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&lt;!--StartFragment--&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Tough timesare getting tougher.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Almost nobusiness is immune.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;When Googlecuts back on free food and Goldman Sachs has to cut its work force and WarrenBuffett watches profits drop 77%, it’s a safe bet that we are all in for aworld of hurt.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;As revenues formost U.S. companies drop and buyers cut back on spending, the vicious cycle isbound to hit your company sooner or later.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;And, I’m afraid to say, probably more than once over thenext couple quarters.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;While it’scertainly not pleasant and nobody’s idea of fun, facts are facts and realitymust be confronted.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;While execshave to do the dirty work of cutting costs and reducing headcount, we are not,by any means, immune from scrutiny - and should be concerned about our own jobsecurity and income in times such as these.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;As an exec who’s been through this at least once or twice adecade for the past 30 years, please accept some advice on how to weather (andmaybe even survive) the onslaught.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;There is no crying in Baseball (andDownsizing)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;While it’scertainly valuable to be compassionate and empathetic regarding people in thisequation, it’s very important to be part of the solution, not part of theproblem right now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Your boss (andboss’s boss, depending on where you are in the pecking order) doesn’t enjoythis kind of business moment any more than you do, so resisting or complainingor arguing about the reality and the options is not helpful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;In fact, it’s often a way to getyourself up on the chopping block.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;The first couple percentage points of cuts are often relatively easy toidentify and agree on, but after that it becomes very tough.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;It’s one Hobson’s Choice after another.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;And almost every decision you recommendworks to make your job more difficult going forward.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;The temptation to argue against the cut is acute.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Many execs find themselves suggestingthat some other division or department in the firm should bear the weight of arequested cut.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Another temptationis to offer to make a large percentage of a requested cut, but not quite thewhole number.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Since it’susually a zero-sum game and the boss has already considered a range of optionsbefore handing down cost-cut goals, resistance is generally a bad idea.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;In fact, if there is a way to offer upmore reductions in your area of responsibility that will usually be appreciated,since surely one of your colleagues is trying to wiggle out of his or herresponsibilities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;I’m notsuggesting you be irresponsible in terms of not properly husbanding necessaryresources to achieve your unit’s goals, but your performance in this kind ofperiod will be judged on how quietly you went about your required duties.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;On the flipside, take &lt;/span&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-style: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;positive&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt; action.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;If there is something you can make moreefficient, do it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;If you cancreate a savings by partnering with another company or another unit within yourcompany, do it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Keep movingforward, even while implementing downsizing requests from HQ.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Let me leaveyou with three concrete suggestions for succeeding in this environment:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;&quot; class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#183;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Maintain a positive, proactivedemeanor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;&quot; class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#183;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Demonstrate added value by assumingincreased levels of responsibility&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;&quot; class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#183;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Recommend/implement actions thatstreamline ops &amp;amp; reduce costs&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&#160;All ideas are welcome, so let’s hearthem ….&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--EndFragment--&gt;

Erik Sorenson

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No Whining in the Foxhole

While execs have to do the dirty work of cutting costs and reducing headcount, we are not, by any means, immune from scrutiny - and should be concerned about our own job security and income in times such as these.  As an exec who’s been through this at least once or twice a decade for the past 30 years, please accept some advice on how to weather (and maybe even survive) the onslaught.

While execs have to do the dirty work of cutting costs and reducing headcount, we are not, by any means, immune from scrutiny - and should be concerned about our own job security and income in times such as these. As an exec who’s been through this at least once or twice a decade for the past 30 years, please accept some advice on how to weather (and maybe even survive) the onslaught.

No Whining in the Foxhole | Career Advice - Vault

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