Two weeks after moving my boat from Seattle to San Francisco to accommodate my new life and my new job.. my company decides to close the office.. without involving me in the conversation...

Life will go on.. I already have one job offer and another on the way.. but it made me think about the way we treat people.. both in business and in life.

We often use the phrase.. the excuse really.. that business is business.  In fact, it seems that people that are willing to sacrifice other's lives are often promoted in the business world.  I was asking my employees the other day, "Why do you think that bosses who are liked by their employees are rarely liked by upper management, and vice versa."  The overwhelming answer, "Because those bosses care about their employees.. and management doesn't appreciate that."

So the hard asses get promoted, and the nice guys finish last.. oh well.  I'd still rather be a nice guy.

My boss had the gall to come into the office, tell us he was closing it.. and then proceed to tell us that he's "taking advantage of the economy to upgrade his house."  Unbelieverable.

I never want to be a person like that... either in my professional or my personal life.  I've focused my efforts over the last couple of weeks on finding jobs for everyone in my office.. and I think at 80 or 90% of us will land somewhere else within the next two weeks.  I feel pretty good about that... and I plan to keep working on behalf of the last few.. figure it's the least I can do.

That's the same philosophy I try and apply in the rest of my life as well.. I only hope I'm not letting anyone slip by unnoticed..

In the end.. I think it'll work in my favor.  Maybe I could be promoted faster if I stepped on other's heads.. but I don't think I could live with myself if I did.  I'd rather climb the ladder the old fashioned way.. honestly.. and if I never make it to the top... maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.   For those who do otherwise.. I'd like to think the universe will eventually deliver them a message as well...

Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover."  The more the world of business kicks me around.. the closer that goal becomes.  Maybe I need to consider it sooner rather than later.

Needless to say.. all of these events have played havoc with both my writing and my blogging.  After having a rush of inspiration on An American Crusade.. I've not touched it for a while.  But I think it's time to get back to what I truly love.. I'll work another job.. but will it consume so much of my life?  Probably not anymore.. probably time to get some perspective and focus on what my life is really about..

Time to cast off the bowlines...