Were I going to be fired ... it should be before Christmas. This way I would know to reduce my spending. I do not like debt. Sorry ... I know that isn't the American way ... or hasn't been. Also ... sooner is better than later ... as I can get on with what lies ahead.
I would also do my best to enjoy my time away from work ... and really get into the spirit of the season in a way that work prohibits (even when on vacation) as far as I'm concerned.
Looking back ... one of the best days of my life was the one time I was fired. I was thinking about a career move ... giving up architecture for Wall Street. I made the mistake of sharing this with a superior. A couple of days later I was in the conference room with the fourth partner -- the one whose name wasn’t on the door … but who did all the hiring and firing … and who had NO sense of humor. Right out of his mouth was a question … "How soon do you want to leave for Wall Street?" Well, with the writing on the wall, I responded, "How soon would you like me to leave?" He retorted curtly, "Finish, your coffee." Ouch! Well, I suppose he did have a sense of humor after all.
When I left the Park Avenue South office digs ... it was about 9:15 in the morning. I began walking downtown ... toward my place on King Street ... just below the Village and west of SoHo. That walk normally took me about an hour +/- ... depending on my various errands along the way. But this particular day, I didn't get home until almost dark. For the first time since I moved to New York, I actually had the time to experience people, places, and things that before I'd walked past as if I were wearing blinders. It was a whole new world. In one sense I was shaking in my boots ... but in another, I never felt better.
