I've Been UPSIZED: Chapter 12

My Greatest Achievement

What a roller coaster ride this year has been. I’ve lived the peaceful existence of corporate stability, the emotional crash of being downsized, the confusion of figuring out who I am, and the excitement and fear of launching a business.

All of those things came into sharp focus today when I read my daughter’s second grade journal. Like the narrator of a story that pulls you in, she was following my story the entire time, pulling for me like an audience feeling the pain of a wounded hero. “My mom lost her job, but she’s not giving up,” she wrote in February. “I’m so proud of my mom,” she wrote in March. On a separate paper, she made a list of her personal heroes: Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Kristina Marsh. I could live 100 years and never receive a higher compliment.

Of Support and Love

Today, I attended the year end field day and picnic at my daughter’s school. I learned that she had been handing out business cards at school, trying to drum up some business for me. Talk about a support system! But even more so, talk about the love of a daughter.

My greatest achievement hasn’t been surviving a challenging year, landing a writing gig, or launching a new business. It’s realizing that we’ve raised two amazing children who love us unconditionally. I’ve always known that I’ll have my children’s backs no matter what life throws at them. It took this year for me to realize that they have mine too.

Kristina Marsh is an accomplished marketing, communications, and business process leader.  In 2013, she launched Marketing Flexibility, LLC, a flexible, strategic marketing resource company. Want to connect? You can reach me at kris@marketingflexibility.com.

I've Been UPSIZED: Chapter 11

The Fear of Commitment…

In my last post, I promised that something new was coming, something big. In reality, two things have happened over the past couple of weeks, one of which surprised me.

After months of searching for a job, I decided that I may not be ready to give my heart to another so soon after a breakup. I imagine this downsizing business is a bit like any breakup. It’s a scary proposition to start dating again. It’s even scarier when your date proposes to you. When the job offers came in, I just didn’t feel ready for the commitment.

The Singles Scene          

So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. On April 21^st, I made my single status official with the launch of a new marketing consulting business, Marketing Flexibility, LLC. At Marketing Flexibility, we provide flexible marketing resource to businesses and organizations on either long term or project basis. Kind of playing the field, so to speak.

If you have a few minutes to kill, let’s do some online match making. Check out Marketing Flexibility on the web or on Facebook.

Here’s the Thing…

Being single is hard work. When you’re in a serious employment relationship, there’s comfort in the daily monotony (and plenty of pens in the supply cabinet). The first time I reached for a stapler, it hit me. I didn’t have a stapler! As the first week played out, I also realized I didn’t have a paperclip or envelopes. After all, it’s the little things that we take for granted in a relationship. But, like anyone who’s lost possessions in a breakup, I hit Ikea to get back up and running. I got a new stapler – a better stapler – a green stapler! I was back in business – my own business!

For a Good Time Marketer, Call…

So, if you’re looking for an experienced marketing resource, but not ready to make a full time commitment, give Marketing Flexibility a call. We’ll be here when you need us, with no pressure to date exclusively!

I've Been UPSIZED: Chapter 10

I Wonder Why the Caged Bird Sings

Sitting in my cozy little cubical, I would watch the cars pass by and wonder where they were going. Wherever it was, I was sure it was better than the grey, drab walls of my confinement. So the emotions that came along with my downsized job surprised me. I suddenly longed for the comfort and safety of my cubical cocoon.

The Search for a New Nest

Certain that the safety of a new cubical would sooth me, I set out on the job search. I suppose it’s a bit like the rescued and rehabilitated bird. It may be ready to fly, but refuses to leave the cage when a team tries to set it free. So, like the bird, I tried to return to my cozy nest in the cage.

Trading the Cage for a Sanctuary

After two months at home, I began to see things differently. There were so many benefits to my new work space. I will list them here:

1.    Every day is bring your dog to work day! There’s nothing like a Golden Retriever at your feet to ease the stress of a deadline.

2.    The coffee is always fresh (and real)! I suppose it’s not polite to complain about something provided free of charge, but condensed liquid, reconstituted ‘coffee’ leaves a lot to be desired.

3.    Every office has a window! No matter where I perch myself, there is always a great view.

4.    Like Google, in this office, a food source is never far away! Okay, maybe this is not such a benefit.

5.    Every day is casual Friday! I declare every day sweat pants day (which is fortunate, since, due to the aforementioned food source, my other pants aren’t fitting so well).

6.    In house interns! Sure, they get time off for school each day, but once they walk back in that door, it’s time to earn their keep.

7.    Early and late lunch! Okay, this one is bad too. Good thing it’s sweat pants day.

Time to Fly

So begins the second chapter of my journey. Something new is coming. Something big. Stay tuned.

I've Been Downsized: Chapter 9

Road Trip!

I’ve had so much to ponder over the past 70 days. Where will I work? When will I work again? Will being out of the marketing game cause me to lose the edge?

Well, there’s nothing like a road trip to clear your head. So, like any good Michigan family, we packed the kids in the SUV and headed south for spring break!

Well Played, Waffle House…

As we drove south on Interstate 75, we did the usual things to pass the time; license plate bingo, guess what’s in that truck, and our family favorite- Waffle House bingo. If you’ve ever had the fortitude to drive from Michigan to Florida on Interstate 75, you know there are approximately 96 Waffle House restaurants visible from the interstate. This is a hotly contested number within our family, because he or she who spots the most Waffle House restaurants wins. The rules are simple; you must spot the actual restaurant, you must be the first to spot it, and at least one person in the vehicle must substantiate your siting. But, the Waffle House tally always starts to be disputed around the Tennessee border.

And Now, a Word from Our Sponsor…

In between Waffle House sightings, I found myself rambling about the billboards we passed.

Dunkin’ Donuts! Brilliant! See how they’ve rebranded themselves from a donut shop that happens to sell coffee into a coffee shop that happens to sell donuts?! Smart move! Coffee is the trend and junk food consumption is declining. Kids? Hmm. They must be sleeping.

Ruby Tuesday! The garden bar used to be part of their value proposition. They justified charging for it when other restaurants threw in the salad bar free. Now, I see they’re including it with 20 entrees. That’s really eroding their brand equity. Honey? Hmm. He must be sleeping too.

Hard Rock Café! You know why we love Hard Rocks so much? They’re selling a total experience- not just food! The food is great, but the atmosphere is so cool. It’s the total package. Guys? Hmm. They must all be sleeping.

On the Road Again…

Vacation over, money spent, we loaded kids back into the SUV to head north. On the way, we stopped for the night at the same hotel we stayed in on the way south just a week earlier. As we checked out the next morning, a survey popped into my email. How was your stay? Hmm, I pondered. The same survey I had received a week earlier. Hey, guys, do you think their survey results are skewed based on how people feel when they’re heading south versus north? Guys?...

I may not have found all the answers on this trip, but I did learn one thing. I haven’t lost my marketing edge. Now, why are there so many Waffle House restaurants?...

Kristina Marsh is an accomplished marketing, communications, and business process leader.  Want to connect?  You can reach me at klmarsh74@gmail.com.

I've Been Downsized: Chapter 8

Of Love…

Our son is 12-years-old. He’s very tall, and extremely handsome with brown hair and soft, dark, expressive eyes. We’ve always said he’s an old soul- wise and mature beyond his years even at the age of two. Most people mistake his age for two or three years older than he is, and the girls go crazy over him, especially in his football uniform. They all love Ethan. Yes, he’s quite the catch, but they’re out of luck. He fell in love with the girl of his choice years ago. She has white-blonde hair, brown eyes, and has eyes for no one but him. Her name is Emmy.

When my husband and I were newly married, I found a tiny little scruff of a dog wandering up my grandparent’s driveway. She was only six weeks old, and had been abandoned on the country road. I suppose someone didn’t want the hassle of a puppy and hoped she would find her way to a house where someone would take her in. As it turned out, their plan came together when I paid my grandparents a visit one afternoon. The tiny white puppy came bounding up the driveway to me, and my grandmother explained that someone had tossed her out on the road earlier. My husband and I had just bought our first house, and a dog seemed just the thing to make it a home. So, I took her home.

She was a little white puffball, so we called her Marshmallow. It didn’t take long for Marshmallow to shorten into Emmy, and that it stayed. As it turned out, Emmy was a free spirit, and she drove me crazy! She wouldn’t listen, got kicked out of obedience class, and didn’t care if I liked her behavior or not. But on December 21, 2000, that all changed. Ethan was two-days-old, and we brought him home that day. From the moment Emmy laid eyes on him, she was in love. She stayed faithfully by his side and slept under his crib at night. Over the years, they grew together, and her love was returned equally by Ethan. When he was two-years-old, he called her his dog-dog. It was one of his first words. Emmy forgot that I existed all together, because her loyalty was to her boy.

Over the past 12 years, Emmy has slept in Ethan’s bed every night. When she got too old to make the leap, he made her a bed on his bedroom floor, and made sure she was tucked in every night before he went to sleep. It has been a mutual, unconditional love.

…and Heartache

I knew the day would come, and it was yesterday. Emmy had become ill just two days earlier. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and was obviously sick. Ethan sat on the floor with her and broke treats into tiny pieces, hand feeding her. Faithful to the end.

Often in life, a boy’s first real heartbreak is the loss of his dog. And it breaks his mother’s heart too. Emmy passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon. Breaking the news to her boy was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do. He took it with sadness, but understanding beyond his years. Typical for Ethan. He and my husband picked out a nice resting place for her, next to a little pine tree that Ethan planted on Arbor Day two years ago. They laid her to rest in her cozy little bed with a snack.

Today, the job search doesn’t seem as important. My goal this week is to piece back together some broken hearts. What a life experience to have loved so deeply at the age of 12. I’m not sure how any other girl will compare.

Kristina Marsh is an experienced and accomplished marketing, communications, and business process leader.  Want to connect?  You can reach me at klmarsh74@gmail.com

I've Been Downsized: Chapter 7

Living the Dream

Have you ever imagined what life would be like if you had the opportunity to spend seven weeks at home? Here’s how my fantasy went; the house would be spotless and fabulously decorated, our laundry room would finally be organized, my children would have a hot breakfast and my husband would have a home cooked dinner, my closet would be organized, and I would finally be able to clean out that pantry! Ahh, if only I had more time, I imagined, life would be perfect.

Back to Reality

So, my fantasy isn’t playing out quite the way I had imagined. All of those years I spent daydreaming at my desk about all of the things I could do if I were home. Here’s the dirty truth; there are dishes in the sink, a Christmas flag still hanging in the yard, my kids ate cold cereal for breakfast this morning, my husband ate a sandwich for dinner last night, and finding soup in the pantry is a bit of a treasure hunt. Surprised? Not nearly as surprised as I am!

In reality, the average day goes something like this; up at 6:00 a.m. with our son; drive son to bus stop at 7:00 a.m.; check email, suck down coffee, and enjoy a cold bowl of cereal; wake daughter up at 7:30 a.m.; respective daughter dressed, fed, and on the school bus at 8:30 a.m.; now, focus! This is when things are really going to happen! Look around and take note of what should be cleaned today. Today’s the day! This house is going to look FABULOUS! I’m talking pot roast on the table and candles lit when my family gets home. Clear a spot on the mantel for mother-of-the-year trophy that will be delivered today. Sit down to check email, search job boards, follow up on networking requests, revise the resume, write cover letters. What’s that noise? The school bus?! What time is it?!...

What’s for Dinner?

Sloppy joes and baked beans. It turns out the only thing that’s changed since I was downsized is our kitchen table- and not in the pot roast and candles sort of way. Instead, it’s littered with job descriptions, resumes, sticky notes, and a laptop. But my family doesn’t seem to mind. They’re happy to plop their sloppy joe down on my resume to talk about the day. No worries, I’ll print a new one tomorrow. I guess the pantry will just have to wait.

Kristina Marsh is an experienced and accomplished marketing, communications, and business process leader.  Want to connect?  You can reach me at klmarsh74@gmail.com.

I've Been Downsized: Chapter 6

“I’m Not Dead Yet”

In one of my favorite Monte Python skits the undertaker makes his rounds gathering victims of the plague. At one point, a man comes along carrying an old man to throw on the pile. The old man insists, “I’m not dead yet- I feel fine”, but they throw him on the cart and continue gathering victims.

That’s a bit like the feeling of being downsized. You’re being told your job is done, but you know there is more to do- so much life left. It can be difficult to let go.

A Shout Out to Adam at Best Buy

It happened on a Friday at a Best Buy store in my hometown. I was chatting with Adam while he set up the features on my new phone. Turns out, Adam is in his junior year at my alma mater, Northwood University. He was sharing his thoughts about his future career and all of the opportunity he can imagine. And then he asked me, “what do you do?”

Imagine my stunned silence while I tried to figure out what to say. Should I tell him the truth about my situation and turn the excitement he has into worry? Should I tell him about the job I had and leave out the little bit about being downsized? And then it occurred to me. I’m not dead yet!

My last job may be gone, but I’m still here. So, I took a breath and told Adam all about the great jobs I’ve held, the opportunities I’ve had, and how I’m looking for my next great adventure now, as he is. It was liberating and I left Best Buy feeling better than ever. Thanks, Adam!

Life Goes On

Here is the most important lesson I’ve learned this week. I always knew this, but it took Adam to help me accept it and get off that cart. My life is not defined by a company or title. At the center of my universe is a supportive husband, two wonderful children, and a loyal Golden Retriever.

So, what do I do? I’m a wife, a mother, and a business leader. In my spare time, I teach business and economics to elementary and middle school students. It turns out I have a little more spare time these days. So, this month I’ll be teaching three courses of the Junior Achievement program instead of one. That’s my next adventure. To help shape the minds and dreams of children. What a great opportunity!

Kristina Marsh is an experienced and accomplished marketing, communications, and business process specialist.  Want to connect?  You can reach me at klmarsh74@gmail.com.