It was February 2018. The organization where I had worked for 30 years had been sold. As often happens in these situations, most of the existing executive team was replaced.
I took the news surprisingly well. After a few weeks of sleeping in, streaming a lot of TV, and working out way too much, I found myself anxious to again be part of something larger.
All my previous work experience meant being part of an organization. I honestly didn’t realize how much of my self-esteem had become invested in my organization. I’m not sure that’s altogether healthy, but it’s hard to avoid.
I had developed an affinity for customer service development and found a patient experience position at the competing healthcare system in my area. It was a greater adjustment than I had anticipated. Some people there were skeptical of my loyalties, given my long tenure with the competitor. I also learned that corporate cultures require adjusting your way of doing things, and it took a while for me to adapt. But I did and was even promoted to a regional leadership position.
And then in the spring of 2020 a little thing called COVID-19 descended on the world. You know the rest of the story. Here’s a little lesson I’d like to impart: I encourage you to remember that when people lose their job or are facing any sort of negative or uncertain situation, reach out. I will always remember and appreciate those who took time to connect with me during the furlough.
My furlough officially ended that fall, but long before that I had moved on. My sisters and I inherited our family’s farm when our mother passed away the year before. As the administrator of the estate, I focused on some responsibilities there, and together we even started a little subdivision on our lake property.
During this time I interviewed for a few positions that I found interesting, but nothing ever worked out. Modern recruiting processes are both interesting and a bit odd, and COVID has moved them into an even stranger realm.
After one particularly bizarre series of interviews with one local organization, I realized that God must be trying to tell me something. I knew I was a good strategic marketer, a strong writer/communicator and someone who could transform ideas into realities. But … I had never before considered doing anything that didn’t entail wearing a name badge and getting a regular paycheck.
So I decided to test the waters and see if local businesses might appreciate someone like me to help them navigate today’s marketing waters on a contract basis. After all, I had used both traditional and digital media to get real-world results. I understood and had employed all the time-proven principles of marketing, even teaching them at the university level for 20 years as what I’d call a vocational hobby.
I decided to forge my own path creating my own marketing consulting firm, Rogé Marketing. Over the past year, I have been quietly building a customer base, and I’m now working in varied industries and staying busy. I handle the marketing for a restaurant, a specialty shopping center, an infusion therapy center, and several other types of businesses. I’m writing and directing commercials and videos, working with media buyers, and creating social media programs. I have written the copy for more than a dozen websites, ranging from an oil lube service to a professional employment agency.
Best of all, I’m having fun. Work is exciting. And, now, rather than having a sense of ownership for just one organization, I feel that way about all my clients. I give them personal service and the benefit of a fresh and hopefully strategic outlook. I get excited when they succeed. We all win, together.
To those who may still find themselves unemployed and anxious, please believe that things will get better. I remember a professional coach telling me that 90 percent of people who are displaced end up being happier in the long run. At the time, I pessimistically thought I would probably in the 10 percent that wouldn’t end up in a better place. But I was wrong.
So, believe in yourself and be open to new ideas and opportunities. And if you aren’t finding a job you like, feel free to create your own.
