After the post “You’re Gone” appeared, I began to get email from people who wanted to tell their own getting fired story. Seemed like a good idea to let people tell their stories. Now, WordPress makes you put in your name, so you might want to not mention the name of the company (if you care), but here are the simple rules:
1. Keep it to about 100 words–no more than 10 lines of copy in a Comment space.
2. Don’t type it in Microsoft Word first. Word is loaded with code and it will bloat the Comments section, and limit the number of posts. Type directly into the Comment section or write it as an email, then cut and paste.
3. You can be funny, sad, angry, poignant or amazing–getting fired is a personal experience and that can change over time. You can also write about being let go, 
laid off, RIF’d, anything that separated you from your job.
Why do this? Because there are a million horrible, weird, head-shaking, forehead slapping stories about getting fired, and it will be great to read them all.
A week from today, June 2, I’ll hold a drawing for a pack of my sympathy cards. That’s the illustration over on the left. The cover says: The stars are always in the sky, but they are visible only in the dark of night.
I’ll start: The new boss was a perky woman 30 years younger than I. At her first staff meeting, she said her promotion proved our young company wanted young leadership. The five older people at the table, VPs all, suddenly heard the countdown of our numbered days.
My next evaluation was pointed: ” You are different and seem to enjoy it”
It was not a compliment. “Would it be better if I were devastated?” I asked. She nodded. “Different doesn’t work; there is no ‘I’ in team.”
“But there is a ‘me’ in team,” I volunteered.
Poof! One less VP at the company.
I’m grateful; I opened my own business and will live longer.
Now, let’s hear YOUR story.
Added June 13: Becki and Barb, you are the winners of the pack of cards! Thanks for playing along.
