This is why my life has been shortened by decades.
I was a young man just a few short months ago. Well not really, but I felt young. I looked young. Now I’m a burnt-out husk of the Waverly I was. I’ve got grey hairs. I’m not fun. I have a perpetual headache. I’m tired, but I can’t sleep. When I do sleep, I have nightmares. Not the fun, succubus-filled nightmares of my recently spent youth; I dream about [and I’m not kidding here] reorganizations, bad market indicators, even missed business plan targets.
Why? Here’s one of my many ‘bad market indicators’. But it’s much worse than this. Telecom is only a portion of the technology sector; its woes just happen to be the best documented. And this article is an example of wide-eyed optimism. That is because there can’t be a true recovery. Take my word for it, no matter what you have heard. There will be business that remains, to be sure, but it is boarding the life boats and setting the course for emerging economies with all the calm composure of a bulls running through the streets of Pamplona. I’ve seen the facilities, and chatted with the decision makers in Guangdong (just as one example.) They have planned for this. They have several times the capacity necessary.
Cash strapped and myopic, major OEMs are at the shoreline pushing the dinghies into the water, betting that cheaper components will at least allow them to survive until tomorrow. Tomorrow is about as far as this plan will get them, but we have strayed far afield. This is all about me. After scaling back half of our workforce in three countries, it’s a foregone conclusion that my company is becoming a tad thrifty. There are probably 10 people down at the mall with similar qualifications to mine and lower salary requirements – hell, I’m good, but this is the freaking apocalypse we are talking about.
I’ve become as jumpy as a 10 year old spending the weekend at the Neverland ranch. I read volumes into the slightest occurrence, not unlike a school girl ringing her hands over her boyfriend’s ambiguous comments. I’ve done everything but sacrifice a goat and interpret the entrails. Let’s review the my own personal business indicators: [ul][li]New business cards: Good! Someone spent money on me, even if it was out of the office supply budget. [/li][li]Only 500: Mediocre. I go through them quickly. [/li][li]Less than 50 emails a day: Bad. If I were indispensable I’d get more. [/li][li]Phone not ringing: Very Bad. See above. [/li][li]Calendar filled thru June: Good! Travel is expensive, so I must be important. [/li][li]Calendar only filled thru June: Well… [/li][li]Boss tells me ‘job well done:’ Very Good. Seemed sincere enough. [/li][li]Boss is interviewing people to ‘help’ me: Ack! I’ll do both jobs. Really. [/li]Meeting scheduled with boss’ boss: ? [/ul]So what is my point? I admit to not having one, but if you see me having a conversation with myself by the roadside tonight, put me out of my misery.