Keith Tode, MBA’s Post

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!

I DON'T HIRE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF Wait, what? Over the holiday weekend, I was golfing with a stranger who was an executive at a large, international company. He was the rare individual (today) that has spent the entirety of his career with the same organization, almost 35 years. Engaging in the normal chit chat during a round of golf, the topic of jobs and careers came up. We discussed what we did, the economy and how many layoffs have been taking place in the greater Boston area. Then he said it. "I don't hire folks that have been laid off. They're damaged goods. If they were good at their jobs and had value there wouldn't be a need to let them go." I was pissed. I didn't speak to him for the rest of the afternoon. He immediately became a cartoon villain and confirmed my suspicion that he was an a$$hole. Unfortunately, and far too often, this is the perception of people that have been downsized, laid off or reorganized out of a company. That they are lazy or unproductive. That they are merely seat holders and never deserved a position in the first place. They were laid off for a reason. Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting laid off is not a testament to your worth, but an unfortunate rite of passage in today's economy. I've had the opportunity to engage with thousands of professionals who have been laid off over the last year. Highly educated people who have done the grunt work behind the scenes at companies, the work that drives the engines and creates shareholder value and high profit margins. They are dedicated to their profession, have keen attention to detail and routinely go above and beyond to do the right things. They empower their teams, advocate for their clients and represent their companies with their heads held high. Victims of circumstances beyond their control, their lives are disrupted in a flash. Yet, they persist. They grind and they hustle to find a new job against what seem like hurricane winds working against them. They survive and they overcome against overwhelming odds believing in themselves when the world and the markets apparently don't believe in them. I believe in you. I DO hire people that have been laid off. They're my people. The doers. The grinders. The survivors. They are the EXACT people I want on my team. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AS MUCH AS I BELIEVE IN YOU!