed down to them from upper-most management.  Based on the company's solid financial results, however, I wonder if the force reduction was really necessary.  From conversations I have had with those who were not let go, it certainly sounds as if working there has become much more stressful since 25% of the workforce left.

While my lack of employment has been a disappointment, it has not affected me as much as I had feared.  Living a prudent lifestyle in a modest and affordable home has definitely been an advantage.  Stress and uncertainty were also diminished by the fact that I have maintained fairly solid savings separate from my retirement account.  The timing was pretty good, too, since I actually had the second best year of my professional life last year, at least as far as income goes.  (Isn't it ironic that one would be let go after one of his best years ever?)  During my forced vacation, we also received a fairly healthy income tax refund, also quite helpful.  Finally, I did not find it difficult at all to swallow my pride and collect unemployment compensation.  

Still, there is no doubt that unemployment sucks.  And frankly, it is a little embarrassing.  So, after taking a few months to decompress from the bad news of December, I began aggressively looking for work in late February.  Those efforts paid off in the past week.  I received an offer on Friday, and another Monday afternoon.  I accepted the latter of the two.

Here is the interesting thing.  This is a complete change of career, selling a product that I have never sold before, in an industry that I am completely new to.  But you know what?  I'm excited.  I'm invigorated.  I'm energized.  I'm 51 years old, and I'm a rookie.  I'm a newbie.  A neophyte.

But I'm also self-employed, a 1099 contract employee for a company that I feel very good about.  It's a new career, free from the BS of the big corporation, and I'm ready!   Professional Career 2.0 starts Monday.