Journal Entries
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Note: Background images in December 2002 and January 2003 journal entries are selected from Frances Ku's collection of her original watercolours.
Bon Journal
Not a formerly
The energy industry that I'm in is changing so fast that people transition from being at a company to being associated with a former company. At a gas and power conference in Amsterdam, I witnessed a new trend of nametagging the recently unemployed.
So and so, former so and so of so and so. You are really someone if you are a big shot at a big shot company. You are still someone if you're a big shot at a small company. You can feel like someone great even if you're a nobody at a well-known and respected company. To remain a "someone", you need a company behind you.
So if you've just been laid off, you can still be that someone by using the words "former" or "ex."
But why should you continue building the brand of your ex-employer when you're no longer paid?
I was the only one who introduced myself simply as "Anne Ku, representing myself." I am not former editor at so and so. I am not so and so at former company. I am just myself - independent, neutral, and not paid by anybody.
