How to deal with getting fired (from Yahoo)
I just got fired from Yahoo Finance.
The long road to my quick termination started in the spring, when I grew friendly with one of the higher-ups in engineering at Yahoo. When he became my boss’s boss’s boss at Yahoo, he suggested that we meet if we were ever both in New York at the same time.
It turned out that we would both be there in December, so I asked him if he wanted to get together, and he said yes. His secretary said she’d email me the venue when the date was closer.
The week before, the venue turned out to be the Yahoo offices in New York. I thought that was weird for a casual meeting with a guy who did not even have his own office at that building. That is when I should have called to find out if we had a specific topic for the meeting.
When I got to the meeting my boss’s boss was there as well, so I knew there was a big topic. I told myself to never ever walk into another meeting in my life without knowing who is coming and why I am there. I told myself to stay calm and start looking for clues about our topic so I could mentally prepare.
They went on and on about some sort of technical problem that was happening that day. Of the three of us, two were nontechnical, so I realized this topic was selected due to nervous energy: A clue that this meeting would be really bad.
To his credit, the guy I thought I was friendly with got right down to the point: “We are not renewing your contract.”
The first thought I had was: When is my contract up?
And then I realized: Oh. Now.
The next thought I had was: Be poised. Do not break down right now.
I have been fired a lot. Sometimes it has not mattered, like when my grandma fired me from her bookstore because I kept reading on the job. Sometimes it has been a bad scene with me shaking because I was so scared – like when I was fired at Ingram Micro for using the computer for non-work-related stuff (Yes, people got fired for that in 1995.)
But I checked in with myself at Yahoo and realized that I was fine. I was not going to cry. I was actually in problem-solving mode.
So I asked why I was being fired.
Maybe you are thinking it’s because every week, 400 people leave comments on Yahoo saying how stupid I am. (And surely today’s final column at Yahoo Finance will break records for she-is-so-stupid comments.) But that’s not the reason my column was cancelled; Yahoo is about traffic, and according to Wikipedia, my column has some of the highest traffic on all of Yahoo.
It turns out that financial content gets a higher CPM (advertising rate) than career content. So while my column has a lot of traffic, Yahoo sells my career column to advertisers as part of the Yahoo Finance package, and I bring down the CPM of the whole package.
That’s a fair reason to cancel the column. And actually, if it were not resulting in a huge financial hit for me, it would be an interesting reason.
Here’s what a career advisor does when she is being fired: She tries to remember the advice she gives to everyone else when they are getting fired.
I asked if there’s another place I can write at Yahoo. This tactic is straight out of the book: Use your last moments to network, even if you are getting fired.
Here’s what my boss’s boss’s boss said: “You should write for Lifestyles. That is more women oriented.”
Immediately I was reminded of when my column was cancelled at Business 2.0 magazine. After I had recently announced that I was pregnant and said I did not plan to take any time off from writing the column.
My editor told me, as he was firing me, “Now that you’re going to be a mom you should try writing someplace like Working Mother.”
This advice from ex-bosses makes me question my own advice about getting help from people who are firing you. But still, discussions progressed at Yahoo to HotJobs, which is a Yahoo channel, and I could end up writing for them.
Also, a big trade publication called me last week to see if I want to write a column for them. The editor said that she sees me as such a huge risk taker, and she expects that the column will be a lot about that – how to take risks.
The thing is, I don’t think I’m a huge risk taker. I just choose the lifestyle I want first, before I choose my work. Lifestyle first means that I turned down entry-level bullshit jobs in favor of playing professional beach volleyball. Not because I was dying to have all my friends think I was a lunatic, but because I couldn’t believe people expect you to do mindless work after earning a college degree.
And the same is true now. I am a freelance writer because if I worked nine-to-five I wouldn’t see my kids. That’s my bottom line. There have been so many times when I’ve told myself that I can’t stand the instability of a freelancer’s life. But more than that, I can’t stand the idea that I would only see my kids on the weekends.
People ask me all the time how can they get this life that I have where I do something I love, get to make my own hours, and support a family. Seems great, right? But that life also comes with this: having no idea how I’ll get paid next. And it happens all the time.
Soon, I hope, I’ll be able to draw a salary from my startup. And my speaking career is going well enough that getting fired from Yahoo won’t kill me. But I am worried, and I think about not telling people that I feel worried because everyone who is negotiating with me now knows that money is super important to me, and I’m probably not going to walk away from an offer.
But more important than preserving an edge negotiating money is somehow documenting how hard it is to be true to yourself, how hard it is to be at risk all the time. It’s a tradeoff. Sometimes my life looks glamorous. Sometimes it doesn’t. It’s all the same life though.
I love this blogging thing. Blogging about getting fired on the day you get fired? Its awesome! And you have “big balls” too for doing it. I also like hearing that you have gotten fired a lot. Me too! Way to go girl. Keep up the ballsy attitude.
Maybe you will consider writing comedy instead. Serious!! I enjoyed reading your columns as did many people did, I disagreed with 90% of your advice and would never employ any of your career strategies. However, I did find much humor in reading them. I especially enjoyed the thousands of right-on-target messages Yahoo! users left, which was more useful and very enlightening in my career.
Honestly, you need to understand this; Your career advice was awful, and you should not have been giving out harmful advice.
In the great words of the Godfather of HipHop, Russell Simmons – “Just Do You”
I really enjoy reading your blog and look forward to what Ms. Penelope has to say each week.
Go to your Destiny.
Jen
Penelope,
For what it’s worth, I hope — and have faith that — this will someday work much to your advantage, and the reason is this: That Yahoo! column wasn’t the best showcase of your talents as a *writer*. The advice was well and good, but anyone who reads your blog (and appreciates the quality of the writing in it) knows that writing for the Lowest Common Denominator that is the Yahoo reader isn’t the highest and best use of your talents. Time to keep spreading those wings, huh?
Penelope –
It sucks to get fired. But perhaps you should have been asking for feedback directly from the bigwigs all along? (And isn’t THIS the sort of advice you should be giving those who are interested in a career, and not to do yoga in the bathroom?)
I’m not one of the blog trolls, but I do have to weigh in and say while I find your blog amusing, your Yahoo articles were more blog posts and less useful researched career strategies.
I am also a little bit curious how you convince people to take your career advice when your own is rather slapdash – wanting to be home with your kid sis wonderful, and I admire you for pulling it off. But it may also mean that the sense of the word ‘career’ you have is not necessarily the same as those of us in the full time working world do.
Best of luck in finding someplace new.
Sad and funny
Perhaps you should have offered to add a little more finance to your column like the other writers that yahoo finance employs. Like ‘spend less, save more’ and other cutting edge advice that they are constantly giving.
What I find most interesting about your situation is the attitude of your boss. Isn’t Yahoo! supposed to be part of the internet revolution? Aren’t they supposed to be beyond the old boys club trappings of normal big companies? Like the rest of the readers, I am apalled that someone who leads people (your boss, or boss’ boss) can’t articulate himself beyond “well sweetie, perhaps you should focus women’s issues”. I am guessing you left out the part where he slapped you on the ass and told you to try wearing lower necklines.
I look forward to the new news from Penelope…PY (Post Yahoo!).
Seems to me this is another fluff filled version of “I got fired, wasn’t my fault, woe to me” diatribe.
Can’t asy I’m surprised. Your yahoo articles were terrible.
Penelope, maybe you should consider that all the reasons for being fired are just the story they told you. In ’95 it wasn’t customary to fire people for using computers for personal purposes — *unless they wanted to get rid of someone*. I mean, if employers find you ditzy, obnoxious, irrelevant or just someone they feel uncomfortable being associated with, are they really going to tell you that? Or, will they fabricate a plausible reason?
You’re the only person I know who actually believes the stated reasons, rather than looking past them for opportunities to improve in the real areas that matter.
I debated about writing this, but your topic is compelling me to.
Greatness is not often defined by the unseen. We like it right in front of our noses. Truth be told, it never is seen…until it manifests in a way that moves us to something we couldn’t grasp on our own. You can reference MLK, Jr., Churchill or a dear friend here. Another beautiful way God works (excuse me for the spiritual here).
Penelope, greatness flows through you, and you may not know it. It can be very difficult to understand when you’re dealing with a loss. All the noise (people, corporations, our own baggage) tries to drown out what just keeps flowing…flowing to the other 173 people who’ve already commented on your post today.
You got yourself fired? How unfortunate, as I just started reading your column a week ago and even bought your book. Being a 54 year old baby boomer I did not agree with much of your columns but felt I needed to read it to gain a better understanding of how young people think in the workplace.
Best wishes for your future.
Hey Girl,
Congratulations! Just when I’m ready to give up and quit on my vision for the career and lifestyle I desire for my family, you go and give me hope. Why can’t people do things they truly love, have a flexible schedule and make a buck too damn it? My wife and I just today were discussing, “what do you want to do Blake”? I want a job I can work from home, get paid and be there with my kids when they grow up.
I spent the first 15 years on the road with my corporate gig and my 19 year old could have used me being around. I want this time to be different, my now 5 year old deserves to have her daddy there when she loses her first tooth, etc.
Hey, you should thank Yahoo and screw them at the same time. I know first hand what you mean about the where is my money coming from next story, but you will do fine, you are well up and running now, I would think.
Thank you, you and I don’t always agree, but you have been consistently approachable, quick with your honesty and a kind word, and now I have to say inspirational too.
Press on regardless,
Blake
Penelope, just wanted to say I think you are being eminently true to yourself and brazenly honest about your financial position vis a vi negotiating – that is what makes you remarkable and what will keep you whole — in the end there is no risk in being who you are — I think.
You may not remember me but I got fired 3/7/07 from a good but for me dead end job selling packaging — it was people like you who helped me take the plunge and now my Buttons of Hope business is starting to take off. Now that I am through the startup phase I am getting back to blogging and nurturing my on line friends — I know you have been through a lot and I think you read Seth’s blog — make sure you read 12/27 — I think it’s all about Having a chance at greatness — sounds to me like you still got that!
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful new Year
makehope
michael gibbons
How do you deal with being fired from Yahoo? You shout it from the rooftops, tell everyone you know, blog about it — and discover that everyone who respects your work, admires your brazen-ness, heeds your advice and loves your spirit will be right here with you! The support, encouragement, affection and appreciation that I’ve read here in the last couple of days is absolutely amazing and inspiring. You obviously have touched many lives in very positive ways, Penelope — and I know will continue to do so. I’m so glad that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know you and look forward to a long and successful connection! Cheers!!!!! Elaine
I maintain my opinion when I first found your blog after reading you on Yahoo! Finance. You’re a much better blogger and advice columns, especially career advice is not for you. I mean think about it. You’re supposed to be edgy, revolutionary, renegade career woman, right? But you’re trying to sell your wares on a conventional career and finance site, where the popular articles are about retirement, budgets, investing, etc. You’ve got to find a venue that fits. You’ve got to find your audience. Forbes is also a horrible idea. You need to find an edgy, web site or publication or CREATE one.
I honestly agree with very little of your “advice” given on Yahoo!, partly b/c I’m young and have more traditional values/work ethic that have served the same end you preach (I’m a freelance writer and have a part-time job writing w/ telecommuting, good salary and benefits). Your columns were downright offensive to ppl like me b/c you declared us out-of-date, ignorant of the change around us and even being used “by the system.” I think your detractors on Yahoo just couldn’t believe you had no respect for the traditional working model that made this country great, wanted to throw it in the trash and suggest your way was the only way. I think today’s workplace is just showing us other ways, that work too, but don’t mean the traditional work ethic is useless.
Your skill is here where you put your life on display for the world to see. I’d never do it, but you do, you have amazing audience draw and loyalty b/c of your frankness. You are like the Internet version of the Truman Show (Jim Carey movie). Now, that SELLS.
I just look forward to the new website, where career advice will be given by you and two guys who just graduated college last year. That should be a hoot!
If you enjoy writing, then definitely write. Just don’t write about something you really do not have the experience to back, i.e. career advice. There are too many impressionable younger kids who think this is real advice and will be either fired for following said “advice” or will not get hired for following it.
I think it was a very bad move to air your dirty laundry with Yahoo, especially since you are practically acusing them of sexism. We were not in that room with them, so we are only getting your abridged version and you tend to have dramatic license with what you write. It is going to be harder and harder to find places that will risk publishing your columns when they know that if something goes wrong, there is no telling what you will say on your blog, which is linked to everything you do online. I really think linking your online columns to your blog site where you badmouth your husband and failing marriage, gloat about being hit on often, discuss your desire for extramarital affairs while on the road, etc. is not a very smart move professional wise. Your private life should not be associated with your work if you expect it not to conflict. Again, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, just don’t give out career advice. Stick to a subject that better suits you.
How fortunate that Penelope has so many people handy to tell her exactly how she screwed up, and offering their unsolicited advice to find another line of work. Yes, having a blog means being open to all kinds of feedback. It’s just a shame that empathy is in such short supply these days.
I think it can be, as Dara said, hard to hear that what you think works for you is something to be “thrown in the trash.” But I don’t think the old ways are working quite as well as someone who has had a littlle success in the older model thinks. I mean, sure you work hard and hide your feelings and do everything you’re told. But you’re going to be dumped. Sooner or later. Whether you show up a half-hour before the boss or not. And it may seem like following this rigid set of guidelines will protect you. But it won’t.
That’s scary and hard to handle. When I realized what was happening to all my workplace heroes – seriously, one place even did an Office Space-like “Please move your office, now move it again…” to someone who had a great reputation and a client-base to die for, but who was also pretty high up on the salaray scale and could be replaced with a younger person for cheaper, Anyway, when I realized that their work ethic wouldn’t save the older workers. I was pretty scared too. But I had time to adjust. They didn’t. And that’s really hard. I dont’ blame them for freaking out. I would.
So I think that maybe some people see their biggest fears sprawled out on this website, and they want to punish Penelope for it. Because if the messenger is right, then they are in danger. And they’d rather shoot the messenger than figure out another way to do things. But abusing Penelope isn’t going to change anything. And I think that’s why people get so oddly emotional on here. I mean, if you’re right about her being wrong, then why yell so loudly about it? Why get so upset? It seems almost a moot point. But people are REALLY mad. And I think it’s because they’re afraid. And they want to hurt her because they don’t know what else to do. It’s too bad for everyone.
PS – I also think a lot of people feel more comfortable abusing her because she’s a woman. You wouldn’t address a guy you think is wrong the way some people talk to her on here. The anger is just incredible sometimes.
1. This guy waylaid you. You arranged a friendly meeting and without any warning at all he used it to spring a major surprise. Scumbag is the word that comes to mind for me but my impression is that he was just being businesslike and clueless about personal relations.
2. How much do they pay in the Ladies Section? It might sound demeaning but I hear that Oprah and Martha Stewart manage to make it work for them.
3. Regarding Silver Linings, I think Dan Scwhabel had a good point above. It might have ended abruptly but it I’m sure it raised your profile and looks on your resume.
Resume??? PT has like 5 names. Which one is on her resume? I’m going to miss her on yahoo since she made my thursdays so bearable. I hear “Star” has an opening.
Your commitment to freelancing so that you can spend time with your kids is noble. I hope the HotJobs “gig” works out for you.
I think its courageous of you to blog about your much personal experiences. I didn´t wait to get fired, I left as soon as I sensed the fuse being lit. I also got advice from within that the road ahead looked bleak, and if I bolted, no one could blame me for looking out for myself.
Seriously, Yahoo is just one messed up company right now. I knew this at the time I was hired and I could see the company was on a huge hiring and spending spree. There just didn´t seem to be any solid strategy behind it all. Blame Semel and his crew, because they helped tank the ship that was riding on rising water, and it was a ship that couldn´t tread water on its own.
My experience was watching my boss try really hard to find things I did wrong and give me bad feedback at every chance he got. He acted like he was personally against me, or clearly biased and not taking feedback others gave about me. Whatever it was, it was degrading, demoralizing, chronically depressing. Who wants to work everyday where the boss thinks nothing of your contributions, especially now since the management now wants employee performance tied to CPM? Yahoo appears to want to become a factory churning out high hit rates on each and every portion of its site. You´re better off.
I always thought Yahoo was totally secondary to your blog, a weird fit and kind of a cashy-sideline until your start-up took off. You got what you needed from them and now it’s time to move on. You are a rock star.
Hey Penelope
I think this is your best blog yet. Why I read your blog is because you truly speak from your heart and it SHOWS especially in this blog. We can never please everyone. If I can please everyone, I would’ve been married with kids already probably with someone I don’t love and been a doctor, a lawyer AND a man. (Yes, my father really wanted sons. He never had one and all his brothers have nothing but sons.).
You are a great writer. I read your blog before you were on Yahoo, and I certainly will read your blog now that you don’t write for it. And many of your subscribers is a living proof of that that you will be fine and well ;)
Happy new year and looking forward to many more fabulous blogs,
Cindy
Sorry to hear about you getting the sack.
Hope that 2008 works out better than 2007.
Pen,
Ever onsider listening to the majority of your Yahoo! audience? While I have never been fired, it seems to me this has happened to you an inordinate number of times. Just a thought.
Dr. Doom
Comments on this particular post — everyone weighing in on your column being cancelled — are a nice way for readers to assess what you do for them personally, with many quite insightful and incisive, positive or not.
I like your distinctive voice and perspective, as original on this topic as any I know. I don’t always agree but that isn’t your value to me; rather, you make me rethink things from unexpected places. And while my world is not the private corporate one (though the similarities are often uncanny), your broader view on work relationships/standards/protocols is both quite useful and refreshing.
I’m sure you will always land on your feet as you are smart, enjoy what you do, work hard, are (sensibly) assertive, approach your life analytically, and do take (sensible) risks, whether you realize that or not.
From one freelance writer to another, don’t forget we have to look at problems in a creative light. Getting fired from one of the world’s top corporations is actually a good problem to have, as far as problems go (and we all have them — there is just no avoiding that fact of life). So you got pushed off the top; you didn’t hit bottom, you just landed on a lower mountain. Remember this Buddist proverb: If you are facing in the right direction, all you need to do is keep walking.
I understand what you are saying about not classifying yourself as a risk-taker. You maybe are seeing yourself as a person who just puts one foot in front of the other.
So keep doing it.
Here is a very interesting article about all of Penelope’s accomplishments that I really enjoyed reading:
http://jgrab1.wordpress.com/
Enjoy!
* * ** * * *
I admit to having deleted this URL three times in this comment string. The link is to a post aobut how much the blogger hates me. It’s actually not so much a post as a treatise. But anyway, today I read the comments at the post, and it’s hard to keep deleting this URL when there is acually an engaged discussion going on (about how lame I am). So, I’m leaving the URL here.
Penelope
Dear Penelope,
May the year of 2007 bring you even greater successes and may the foolhardiness of Yahoo open the door to bigger and better things for you.
As a QA manager my bosses have often asked me to show statistics on whose code causes the most bugs and which tester submits the most bugs and I am always wary of how these stats are used because they invariably paint a misleading picture.
Be strong and good luck with your startup.
Jonathan
Good luck on finding another writing job. You will do fine I’m sure…
Is it possible the reason yahoo gave was just a way to let you down easy? It just doesn’t have the feel for the actual reason.
Penelope,
Sorry to hear about the firing.
While I usually did not agree with your columns, especially your generalizational categorizations, I can see you are a tenacious person. And I like to concentrate on bridge building rather than creating gaps.
Wish you well getting things going, and hopefully this will be an opportunity for you.
If you ever are in Indy – lets grab lunch (on me).
Don (A “younger” Baby Boomer)
Really, isn’t it best to lead by example? Yes you had to explain your firing, but some things should be kept confidential. Would anyone want to take a chance at hiring an employee that will discuss internal matters with the world, and risk giving the company a bad reputation? Exits should always be graceful and quiet. Don’t give your employer a reason to dislike you when you leave. I think your example is not sending the right message to your loyal readers.
Concerning that ULR … I read his entry and you cannot possibly take his opinion seriously. Not from someone who uses research as a filler and writing resume peek is Amazon.com book reviews. He advertises the fact he will cheerfully delete any negative comments on his blog; he can dish it out but cannot take it and that’s beyond your worry or comprehension.
Having been fired from Yahoo! a number of years ago I can tell you that it has done nothing but good things for my career. Yahoo was the 2nd career stop for me and I’ve since moved on in a completely different, more challenging and enjoyable direction…and am getting ready to move in yet another direction still. I always figured it was their loss.
By the way, had you not been fired I would have never read about this on Valleywag and checked out your blog, which I am quite enjoying. So, thanks for getting canned!
Happy New year Penelope!
I read this post but honestly couldn’t figure out how career isn’t that important in relation to finance for yahoo! I think career is an essential part of finance in most of our lives and so I’m still wondering about it but meanwhile I just wanted to drop a new year wish for you.
I think you are honest and you are living upto your own words, not saying something to others and doing something for yourself. It does feel talking the truth itself is a big risk in life sometimes but then it is the most wonderful thing that deserves appreciation. You talking of your personal life and being fired etc are all just good lessons for so many who are reading your blog. From what I know you are being very kind and nice Penelope. I hope things are already working out for better for you! I never followed up any other yahoo article as I have followed yours! I truly enjoyed reading your article.
Good luck. While I don’t agree with lots of your advice, I find it encourages me to think on the subject. Besides, your GenY observations have been very helpful for me in doing interviews with such people.
Yahoo has not been doing well financially, so part of the reason need not be personal.
I was once told by a career military officer during a challenging time at work, “If you’re not taking flak, then you’re not over the target!”
Learning, growth and most important, innovation, don’t require agreement, but they do require alternate and diverse perspectives — sometimes even conflicting perspectives. I like this column (I never read the column or anything else on Yahoo!) because it’s different and outside of my experience. If it said what I already know, it wouldn’t be very interesting. I like the transparency, because there is a downside and an ugly side (like the impact on one’s personal life for certain career decisions).
I was challenged, for example, by the posting that all you need to live each year is $40,000. Ouch! But the point, like many others, is to see an alternate view and then to consider your own situation in that light. Might not be the right answer, but the thinking about the contrast can help you — has helped me — consider alternatives.
Finally, if there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that virtually nothing in human life is binary. Rarely does any situation lend itself to right and wrong, good and bad in totality. All actions have consequence and reverberations. We impact everyone we talk to and everyone we touch. Honesty in those transactions, apparently at the cost of a great deal of criticism, is the best we can do. Honesty is the hallmark of this column, and quite frankly, is what appeals to me.
(What’s flak? See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flak_%28disambiguation%29)
Penelope,
I wish I could say, ‘sorry to hear that’, but I can’t.
Yahoo fired you for simplicity reasons but there’s a difference between being simple and being simple-minded. They could have stopped counting you among the financial content and put you in a different category where you brought up the eCPM but it doesn’t matter. Their loss.
One insight that keeps coming back to me is how people get ahead much quicker when they change companies, as opposed to staying in hopes of advancement.
Every time I’ve left a company – quit or laid off – my next job was always much better. It’s a wonder that I don’t quit sooner.
Now I do my own thing.
Now is the chance for you too to take the bull by the horns and go beyond what you were accomplishing for Yahoo, but doing it *all for yourself/family/etc*.
Your loyal Yahoo readers will miss you and find you quickly enough.
Take your blog and your writing to a new level.
Keep your lifestyle. You’ll soon be able to pay for it again so why suffer in the meantime? That will only make it harder to do.
if not from curt rusell.. i won’t be aware of this..
sorry to hear your story.. anyway, life does not end there.. good luck to your next undertaking..
I’m sorry to hear that anyone would think that your knowledge could be based on your sex. I get very angry when anyone hints that any way I feel or think is only because I am a woman. I am aware of what I am, but the sex of someone does not determine their mind or their knowledge! Otherwise all men would only care about only 3 things: football, beer and junk food.
I wish you the best on your next “adventure” in life.
Good luck, Penelope.
I never posted a comment on Yahoo, but I’ll be honest.
Your first column was very good. It had real potential.
After awhile, you just ran out of things to say. I would have cancelled the column myself.
But, it’s not because you are a bad columnist. It’s because that column was a bad fit for you.
Your blog is wonderful. I read it and I enjoy it. I asked myself why can’t Penelope’s column be that good?
Do you know what makes your blog so interesting? Your life story is anything but typical. You write about things that happen to you and what you learned from them. What you get to the more abstract, it just isn’t as compelling. When you make it personal, it’s really very good.
I wish you luck on your next column….I know they’ll be one.
I think you should read your post from 2003. Your doing fine.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/career/20030908a1.asp?prodtype=advice
Hmm. I wonder why the boss’s boss felt your writing was more suited to women. The comment seems to suggest your audience was primarily women when it might be the opposite. I will really miss reading you on Yahoo. You are the only author there I read. I confess I did it the first time because I liked your picture. How is that for shallow. Find another gig and let us know on this site. Is there an easy and direct way for me to let yahoo know my disappointment?
I know getting fired is difficult. Living in a state that is a “Right to work” state, I know that employers don’t need any reason to let you go. Having heard many stories like this, I would suggest you create a “Blitz” team that will support you and your efforts. Many times your team consists of people inside and outside your company. They can help you manage the perception that managers above you, who don’t know you, may have. There’s nothing more frustrated than being fired by someone who never knew you (they were only responding to the recommendation of a lower level manager who didn’t have the authority to fire you).
Blitz them, I say.
It wasn’t the place for you.
Rock on Penelope! I respect and appreciate your honesty and dedication to “keeping it real” – even when stuff I read makes me uncomfortable – I’m always glad for the perspective. Your writing pretty consistently transcends career and bleeds into life and all that goes with it (as it should) – positioning yourself/ your writing as just “you” (brand Penelope Trunk) and your take on work, life, marriage, kids, shoes whatever.. will allow for the freedom to have un-adultrated, rich content without having to find a slant/put it in a “bucket” or category. I enjoy your perspective – both helpful and provocative and will enjoy tuning in to brand Penelope :)!
That was brave and eloquent. I have my disagreements with you (mostly internal — I don’t want to burden you with all of them!) but I will say you have handled this like a true pro and an incredibly decent human being.
You’ll be fine. I, for one, am very interested in what you do next.
It’s Yahoo’s loss. Your own blog is great and is easier for readers to navigate than Yahoo’s overcrowded, poorly designed site.
Today was my day in the sun.
5+ years came down to 5 minutes of regret and excuses. As I told my wife tonight when I had the miserable task of telling her the news: for the 1st time in a very long time I feel confident and I will rise above this event.
Thanks,