By Mary E. Fenuta » If you have, you’ve just been handed a wonderful opportunity for change! Downsizing is not a terrible thing – it is a great opportunity to review your career path, take some time to be with your family, or shift gears completely as I did. 

I am writing this article as an expert in the area of downsizing… both from the management side that actually planned the downsizing, as well as from an employee’s perspective – having been downsized myself. Let me share with you what I have learned from both sides.

Approximately six years ago, I was chosen to be on an integration team of 22 senior managers whose job it was to merge the Canadian divisions of three international firms. As a result, the company grew from 600 employees to 4,200 overnight in Canada. It was an exciting time of change… both positive and negative. People that I had worked with for nearly 20 years had suddenly shifted into “insecure” mode and became puzzled as they tried diligently to keep their heads above water. 

As the first of three major layoffs occurred, fear began to overtake the company in strange ways. The human spirit of the unified organization soon began experiencing negative emotions such as confusion, anxiety, stress, victimization, grief, mistrust, apathy and hostility. Clarity and loss of direction was evident in the eyes of the remaining employees as Canada was one of the first countries to deploy this integration process. The company went from being a very stable, secure place for people to work in to an unpredictable environment. People began to feel that they were “a number” and not part of a family. 

Executive management did their best to implement and integrate changes as quickly as possible, but in doing so many people began to leave on their own – resulting in job vacancy challenges along the way. There was little time for management to motivate and inspire staff. 

Many employees, outside my direct reports, were approaching me for advice and guidance. I asked them to focus on the positive. 

The laws of attraction worked its way through the organization with negative thoughts overpowering the positive ones. After 18 months, almost 100 percent of the integration team as well as vice presidents and 200 senior-level managers were downsized. I was on this list. 

It was at this point in my life that I knew I would come back to the corporate world to help inspire and motivate people. I chose to take my professional background and use it to help others to maintain a high level of positive synergies through the human spirit of organizations trying to survive in similar situations. Companies that are in “downsize mode” do not have the time to ensure that the mindset of their employees stays focused on the positive. I know as an outsider of such companies, I could impact their bottom line by doing what I love best… inspiring the human spirit. 

With my love for marketing and creative solutions, I registered my company under the name of Passionately Inspired Solutions Inc. in October 2007 – exactly three years after I was downsized. Just a few months ago, I founded, branded and am in the process of trademarking the tool through which we will help inspire the globe…Totally Inspired Passionate Solutions (TIPS) For Networking Club Events. 

TIPS For Networking Clubs are being launched publicly for the purpose of inspiration, education and networking with like-minded people. The first event on November 29 which was targeted to women (and men who dared to come), far exceeded the expectations of all those that attended, including the sponsors and myself. They are all returning with many of their corporate peers, family and friends, for the next event which will be held on February 14. 

TIPS will be launched in the corporate world, as well as through associations and alumnis, as a platform for like-minded people to be inspired to network in an environment that nurtures education, high integrity, honesty and value for all that attend. Every TIPS event supports a local charity through advertising and experiential awareness as well as fundraising activities. 

Through Passionately Inspired Solutions, we help stimulate individuals to live life without fear and seek to inspire them through fun and laughter. We believe that everything is a learning experience and if we learn with inspired fun, we absorb and retain more. 

I know everything happens for a reason. If you have been downsized, do not allow fear to cloud your future, stay focused and listen to your heart… it will NEVER let you down. 

I leave you with a quote from Wayne Dyer: “If you change the way you look at things, the way you look at things will change.” 

I know… because I did!