Top 5 Things I Learned Since I Was Laid Off

So long, farewell

It’s been several months since I was laid off from Sun Microsystems and I was thinking back over that time and wondered what were the highs and lows of that period. A lot has happened and most of it has been good. There were a  few bits and pieces that were unexpectedly lousy. So, let’s get the lousy lesson out of the way.

#1 Losing Your Job Even When You’re Expecting It is Hard

I suspected I would be losing my job once the Oracle acquisition was announced. I felt like I had survived so many layoffs that really my time had come. So, I knew it was coming. I had also been part of a company that had shed many jobs over the past 5  – 7 years and a number of the people they had let go were superb, so I knew there was no shame in it either. So, I was really surprised when I became a bit down-hearted about the whole thing. I can’t point to one specific feeling I had, there just seemed to be a number of conflicting and competing emotions racing through me: relief that I finally knew I was out of a job, sadness about saying good-bye to a number of great people, who I had collaborated with for years, excitement about the next phase of my life, disoriented because I didn’t have anywhere to be.  Those emotions faded after about 4 months but it was unexpected and something I had to work through.

#2 There’s A Lot Going on in Boulder

Because I had either been racing up to or focused on Broomfield, I had no idea of the number of innovative, energetic, friendly, inspiring people creating start-ups, working on their ideas and sharing information here in Boulder. I started volunteering to write for boulder.me, organizing volunteers for TEDxBoulder,  going to Startup Women and basically talking to people about their efforts. I learned a tremendous amount from these conversations and although I haven’t started my own small business being exposed to that type of creativity encourages you to take risks. Although, I have gone back to work, I am still committed to staying involved.

#3 Community is Critical

However you get involved, whether it’s online, face-to-face, group meetings, the important thing is you’re getting involved. I’ve really enjoyed networking and volunteering at TEDxBoulder, which floored me. I’ve met some real characters and by that I mean energetic and energized people working towards a goal. I’m not normally a joiner type and I can’t give a good reason why so one of my goals while I was off was to get more involved. I’ve met and learned from some great people and have had my eyes/mind open to new technology, music, ideas, events, etc.. This has been the most important lesson I have learned. I was a bit hesitant about getting involved or volunteering, I guess I didn’t know what I truly had to offer.  But my experiences have been great and the people I have met have made me realize how much is out there in the world to learn, help out with and explore.  If you get the chance, get involved!!

#4 Exercise is Not a Cure-All but it Works

I’ve been going to CrossfitRoots for about 8 or 9 months and I am so relieved/thankful I’ve continued with it. I’m not one of those people who love to exercise but the sense of well-being and positive juju I experience at the end of a workout is tremendous. Now, to be honest, there are times I am crawling around on the floor after a workout and the appreciation for that effort comes several hours after but it always does.  The workouts are generally intense and for those 15-20 minutes my mind is on nothing else but finishing; it’s almost like a very uncomfortable meditation but the relief afterward is very calming.  It’s very easy to get into a habit of eating poorly or having a couple of glasses of wine in the evening when you don’t have to be up at 6am but those habits are  much less appealing when you know you have an intense workout later that day.

#5 I’ve Made Some Terrific Friends

I’m very lucky that many of the people I shared my professional career with at Sun, I still have in my life. Smart, ambitious, funny great people I still keep in touch with and am fortunate to call my friends.

There are quite a few other things I’ve learned but these were the ones that first came to mind. Maybe I’ll update it when I have hit a year.