The Illusion of Security
It seems like every day I read or hear about a company laying people off. A handful of employees, a whole department, or even an entire division. It started with tech companies, then moved to mortgage companies, and now it seems to be spreading much more broadly. Just this week, a handful of the country’s most prominent journalists were unexpectedly fired from their respective networks. I’m not saying today’s environment feels like 2008/2009, but these headlines give me an eerie sense of deja vu (or maybe it’s just my GFC PTSD).
Whenever I see these headlines, it’s another reminder that our jobs are never as secure as we’d like to believe. I know many people who have been holding on to dreadful jobs, in part, because they “like the security.” This is an unpopular opinion, but I think security is overrated. In concept, I get it. There’s something about knowing your family will have enough money to take care of itself next month that’s appealing. I had that type of security for many years. However, it’s been nearly four years since I last felt that sense of security. A few observations:
I thought it would be stressful not having security…..it is.
I thought it would be hard not having security……it is.
I thought having to figure it out each month would be rewarding…..it is.
I thought having to trust it would all work out would grow my faith…..it has.
As I reflect on the waves of layoffs and I spend time with people stressed and worried about their employment fate, I can’t help but think about how security is somewhat of an illusion. Even the most seemingly secure job can be ripped away from us any day. On the other hand, people who have careers with little to no security (like freelancers, business owners, and contractors) actually have more security. Not security in the sense that it’s guaranteed (it’s not!), but rather in the sense that it can’t be indiscriminately taken away by someone else. There’s something exciting about having to go out every day, every week, and every month and figuring it out. If I serve my clients well and add value to others, I get paid. If I don’t, I don’t. If our businesses execute, we get rewarded. If they don’t, we lose the right to have said businesses. There’s a purity and intensity to that.
I don’t write all this to be provocative or controversial. These are just thoughts that rattle around in my skull and thought maybe they are worth sharing. I might be right…..or I might be wrong. But it’s worth pondering about to decide for yourself. Have an awesome day!