Unemployment is hard work.
I am busier that a one-legged man at a… whatever. Still, this is the first real vacation that I have taken in 14 years. I am on the phone a lot and have been visiting offices, talking with business folks about “this and that,” but I feel a freedom that is difficult to describe. I am acutely aware that this ‘freedom’ is really ‘opportunity’ that must be siezed in a timely manner, but I am at peace with the world.
I have never been unemployed, so this is a new experience for me; My “next” job has always started before the previous one ended. I had never been fired or ‘let go’ from a company until last week when my recent employer so abruptly closed its doors. That sucked, and I am gaining a respect for others who have been layed off without notice. I am lucky enough to have opportunities, but I frequently imagine “what if?” What if my skills were no longer required or desired. What if my talents were readilly available at cheaper rates somewhere else. That scares the crap out of me. It motivates me to keep learning, to keep absorbing, and to continue building upon my experience to remain valuable.
Fear can be constructive motivation. This fear forces us developers to plan our evolution. Long gone are the days when we could just ‘dig ditches’ to earn a living. We must constantly stretch our skills beyond our own expectations. I keep this discomfort close to me as a reminder to keep moving. As an aging code warrior, I have been hunted by the younger code warriors for several years, and they will always move faster. I learned this “secret” several years ago: The only way to survive is to be their commander and shepherd the young coders into the future.
Another bit of advice that I got recently that really sums up my beliefs on being satisfied with any work environment: “Be yourself, but with more enthusiasm.”
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