DEL.ICIO.USMARIETTA
For one Marietta man, layoffs seen as blessing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Six months ago, Lawson Williams, 49, found himself a victim of downsizing and cutbacks.
Over a 26-year period he had worked for GE, Sprint and, most recently, Computer Associates (CA). With CA he was involved in a major contract with Harrah’s Entertainment.
Lawson Williams/Special to AJC
With support of his wife, Karla (top right) and children, Brandon and Bryce (from left, front) Lawson Williams (top left) is taking on a new career after being laid off.
For nine months, he worked in Las Vegas.
“I would spend a week there and then come home a week,” he said.
But then, the economy began to tank and Vegas was hit hard. After two decades of steady employment, the Marietta resident was unexpectedly unemployed.
With a family, a mortgage and a host of bills and expenses, there was an immediate sense of urgency.
“What will I do next?” he asked himself. “I had always made good money. I had always supported my family.”
He had a big decision to make. Does he spend another 20 years following the same path of the last 20 years, or “do I find something I really want to do, that I enjoy and can make a living?”
He decided, with the support of his wife, that he would take his time. For the first time in his life he is taking his time to figure out what are the next steps. And it could not feel more right.
He believes being laid off has been the best thing to ever happen to him.
According to a national survey, Williams is not alone. Four-in-ten U.S. workers recently laid off, or a significant other to someone who has, feel in retrospect the dismissal was actually a blessing.
The survey, commissioned by SnagAJob.com and conducted by IPSOS Public Affairs, reports that among the roughly 14 percent of Americans who say they or their spouse/significant other has been laid off since December 2007, a total of 39 percent said that the layoffs have been a blessing in disguise.
“Whether or not you see it coming, finding out that you have been laid off can be difficult, and it can seem like the end of the world,” said Shawn Boyer, CEO of SnagAJob.com in a statement. “But as this survey bears out, there is often a silver lining.”
Since being laid off Williams has had more time for his family. Currently, he is coaching the baseball team of his 12-year-old son, who just made it to the state finals. In addition, he has taken on a substitute teaching job.
“Before I missed so many baseball games,” he said. “I was so busy working. And many times I would bring the stress of work home, not realizing the effect that was having on my family, especially my wife.”
Brian Taylor, 36, of Atlanta, lost his job with Home Depot on Memorial Day.
“I was laying in bed when I got the call,” he said. “I was told that my contract would not be extended.”
At first he was angry. He had just moved to Atlanta from Birmingham, and couldn’t understand why “this was happening to me.”
According to the survey, many respondents had the same response as Taylor.
Thirty-five percent of those surveyed said they initially felt worried, while 25 percent were angry/upset and 17 percent were depressed. After their shock, 49 percent are using the time to reconnect with family and friends, like Williams has. And 36 percent are concentrating their time on personal interests and hobbies.
“I wanted answers,” Taylor said. “So I called the person who hired me for feedback, something I had always done because I felt this would be a chance for me to better myself.”
Taylor never got the answers he sought, so he channeled his energies more creatively.
“I took a camera a friend had given me not long before the layoff, and made a vent video,” said Taylor. “And posted it to YouTube.”
He then did a second, more comical video — a photomontage. Almost immediately people started commenting; first in the hundreds, and then comments in the thousands. He was an instant hit.
“That led to me doing videos at least two times a week, ” he said. “People always told me I was funny, but I never paid that much attention.”
Taylor said he has to time to truly hone those hidden talents. In addition to the videos and a blog, he and a friend created a Internet-based focused radio show called, Better Days Radio.
On the show he is better known as Drama Dupree.
“It is a weekly show offering the often ignored LGBTQ community more than just entertainment, but information and a voice,” said Adrian Daniel, Taylor’s co-host.
“It’s hard to be optimistic in a tough economy, but those who look for the silver lining are coming out of the experience stronger and happier than ever before,” Boyer said. “It’s important to take a step back, reassess your career and family priorities and put a plan in place to get you where you ultimately want to be.”
Which Williams said is just what his family is most committed to doing. In the wake of his layoff, he and his wife have also been able to take a look at their finances and expenses.
He is receiving unemployment in addition to the benefits from a severance package. And on top of that, his wife is also working, providing for the family as well.
“We have cutback where necessary. Our quality of life has not changed drastically,” he said. “In addition, we have been able to refinance our home twice in less than a year. We were able to lower our interest rate and get some money back on our house.”
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