The last six months....

[MikePA]

Congrats, Terry!!! I couln't be happier for you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[B7500]

Good for you! Since this is one of the best real life soap opera's I've heard of in years please keep us all informed. Personally, I think your missing your real calling....
...I'd write books for a living if I were you. Your articulate, humorous and very interesting. Good luck!

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Today's another Friday and my daughter and son in law have had another rough night. He works for Worldcom and once again the axe is falling. So until about noon today he'll be on edge not knowing if his fate is the same as Terry's or if he gets to hang a little longer.

A couple of his buds that got hit about the same time as Terry have found work in their field but at a lower wage. But most of them have found other lines of work.

I'm glad Terry has found gainfull( /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) employment. I would hate to think there is someone out there besides me getting by without having a real job.

Not having a job doesn't mean one doesn't work. I work pretty doggone hard. It's just that I pretend I'm having fun so it isn't a job. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Again, thank you guys!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I guess I forgot to mention what I'll be doing - doh!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Landed a position as a gubmint contractor with the following job title - now you are sitting down aren't you... "Web Architect/Engineer". I guess I'll be making spiders envious or something.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Basically it is doing the same stuff as I did before, project management specializing in requirements gathering and analysis in the IT arena.

Hey Harv, you have the right attitude about work and employers. There is always work to do and I was getting to the point of rethinking everything. Also, tell your son-in-law that there is a life after WorldCom... and it's a better one. I have a few friends still fighting the stress and unknowns of that so-called company and they are wishing that WorldCom would put them out of their misery. Working for any company like WorldCom is a conundrum. You have a job and why look for a job... hard to look for a job since there are not many jobs to look for... etc. Very sad.

As a family, we had options and were close to making the decision to go on our own. But, this opportunity came up. I am in the process of rethinking on how we will get to going into business full time and what we need to get there. I figure that we can probably be ready in two to three years financially. Just a little hard work and cutting back on some expenses. Heck, we have been living on unemployment, a little garden market revenue, and my wifes part time mechandising jobs for the past 8 months. So, in reality, we should be able to prepare for our business easily. Just a little more self-discipline and sticking with a plan.

Terry

 

[WVBill]

Congratulations Terry!

 

[ewoss3]

Way to go Terry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MDNick]

Congratulations Terry,

Now we have heard how you are, what you haven't said is how's Oz?

Two Pounds of Trouble. . .

Not 2 pounds anymore, I imagine.

 

[TerryinMD]

Two pounds of trouble times 5!!! Now he is a young male cat and is being trouble in a different way!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif All young cat!! But, soon enough, he is going to be visiting the vet and get his due..... snip-snip!! That'll slow him down a bit and get rid of any of those sudden urges.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The Internet has two sides. The wonder of instant communications which provide lots of wonderful news.... and the bad side - bad news. I'm a Instant Messaging user and keep in contact with friends, family, and ex-coworkers.

Well, as you probably have read in this thread, WorldCom was to have more layoffs - they have started!! They began around 11:00 AM EST. A friend still working there (at last count) IM'd me and said that the actions had begun. Another friend (laid off in the last round in December) was in contact with friends in my old group and reported that 4 more were invited to an extended vacation. Mixed emotions.... I hate seeing people losing their jobs, but WorldCom is in deep doo and needs to get back on it's feet. But, when will it stop.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Life goes on...

Terry

 

[wroughtn_harv]

It's good to see you making lemonade out of such a cut of lemonitis.

Son in law made it through the cutting process one more time. For him I suspect it's a win yet lose situation. He's handy and sharp enough to make it doing about anything but he's also smart enough to not quit such a good thing, but if they laid him off..............

I remember as a young man splicing telephone wires and once the hands were busy the mind taking a walk. One of my favorite pipe dreams was doing what I was doing but being paid for what I did instead of being paid to be there doing it.

Some years later I got that opportunity and it was even better than I'd thought it could be. Through pure luck and being obnoxious enough to be remembered I got the opportunity to splice telephone wires by the unit. It was great and I had some wonderful times and made a ton of money.

But like all things the gawd of averagering got into the act and it changed. Where I had been making a killing and beating the quality of the company guys others got into the act. Their cavalier attitude with quality, the natural dislike company guys had for contract workers, and telco management's observation that the job could be done cheaper sorta all ganged up on opportunity.

Like I said, the gawd of averaging got involved, always does, sorta like guaranteed, as when it gets cold rain becomes snow. Everytime someone finds a niche that's profitable the competition jumps into the fray, most of it is unqualified and only in for the quick bucks.

Management is to pay X amount for a function to be completed because there's the cost of labor and equipment involved. But when they see that amount going to one man and his equipment and he's doing the job in a fourth the time, gawd they get their skirts in a knot.

They're sorta like Walmart or Home Depot. They not only want to know how much you have to have for the product. They want to know your costs and your profit and gawd forbid you're making a dime more than they think you deserve.

I guess what I'm trying to say is going on your own means you have to accept that it's only great until the competition or progress catches up. Then you have to move on to another process, product, or position. You're always just one step from being one step behind. If you step back and congradulate yourself you've tripped. When you trip usually your butt is what's showing.

With all that in mind I recommend being on your own. The folks that know me all agree that if I'd stayed with the telco it wouldn't be just me in the crazy house. Everyone working around me would be there too.