risk

a good friend of mine was laid off from her job yesterday. it came as a very big shock, especially after 7 years of glowing performance reviews and annual raises. her theory is that it has more to do with some recent and ongoing conflict with her boss rather than the "streamlining" excuse HR gave her.

regardless, she got a very nice severance package and although i encouraged her to take the next 5 months off and enjoy it, she will have a job very soon. she's got a few interviews in the works (already!) and any company would be crazy not to snap her up. she's great at what she does and she's honest, responsible and reliable.

but this made me think last night about risk. when jeff started his company almost three years ago, several well meaning friends and family members voiced their concern about the risk of starting a small business. and they were right to do so. it is risky to go out on your own. but is it any less risky than working for a company whose loyalty is to the bottom line? jeff and i have so much more control over our finances and our future because we are the ones making the decisions. jeff is the boss. period. he's not subject to the whims of second rate middle managers making less than informed decisions. he doesn't have the politics and backstabbing and office gossip mill to deal with. he makes a decision and that's it. if the company fails, it's on his terms and because of his decisions. not because someone else made them for him.

something to think about...