"Staring out the window as the clock begins to slow
I never thought that there would be a chance
The fragile winds of changing breathe emotion to resolve
and fabricate a plan to earn our name."
- Change is What We Are by Pullman Standard
These lyrics are close to me for a few reasons, but at this moment in time, I know there are about 360 other people who can relate with them.
This afternoon when the stock market closed my CEO sent out an email. "B+L to acquire ISTA Pharmaceuticals. Please read immediately."
We knew something was coming. We just didn't know what that something was, or when it would all happen. Well, today was the day.
As I drove to work this morning, on the 5 North, I knew it wasn't a normal day. Not only was there no traffic on a Monday morning, but there was a rainbow just south of my office building. The parking lot was full at my office. Executive management was anxiously and quietly twittering about the office.
Rumors started spreading about an "all-hands" meeting this afternoon when the market closed. Sure enough, at 3:15 p.m. we were all sitting in the Multi Purpose Room listening to our CEO tell us that our Board of Directors accepted a bid from Bausch and Lomb to acquire us for about $500 million dollars. The room fell silent.
Not.
One.
Word.
We didn't know if the next words out of his mouth would be "pick up your pink slip on your way out" or "April Fools!" Turns out, we all just get to go on business as usual for the next 60 days, then we will know if we have a job or not.
Talk about stressful! I understand why this acquisition happened; I guess I was just hoping that it wouldn't happen. I absolutely love the company I work for. It's small-pharma with an amazing culture. We all genuinely care for each other. The environment is corporate without being "Corporate." It works.
I have a feeling that I will be needing to seriously contemplate my future and my career in the upcoming months. I am very much facing a "that would never happen to me" moment. Well guess what? It did. I'm living my fear. It took me two years to find a good job after graduation, and after nearly two amazing years at this company I might lose it.
It's time for self reflection. It's time to get motivated. It's time to remember to BREATHE. It's time to face that fear. It's time to be a grown up.
It's time.
