Become Proactive Or You Will Be Miserable!
Sometimes, being miserable isn’t a choice. It’s just you haven’t realize there’s a need to change.
Today, the last working day of 2023, is also a wake-up call for me. The company I work for has conducted the third round of layoffs this year, and unfortunately, one of my closest colleagues was affected. I’ve never felt so close to the reality of job loss before.
The story takes a darker turn when considering the context of my company and industry. We’re an outsourcing software firm in Southeast Asia, working for an Australian company. The project had been running for years when COVID hit, severely impacting their business. As a result, they considered cutting our developers due to cost constraints. However, they held off out of goodwill. Instead, when someone sought new employment, the client chose to eliminate their position rather than replace them. This happened to my close colleague, H (let’s call him that). When he relocated offices and stepped away from the project, my company, fearing the client would cut his position, assigned someone else to cover his tasks while he attended meetings to maintain the illusion. This practice felt unsettling, a reminder of the precarious nature of our work.
Snap back to reality, this time H got laid off. He’d had some strained relationships with managers, and unfortunately, the 2023 recession meant there were no new projects for him to join. Faced with these challenges, the company had to downsize, and he was ultimately affected.
The catch is, the guy working under H’s name could be unemployed too. There’s no point in H joining the meeting just to say ‘hi’ to the client. They’ll figure it out eventually and let that guy go, which is unfair to him.
While I’m only partially involved as the project lead, this whole situation could impact us directly or indirectly. But that’s not my main concern. They made a risky move without considering me, and honestly, who am I to argue? What truly worries me is how one reckless decision spun us all — me, H, the shadow employee, even the client — into such a tangled mess.
The answer, unfortunately, is simple. First, we depend on this company for survival. If they choose not to renew our contracts or continue with the client, we’re left with little choice. Finding another job might be possible, but then the cycle of dependence repeats. Second, we might not be proactive enough in our lives. We tend to focus on immediate needs rather than actively seeking opportunities or diversifying our skillset for long-term security.
“Well you did lose a lot of versatile solutions for modern living”
Ultimately, the economic system revolves around the value people bring to the table. The fear of unemployment stems from insecurity about our employability. However, cultivating in-demand skills and becoming highly skilled professionals empowers us to be more demanding in the job market. Instead of fearing insecurity, we should focus on development and becoming indispensable.
Life unfolds, and when we stand still, it flows past us. To survive the long game, we must become proactive, embrace continuous movement, and increase our chances of success. So, ask yourself: how long has your comfort zone held you captive? Break free from its grip. It’s never too late to turn the tide. Move forward, become indispensable, and claim your own success story.
If nothing changes, nothing changes
