First 90 Days - Unlike Any Other

It is a bitter freezing morning this April 2001 right outside of Detroit. My friend storms into the room where we all worked: “I’m being let go!”?I barely had the time to register what happened: I got called into the big man’s office myself.?I was about to lose my first job in the automotive industry. I was not prepared. At all. This new software called Maya was floating around the office, but I could not be bothered. I was young so I did not have any connections. There were signs the economy was slowing down but I did not keep up with the news. LinkedIn was more than two years away from being invented. There were going to be tough times ahead.?A year and a half later, finally, I walked into the General Motors Technical Center in Warren.?My long-time dream became reality. I made myself a promise: “never again. The next time I lose my job, I will be ready.”?I would have to wait 20 years to find out if indeed I was.

?Be thankful

You can perform in your job and still lose it. C’est la vie. I have no regrets. A chance presented itself and I took it. I came to the UK from the USA as an unknown quantity. People trusted me to lead and to deliver and I did: production cars, show cars and even a launch movie. I travelled halfway around the world. I discovered and experienced vastly diverse cultures. I delivered speeches in different countries. I learn new software, some of which I did not even know existed a few years ago. Without taking a chance, this would never have happened. There were many upsides to be in the UK, the best of which was the oh so wonderful National Health Service. My family and I were going to be fine for the weeks ahead.

?Be invested

With the pandemic I already made all the investments to work from home. We were extremely fortunate to be able to move into a bigger house. I now had a separate office with the works in audio and video equipment. My laptop could run almost any software. The best investment only cost ￡15. A vertical mouse will change your office life and save your wrist. It was amazing to see the progress done in the last 20 years.?I put my entire network on alert with a few clicks. I kept everything current on my cloud, CVs, and portfolios. The pandemic created a new normal: all my interviews were online. I reached out to an old friend of mine far away. I casually said, “if you guys ever need help remotely let me know.” Little did I know that in one click I was in touch with the boss.?In two clicks I started working for a great company remotely.

Be prepared

In a strange way, it was the perfect time to switch careers. Car design has always been at the forefront of technology. Ten years ago in Detroit, I was in virtual reviews with colleagues in China. When the pandemic hit, car design was ready because the tools to work remotely were already there. Now there is no turning back. In the morning, the team gives me tasks to do. Then it is up to me to get it done by the end of the workday. That is, it. With experience comes autonomy and trust. Nobody is looking over my shoulder. Make the decisions and get on with it. I can help with the school run. My wife also works from home so we can both walk our dog to the nearby coffee shop (or do the occasional pub lunch). Many of you know this already: the most wonderful thing about working from home is flexibility.

?The Future

The first 90 days of my new job were indeed unlike any other before. What does the future hold? Who knows…? Who would have predicted (except Bill Gates ) that the world would come to a standstill? Car design will continue its course, but it has changed forever. In the words of GM CEO Mary Barra, you can now “work appropriately.”?Many people will not want to get back into the office full time. On the plus side for companies, they can have access to a much larger pool of talent without geographic boundaries. What does it all mean for me? First, I kept my word. I lost my job, but I was ready. And it has been great to collaborate with old friends on cool products. Second, when I left for the UK, I had something to prove but not anymore.?I proved myself as a leader. All doubts are gone. What my teams and I have accomplished will stay with us forever. ?Most importantly, I am at peace. On to the next…