Reflections On Economic Uncertainty

I was talking to one of the other parents at Scouts. We’re old parents: Kids are teenagers (mine’s almost out), we can just sit and watch the boys run things. We were talking about economic uncertainty. He has several houses paid for, but he’s still got to put the kids through college, and he’s worried. Gave me a long explanation of what the government should do that went mostly over my head. (Sounded to me like McCain’s plan but I didn’t say anything – he was as likely to be an Obama supporter and I don’t like to inject politics). I mentioned that I know it’s irrational of me but I’m just not worried. So what if I lose my job? He asked me how long I’d been at IMC.

“Thirteen years.”

“So you have some seniority, how’s that work out there?”

“There’s no seniority.”

He did a double-take. “Say what?”

“Seniority means nothing. If the project you’re on is cancelled, you’re out.”

“What?” again.

“Seniority means you’ve had a chance to build up a network, have a better chance of finding another job in the two months they give you. You know more people, have some broad experience. Of course on the other hand, the younger guys are more into the technology, more energetic, cost less.”

“So I’ll see you at Wal-Mart.”

“Pretty much.”

And that’s my attitude. If the downturn effects my customers and they start cancelling programs, our future sales plummet, revenue dries up, staff shrinks, and let’s face it, I’m not exactly one of the stars around here. I bring my unique benefits to the organization as everyone does, but I don’t stand up and lead the charge, I’m not quick to grasp the implications when shit happens (and it does, daily), I’m not widely known as a brilliant technical mind who takes charge and gits er done. This Darwinian corporate atmosphere is low on oxygen for the likes of me.

And I care, don’t get me wrong, and it does keep me up at nights. But I’m fifty fuckin’ years old and though it’s easy to say you’re only as old as you feel and bah blah blah the fact of the matter is, all the personal changes I would need to make in order to survive in an even leaner and meaner organization than this one’s already become are just not interesting to me. Feck it, y’know?

Fortunately, no signs yet. We’re actually hiring, of all things. Our business is international in scope and if the U.S. takes a nose dive, we’re not so exposed. You just never know, and fortunes do turn on a dime, and the powers that be really are always looking for ways to shake things up. Periodically they have to give the aquarium a good shaking and see which fish swim to the top and which are still hiding down among the rocks. I think this is the psychological effect of my children being on the cusp of adulthood and independence and not really needing me anymore in a material sense, but it’s all the same to me.

I’ll see you at Wal-Mart.