Comments on: So You Think You Have Job Security? http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/ Better Ways to Live, Work, and Change the World Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:27:59 -0500 hourly 1 By: Jeffrey Tang http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Jeffrey Tang Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:33:47 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-138 My father was laid off from his job at a telecommunications company about a year ago after decades of service, so I can definitely understand what you're talking about. If you don't building something uniquely yours in the world, then your future is often decided by other people. The time to act is now! My father was laid off from his job at a telecommunications company about a year ago after decades of service, so I can definitely understand what you're talking about. If you don't building something uniquely yours in the world, then your future is often decided by other people. The time to act is now!

]]> By: Jeffrey Tang http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Jeffrey Tang Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:28:12 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-139 Ken - I'm glad to hear that you're "planning your exit' - and I wish you the very best of luck! Keep me posted on how everything goes for you, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help you out :) Ken – I'm glad to hear that you're “planning your exit' – and I wish you the very best of luck! Keep me posted on how everything goes for you, and let me know if there's anything I can do to help you out :)

]]> By: Jayzee http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Jayzee Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:39:53 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-137 I once had the same thought, having a job in a stable, probably with billion dollars of revenue company, will secure me a job, thus providing me a good feeling of job security. All these, become a false illusion, until one fine day, I witness a bunch of my older colleagues being called up to the president office. Thereafter, I ask one of those seniors who had gone into the office, and I was being told that they were presented a letter of termination for their services, with only a thank you note for their many years of service. However, the real reason behind was that they are already old and no longer useful to the company, and this is the way to get rid of them. Yeah, I am young now, but one fine day, I will be old. I asked myself, what happens I am old and the company will treat me like what my seniors had been treated, giving me a letter, asking me to go. Somehow, it trigger my mind, as you get older, the lesser the job security is. After reading your blog, I concurred with you, There is no such thing as job security! It is only a false hope if ones think that a job offer security. Be an entrepreneur, be a business builder. I once had the same thought, having a job in a stable, probably with billion dollars of revenue company, will secure me a job, thus providing me a good feeling of job security. All these, become a false illusion, until one fine day, I witness a bunch of my older colleagues being called up to the president office. Thereafter, I ask one of those seniors who had gone into the office, and I was being told that they were presented a letter of termination for their services, with only a thank you note for their many years of service. However, the real reason behind was that they are already old and no longer useful to the company, and this is the way to get rid of them. Yeah, I am young now, but one fine day, I will be old. I asked myself, what happens I am old and the company will treat me like what my seniors had been treated, giving me a letter, asking me to go. Somehow, it trigger my mind, as you get older, the lesser the job security is. After reading your blog, I concurred with you, There is no such thing as job security! It is only a false hope if ones think that a job offer security. Be an entrepreneur, be a business builder.

]]> By: Ken Kurosawa http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Ken Kurosawa Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:30:09 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-118 Risk: If you think about it, we all take risks everyday. <br><br>Do you drive to work? RISK<br>Do you plug electronics into a socket? RISK<br>Do you walk up/down stairs? RISK<br><br>I have been planning my exit out of the corporate structure and hope to have good news in the future. Without risk, there are no rewards. Risk: If you think about it, we all take risks everyday.

Do you drive to work? RISK
Do you plug electronics into a socket? RISK
Do you walk up/down stairs? RISK

I have been planning my exit out of the corporate structure and hope to have good news in the future. Without risk, there are no rewards.

]]> By: Jeffrey Tang http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Jeffrey Tang Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:02:55 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-119 That's a pretty dramatic thought experiment, but I agree that it's worth doing. Our societies may rise and fall, and the ingenuity of individual human beings is all we can really count on. <br><br>By the way, I like your blog, Bakari. You cover some very important topics; I'll definitely be keeping tabs on you in the future :) That's a pretty dramatic thought experiment, but I agree that it's worth doing. Our societies may rise and fall, and the ingenuity of individual human beings is all we can really count on.

By the way, I like your blog, Bakari. You cover some very important topics; I'll definitely be keeping tabs on you in the future :)

]]> By: lorienos http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-121 lorienos Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:16:27 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-121 Your post made me remember something I'd long forgotten: in reality everyone who works in corporate america is a temp. Some are paid by temp agencies and some are paid by the corporation but at the end of the day, they're all temps. I'm working on starting my own business right now and I hadn't realized how exciting it was to realize that I can hold my own destiny in my hands. Your post made me remember something I'd long forgotten: in reality everyone who works in corporate america is a temp. Some are paid by temp agencies and some are paid by the corporation but at the end of the day, they're all temps. I'm working on starting my own business right now and I hadn't realized how exciting it was to realize that I can hold my own destiny in my hands.

]]> By: krishnakv http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-136 krishnakv Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:46:59 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-136 A very thought provoking post, brilliant! Culture and the generation gap has a lot to do with this too.<br><br> I remember as early as 15 years ago, working for a big brand and a large stable company was a mark of success. Charles Handy writes about his experience when he joined Shell more than 50 years ago and they on his "induction day" he got a package which marked out his career progression with Shell all the way up to retirement :-). There was really no reason why anyone would want to move on from Shell!! Of course, he has gone on to play various other roles and write many a thought provoking book.<br><br> One question, though. Isn't entrepreneurship and starting up a company more like a sport, with 1 winner and 99 losers? Thats a perception which holds many people back from starting up. How would you address this fear?<br><br> And hey, looking forward to reading more of your brilliant posts!<br><br>Cheers,<br>Krishna A very thought provoking post, brilliant! Culture and the generation gap has a lot to do with this too.

I remember as early as 15 years ago, working for a big brand and a large stable company was a mark of success. Charles Handy writes about his experience when he joined Shell more than 50 years ago and they on his “induction day” he got a package which marked out his career progression with Shell all the way up to retirement :-). There was really no reason why anyone would want to move on from Shell!! Of course, he has gone on to play various other roles and write many a thought provoking book.

One question, though. Isn't entrepreneurship and starting up a company more like a sport, with 1 winner and 99 losers? Thats a perception which holds many people back from starting up. How would you address this fear?

And hey, looking forward to reading more of your brilliant posts!

Cheers,
Krishna

]]> By: Bakari http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Bakari Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:03:43 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-135 Excellent post! I often use a thought experiment to determine to my level of marketability. If society did not exist as we knew it and we had to rebuild how would I be of value to my fellow human beings. This motivates me to continue to grow and develop my skills and talents and decide if I need to develop new ones. Excellent post! I often use a thought experiment to determine to my level of marketability. If society did not exist as we knew it and we had to rebuild how would I be of value to my fellow human beings. This motivates me to continue to grow and develop my skills and talents and decide if I need to develop new ones.

]]> By: Jeffrey Tang http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-134 Jeffrey Tang Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:21:50 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-134 Entrepreneurship is how we break free from class restrictions. A brilliant innovator can come from anywhere - upper class, middle class, lower class - and that's a good thing. <br><br>I think it's possible to be a good CEO for a large corporation, and honestly I think we need a lot more of them. The problem is that so many modern CEOs have gotten used to golden parachutes protecting them from the real consequences of their decisions. Even if they do a terrible job, they still have a fantastic severance package waiting for them.<br><br>Who should be rich? People who work for it and earn it. Entrepreneurship is how we break free from class restrictions. A brilliant innovator can come from anywhere – upper class, middle class, lower class – and that's a good thing.

I think it's possible to be a good CEO for a large corporation, and honestly I think we need a lot more of them. The problem is that so many modern CEOs have gotten used to golden parachutes protecting them from the real consequences of their decisions. Even if they do a terrible job, they still have a fantastic severance package waiting for them.

Who should be rich? People who work for it and earn it.

]]> By: Karlil @PDPro http://artofgreatthings.com/2009/08/you-think-you-have-job-security/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Karlil @PDPro Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:42:39 +0000 http://beyondfreelancing.com/?p=429#comment-133 Right on Jeffrey! The illusion of security created by Big MNC has got to be the biggest hoax ever. The fact that downsizing has become such a trend even before the disaster shouldn't be taken lightly just because the newspaper doesn't always give the spotlight these kind of news deserve. The justification given are only appropriate in economic sense. Profit for shareholders has been given top priorities and the victims happen to be the one working their ass for the company while CEOs enjoy their golfing session on some rich people only golf course.<br><br>Don't get me wrong, i don't hate rich people. I hate the lies. The school prepares the middle class kids to work for this people. The rich prepares their son to take control of the company and these kids. Rich becomes richer, poor poorer.<br><br>Entrepreneurship is probably their best bet to break free from this cycle. Risks or no risks is a good question, but a better one would be aware or otherwise. Right on Jeffrey! The illusion of security created by Big MNC has got to be the biggest hoax ever. The fact that downsizing has become such a trend even before the disaster shouldn't be taken lightly just because the newspaper doesn't always give the spotlight these kind of news deserve. The justification given are only appropriate in economic sense. Profit for shareholders has been given top priorities and the victims happen to be the one working their ass for the company while CEOs enjoy their golfing session on some rich people only golf course.

Don't get me wrong, i don't hate rich people. I hate the lies. The school prepares the middle class kids to work for this people. The rich prepares their son to take control of the company and these kids. Rich becomes richer, poor poorer.

Entrepreneurship is probably their best bet to break free from this cycle. Risks or no risks is a good question, but a better one would be aware or otherwise.

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