***

mi know dem have work, work in abundant
yet still, dem mek mi redundant
now, at fifty-five mi gettin´ quite ol´
yet still, dem sen´ mi fi goh draw dole  ***

Linton Kwesi Johnson        Inglan is a Bitch (1981)

LKJ is really a dub poet, but you can’t talk about Hip Hop and ignore influence like this.  Gil Scott, Last Poets and LKJ.  Besides who wants to ignore this fundamental statement about making sure that workers should not forget that each person (even you CEO) can just be another cog in the machine.  Even if you are a big cog or key gear, if the machine is made obsolete or sold, how big are you?  You are a team player and loyal, but if the industry is changing and the organization’s interest is to suck you dry.  Do you want your future to be that of the cleaned out husk or something more meaningful?  Recognize the signs.  LKJ sees that there is an abundance of work, yet he is somehow laid off and told that his services are redundant.  If your work is drying up but the firm is bubbling along, maybe you need to check your parachute.

You need an exit strategy.  You don’t want to be a retiree and finding out that you are standing in the employment line wondering what happened.  Savings and investment are essential, but you need to visualize the actual terms on which you will leave.  Severance, COBRA, relocations, full life insurance, job placement, allowances, etc.

BPM TAKEAWAY#30

• YOUR FUTURE MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS THE ORGANIZATION’S

• GET OUT OF THE GAME ON YOUR TERMS

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