One Year Ago

There is no way to convey or put on paper the previous 365 days of my life. A year ago on a rainy, bleary Friday morning, I was let go by my previous employer. Now there are those who think that me and the 11 others who were let go deserved the pink slip, but my answer to them is that if what they think is true, then why hasn't my present employer come to the same conclusion. I along with the others were let go purely for economic reasons, or that was the story, but some of the people left behind contributed to the company's demise. Now, they may not see it that way, but my old manager, Jim Johnston, sure hasn't done anything to justify his still being there. His luck was that when he fell into the job, he was given the best talent in the building, hence he has been more caretaker than boss. The people he has hired since have not worked out and were let go for one reason or another and these moves are a more realistic example of his non-leadership.

But, I'm not here to rehash the past, if my previous employer wants to revel in stagnation and incompetence, then the owner, Charles Koch, has every right to lead his company into atrophy.

Me, the new lease on life given last year signaled a rebirth, one that I'm harnessing to carry me into the next decade and beyond.

What I was given last year was a gift, a gift to start anew, fresh and unfettered of all the trials and drama of where I used to be. The new position, venue and environment has taken me to a level where I've never been before. All through the years I was passed over for one reason or another. Not anymore because now I'm in a pipeline that will measure me for who and what I am, not what piece of paper and status I possess.

Companies complain and whine about the economy and how tough it is. While some of that is justified, the real story is that these entities strangle themselves by making bad after bad decision, keeping the incompetent and non-performing while releasing those who contribute the most value.

Another example of who I speak is Joseph Komen. Joseph is a brilliant individual who could have made his previous employer a lot of money. His services ended a month after mine. Now he's in Memphis with me and from the initial results I've seen, he has the potential to make our present employer a lot of money.

Last year, a jerk named Robert Wolff, gave me my walking papers. This individual is one of the biggest jerks I've ever come in contact with. He relishes firing and eliminating people. All I have to say to this idiot, Jim Johnston and Charles Koch is - THANK YOU! Why? Because to your own detriment you freed me, freed me to come back and spit in your faces. GP will not succeed at anything other than mediocrity.

Incompetent people breeds mediocrity. Sorry Charles Koch, you forgot to add that to the Ten Guiding Principles.