The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

It was me announcing I’d been made redundant by R/GA.

In the post, I covered a lot of things.

How I was genuinely happy it was me, rather than the people who often end up being the ones affected in these horrible shitshows. How – by announcing I was ‘available’ – I hoped I could stop some of the shame associated with being made redundant … often perpetuated by the organisation who let you go so you keep quiet and they can protect their ‘reputation’. And how I was genuinely hopeful and optimistic about what the future may hold, with some reasons to explain why this wasn’t blind optimism.

And 4 years down the road, I stand by every word I wrote.

Sure, I appreciate that – apart from the Red Hot Chili Peppers fiasco – everything has turned out pretty amazing, so that may influence my judgement. But at the time of writing it, I didn’t know any of the stuff that has happened to me/us was going to happen so I feel/hope whatever the outcome, I’d still think that way.

Don’t get me wrong, redundancy sucks.

It’s hard, it’s challenging and it’s confronting.

I also appreciate I was in a position of huge privilege compared to many, and had my situation elevated and amplified by The Guardian Newspaper when they did a piece on me because, at the time, I was apparently one of the first people trumpeting their redundancy.

But while 4 years and 2 Cannes Grand Prix’s later, I’m in the ridiculously lucky position of living a life that’s arguably even more fulfilling than the life I had before, a friend of mine recently told me something that ensured I’d feel OK with things even if that wasn’t the case.

Well, at least feel ‘better’ about things.

You see my mate went through a similar situation as me at around the same time as me.

Except where R/GA were relatively fair to me – with some pretty major caveats, hahaha – his company were absolutely bastards to him.

Actively encouraging the perception he’d contributed to his redundancy due to failings as an employee and as a person … then double downing on it by coming out in the press to say “they were a fitter and healthier company having restructured the inefficiencies out of the business”.

The motherfuckers.

Given this all happened when COVID was in full swing and the damage they contributed to his confidence, mental health and reputation were huge – taking a good 2+ years to feel strong enough to face the World again.

But it was during this time he sought out help from a therapist who asked him one question that was the trigger to a major breakthrough for him and it was this:

“How many rounds of redundancy have they had since you?”

He didn’t know.

And he didn’t know why it mattered until he looked into it.

They’d had 6.

SIX!!! In about 3 years.

To which the therapist pointed out this was proof his redundancy was more about his bosses failings to run a business than anything to do with him. And while he knew there are many factors that force a company to have to ‘reorg’ – many outside of their control – it still helped. In fact it helped him a lot. Because he finally saw the people who were so happy to discard him and harm him were the ones who were inadequate. And while it was not fair they kept their job and income while they ruined others … he could point to them as the real failures rather than continue to put it all on himself.

So if you’re going through a similar situation, try to remember 2 things.

1. It’s not your fault.
2. It does get better.

And if you can’t – or if you need someone to talk to about what you’re going through – then know that while I can’t solve your situation, I am a good listener.

So till then, look after yourself.