On 4th of December, 2014, I was made redundant from an investment bank. Whilst it was a role being made redundant, as an individual I felt I was not wanted and not valued. And I’m sure many others in the same situation feel that way.
I was a Software Test Lead, leading a team of 24 odd test analysts in our Sydney, Philippines and Indian offices on a multi-million-dollar change transformation project.
My promotion was dependent on this program.
And my dreams of climbing the corporate ladder, had yet again crashed. I was devastated – it was like a baby had been taken away from me.
It had to be one of the most difficult times in my life, because I loved what I did and I had a great passion for the organisation’s success. I had bought into my team’s vision. I was completely sold out.
We were going to make this project a success no matter what. No matter if I had to work till midnight, many nights and on weekends – physically sitting in an office, hoping we’d inch closer to our goal to make this project a success.
I was wrong however. What won on 4th December 2014 Or the D day as I call it – wasn’t really comradery or team work. The business numbers prevailed over emotions and passion and perhaps, the corporate politics and power struggle had won.
As tears rolled down my cheeks and I sat in a meeting room facing this guy from a “re-employment training” organisation, I asked him to pause so I could text Mona what had just happened. He was empathetic.
Whilst my team of over 70 on the project was all disintegrated, and all went to lunch to reflect, I refused to go anywhere till I had solved this problem. It couldn’t be true – that I was being forced to leave a place I called HOME. I was making phone calls to all the contacts I had built across the organisation – the human capital can come in so handy, in times of need.
I had already been in touch with an internal HR recruitment consultant, as I had been thinking of a career change anyway, who was so kind to catch up with me. As tears again continued to roll down my cheeks, he browsed seek as there were little opportunities internally at THAT time of the year. It was an unknown. I didn’t know what I was going to do.
I was told to go home and take few days to reflect. But I didn’t want to go home – as a FAILURE.
After having been in the place for 7 years (from the moment I left university) a 5 minutes meeting, made me feel like an outsider, in a heartbeat. It shifted my entire perception of the corporate world.
This blog post is not for those who’ve taken their financial future by the horns. This blog post is for those comfortably sitting in their comfort zone, hoping that one day magically the superannuation system will look after them in their retirement.
Staying neutral isn’t helping. We may be about to offend you. However, it is for your OWN good.
Most people that we speak with who’ve managed to gather the courage to think in 10 years, realising, when they are 10 years older and their kids are also 10 years older, with inflation doing its own thing, with the energy prices rising and bread and butter costing more, if no action is taken today, they would be where they are today. But this blog post hasn’t been written for them.
This article is for those who may be afraid of taking action, who may be really happy in their comfort zone, who may have many excuses as to why they cannot do the same….
Having built our own portfolio, starting with $40k and crossing $5mill in assets before 30 (thanks to the kick in the guts, time and again!) ……..
If you are in the latter camp, we have a few points to make…having walked the path and having had corporate careers ourselves.
- The day you leave your current job, or to be precise the day, they ask you to leave, no matter how amazing you are, you will be leaving without an asset that you can call your own
- The day you retire, your employer will not come to you and say… Here you go Ross, here is a house for you, to pay you an income for your life… for your amazing service you provided to our organisation over many years or decades
- The day you realise that, “that silly restructure” didn’t even matter. It was so insignificant and that the price of even worrying about it was so high (But we know how you feel, as emotions do get in the way, as if a rug had been pulled out from under your feet – or maybe we just never got used to it!)
- The day you understand that performance appraisals you did only served in the moment but not really helped you build a life
- That whilst that 3% pay rise may feel amazing momentarily, in 12 months the groceries would likely catch up to that raise…
- That even though you had incredible ambitions, the ladder is a pyramid and does not help you build a comfortable retirement. And there is little room at the top (this is the reality and we’re not here to sugar coat)
- When you’re 65 and you have your farewell speech, you won’t be able to sell your years of experience, years of hard work – your assets, your reputation. This won’t feed you.
We know, there are so many unknowns. But try it for size – if you had an asset OR two, that could look after themselves and grew over the next 10, 15, 20 years, what comfort will you have? What if the growth outstrips any pay rises or bonuses that you will ever receive?
By the way, you don’t have to keep up with the Joneses. If we were keeping up with the Joneses we would have achieved what the Joneses have.
Our suggestion is – play the long game!
Muhammad Ali, the boxer said, it isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you down. It’s the pebble in your shoe!
What’s your pebble?
…is it mindset?
… is it time?
… is it equity position or savings?
… is it not knowing where to start and what to do?
…is it what your friends will think? (hint: they aren’t the ones paying your bills)
… is it the fees you would incur? Also known as the cost of doing business?
If you take NO ACTION, one thing is for sure, at least your employer’s financial future will be looked after.
#YOLO – You Only Live Once – yes you only live once, so make it a balanced one – not just on the “fun front”, but also on the “financial front”!
When will now be a good time to take action?
Whatever it is, get OUT of YOUR OWN WAY!
Best,
Sana Ali
Note: Sana did find a role within the organisation with another amazing team with an interview on 9th December (5 days after the project shut down) and a confirmation of acceptance right before the X-mas holidays on 19th December 2014, the same day Sana & Mona were going to view the contract for their new home build, their ultimate dream and ultimate reason why they even invested in property. However, it was the same day, they decided, neither Sana, nor Mona will ever put themselves in a situation, that someone else is in charge of their destiny.
Sana and Mona Ali quit the corporate world – leaving with the only asset called ‘friendships’ built over the years, to establish, Property Twins Finance Pty Limited, helping time poor professionals to build empowered lives by setting up finance correctly from the start. They can be reached on [email protected] or 1300 97 60 60. Book a Strategy Call with Sana & Mona Ali
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