1. The Unmotivated Employed: Lessons from the Unemployed
Losing your job can be a horrifying experience. Everyone in the household is affected. This is especially
true if you’re the sole bread winner and carrier of health care. Cobra cost can financially ruin you. But
being unemployed can invigorate too. Make you stronger as you need to organize like a general at war.
Get your expenses and job search in order and attack each opportunity head-on. Most important is
never lose faith, hope and trust. You worked before you will work again. It’s just the unknown of how
long will it take. In my 30 plus years, I’ve been unemployed three times. Once due to a corporate
relocation, a second due to a corporate consolidation and a third time due to a position elimination. All
were unique in their own right on the severance and benefit package offered.
Each time has offered me different opportunities. I became more self-confident, became a consultant,
and also started my own business. Each time I also expanded my network. What I’ve also found
through my unemployed experience are the lessons learned when you become employed after being
unemployed. The hunger to work, do the right thing, get back into your game, and become motivated
and creative again.
Once employed again you run into those who have never experienced a job lose. Lucky them! They are
the status quo group. The ones who come and go as they please. The web and social media surfers, all
day. The nay sayers and those filled with gripes about the leadership or company direction. The ones
that are part of the problem and not part of the solution. When I was a low level computer operator I
busted my hump to advance as quickly as I could. Part of the reason was I had been making more
money as a deli clerk than my first real job. But I knew I needed a future. My manager told me “never
forget where you came from”. I’ve lived by that rule. I loved being a deli clerk but that was over 30
years ago and I have no intention of going back. I never forget where I came from, because so quick I
can return.
In today’s work world there are fifty candidates who want your job, and are qualified. Having fought my
way back three times I know this. However, to the colleague who has never had to struggle to find a
job, fight to put food on the table or raid your 401K just to keep medical coverage, I say stop your
moaning and groaning. Be happy you are working and have a job. You can be tossed aside in a New
York minute. These complacent workers seem to never feel threatened. They feel “the company will
never get rid of me I’m too important”. Really, get over yourself. Everyone is expendable. It’s not just
predicated on your performance. Work like you just got hired. Contribute, be positive, energized or
leave. Everyone is hired “at will”.
If the unmotivated employed could somehow walk in the shoes of the unemployed the lesson would be
an eye opener. I’m sure it would lead to an improved work environment for all and contribute to the
service profit chain of the company in a way not seen before.