April announcement?

There is still some news that an announcement will be made at the end of this month about further restructuring. This news came from my boss and seems to concern another department. But again the rumor mill says that it will affect us. So it sent some shivers through me. I am always afraid that I will be caught unguarded and a sudden announcement affecting me will catch me by surprise. So I should always cultivate this always ready attitude that expects the worse.

I heard yesterday that Philip is away but it seems that he is afraid of his losing his job. I don't know if the story he said that he is bringing his mother on holiday is true or that he is contemplating on leaving his job. I am not aware of any incident which caused him to think like that. We are releasing a new version this week it is not the best time for him to leave. He plays a critical role in our work and I think I should make that known. Perhaps our small rivalry at work is affecting him.

The snake left last night for a few weeks training at headquarters. He is also not sure if he has a position when he comes back. All these rumors do not help in keeping a good atmosphere at work. I talked to a colleague back at the old outfit and she was afraid of losing her job. I told her that large organization usually fire the generals and not the colonels or captains who are on the ground fighting the war. She is implementing a world wide project and the result in this region is not that great so she is afraid of losing her job.

I also have some anxieties now and again especially with my recent exchange of mails with the French accountant who did not do his job. I am afraid that he may get vindictive and take revenge on me. The talk of another announcement this month has brought this all together for some minor attacks of anxiety. But I am feeling much cmore onfident and know that I can whether the outcome what ever it is. I will be meeting the boss man tomorrow for our meeting on the S project. It is my performance in his organization which I hope will save my career for the short to medium term.

Keeping my job will depend on my performance this year with the boss man so I should focus on the customer especially with his managers. This is the first time that I will be meeting more with established managers. I have often meet with young managers and their staff and this is the first time I will be working closely with top notch managers at an extended level. So it is a different type of interaction at a higher more sustained level. I attach a picture of the bay with some Chinese lanterns. A good place to walk after work to relax.

Retrenchment

Recently the office informed everyone that an exercise in efficiency will be undertaken next year. It may or may not entail reductions in people. Although it will be un fair to say that it will not. Kudos on honesty but their frankess increased the anxiety of everyone in the office. Since the announcement I have been updating my CV and looking at the internet job sites just to be prepared. But I will soon be 43 and I wonder if my job prospects will be good.
I work in information systems though not at the technical level anymore. I started as a programmer but through the years I have move to the project management side of the business.

Now I wonder if my age and experience and qualification will be enough to find me a job at my age. Such is the predicament of life in the rat race. I have started to read books on having an independent financial life. Reading self-help books and starting a business tell us that a whole new world is existing that promises 'revolutionary weálth' if one is just willing to change mindsets and have a will to pursue a dream. Now with the possibility of losing my job in the coming months, I have the option of looking for another job or trying things on my own.
I used to read these books with scepticism and with a cynic's eye, I think that these books peddle wishful thinking and raises hopes of people. At the end of the day, these works just mean money for the authors and they are in the business of selling hope.

Then again maybe one should regain one's dream or sense of youthful hope to be able to start over again. This is the experiment that I will undertake or at least try to next year.
A few months ago I started to read on the stock market. This is the place where most authors say promises a lot of wealth. But before anyone can get into the game, one should be familiar with all the rules and jargon that come with it. In orders words, to increase one's financial and investment skills similar to increasing ones' social skills or dating skills. It all seems so easy. Of course, one should never bet on the stok market to get rich so I have done my bit of exploring all the options. But what is really availble out there for anyone in his 40's?