Thread: The Job I Just Lost

I had for the last year and a half been working for the National Trust For Historic Preservation:
PreservationNation - National Trust for Historic Preservation I worked specifically at Philip Johnson's Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut:
The Philip Johnson Glass House My title was Special Projects Engineer. I was basically a problem solver/fix it guy. I am very glad to have been a part of such an historic and beautiful place. My work is all over the estate and will be there long after I am gone. I was instrumental in getting the place ready to open as a museum last June.

We had a Grand Opening Gala that was a huge party with many famous attendees from the art and fashion world. Everyone who came received a picnic basket and a blanket so they could sit on the lawn and enjoy the fancy catered lunch that was in the basket. In the basket was also a couple bottles of fancy Voss water and a custom made cutting board on which the guests could cut and serve the fancy cheeses that were also in the basket. I was assigned to design and make the cutting boards:

I had my signature and web site address laser engraved on them:

I made 400 of them in two weeks! When the guests found out they could keep the baskets, blankets and boards they started stealing the cutting boards from one another and trying to scam us out of a second basket ("I haven't received a picnic basket"). I did see Jasper Johns and Frank Stella (two of my favorite living artists) each walking around holding one of my cutting boards.

But now, the party is over and the budget won't allow for a Special Projects Engineer. The Trust is being very nice about my termination. Sad as it may be, I am happy to have held such a wonderful position.

I have no idea what I will be doing next.

I like your attitude! No whining, just appreciation for what you were allowed to do, and the child like wonder of whats next! If more people could have such attitudes...

Originally Posted by JMS

I like your attitude! No whining, just appreciation for what you were allowed to do, and the child like wonder of whats next! If more people could have such attitudes...

Hey thanks! But I whined, I cried I fell into a dark place but it didn't last long.

So many times when we lose jobs we get bitter or wallow in self pity but I try not to. I figure that I'm already broke and in deep financial trouble so no harm done there. What I brought to that job I still have plus the gain of some primo experience. I saw this job as a "prestige position". It'll look good on the resume.

I'm one of those wallowers. I was laid off back in December when the company I worked for moved to Canada, and I've felt like crap ever since. It's definitely time to get back in the saddle.

Love the cutting boards... the sight of them all stacked up like that makes my OCD happy.

Brad,

I'm sorry to hear about that. Fingers crossed that you'll land something just as great, if not better, than your last job.

James.

Very cool! (the cutting boards/party, not the termination)

And good luck for the future.


(on a side note, I wonder how many members have their dogs for avatars?)