Re: I guess it's my turn

Sad news Lance.  Hopefully though it can be a door, a transition to
something even greater.  Try to stay positive.

I have been working in the IT industry here in the Seattle market for 11
years now.  So far I have worked for 8 different companies or agencies, so I
really understand how volatile things can be.  

But then again the contract I have now I have been in for 5.5 years and my
wage is the higest it has ever been, so the gems exist.

But even so, I am always aware of how quickly the rug can be pulled.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Lance McLain
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 1:08 PM
To: DADL topic) (off
Subject: [DADL-OT] I guess it's my turn

Last Tuesday, my position was eliminated at work, along with a bunch of
others.  The push to outsource and the increase in commodity prices  
seem to be taking their toll (thanks Bernanke & congress).   There  
have been a series of layofs in the past 2 years and I survived all of them
until now.  My big project had been ending anyway, should have seen it
coming.  Pep$! has been good to me for the past 5 years, but I'm sure many
of you can attest it's still a very humiliating experience to go through.  I
suppose that can be turned into a good thing.  Trying to stay positive, but
I admit being a tad nervous to say the least.  My wife doesn't work so I'm
the sole provider, 3 kids approaching college age.  That's a big scary
thing, always has been, and kind of rare these days. Before as a contractor,
it wasn't uncommon to have a project discontinued and have to find work on a
dime, but this time it just seems different.  The economy is such that the
IT labor market is flooded with supply of cheap labor.  Wages have dropped
considerably.  Horror stories abound right now.  I'm considering changing
careers, but to what I have no idea.  I keep a running "business idea list",
but none of them seem to lucrative to me right now.

Still, with all the worry, seeing the results of the NZ Earthquake put
everything in perspective.  The world can change in a minute.  I've still
got a lot going for me.  For one, I've got mobility.  Because we have no
house and we homeschool and I have a supportive and adventurous family, we
can move anywhere!  literally, I've considered positions in Austrailia even,
among other places.  I confess I've been  
looking for someplace new to satisfy my wanderlust long before this.   
(West Coast?  Canada?  Europe? Northern US? We'll see..).  I've also got a
strong network of former colleagues and clients.  Something good should come
of that.

Anyway, thanks for letting me worry out loud a little.  I know many of you
here have already been through this.  I guess its my turn now.

regards,
-Lance
(if you want to have a C0ke and a smile today...I won't say anything.)

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