But my reality every year for that stretch was that I had to gear up for January. When the consultants started pouring in to talk about our India office, or when our company was sold to a new PE firm midyear, I knew all of these changes would come home to roost in January. What made sense for that company, though, might not hold for every company. Our fiscal year followed the standard calendar year, so clearing out costs before heading into a new year with new goals made sen

Getting laid off is hard enough. Getting laid off because someone in a different country, or a robot, took your job hits harder. It would be different if they didn't need the work at all, but apparently they do; they just don't value you enough to do it. Message received. That turmoil can cause you to reassess what you are even doing with your life now that your chosen career path could be at risk from outsourcing or automation.

When I was at a small, fifty person startup, the news that our founders were selling to private equity was met with a lot of panic. What is going to happen to us? What is this new company like? Will we still get to keep the perks we have enjoyed as a small company?

I could tell that things weren't going well with the company and there were subtle signs that layoffs or outsourcing might be imminent. But I wasn't sure at first if I was being overly anxious or if the signs I was seeing were a real marker of things to come. Well, it wasn't long before new executives came in who wanted to talk about how great the new office in India was doing... and how excited we should be at its progress. Like... how dumb do you think we are? Annoying.

Turns out I was right to think something was going on and if you are getting that feeling you are probably right too