We are family

The coincidences of life sometimes amaze me. Today was a bit trying at work as the reality of our upcoming merger and my departure are affecting the employees and me.

I have no complaints as it is by my own hand. My strategic analysis revealed that the trend of shrinking funding to social services would continue and organizations like ours would no longer be able to serve our constituency without greater critical mass. We’re located in a depressed area outside of the political power sphere and usually get the dirty end of the stick.

The primary concern is the needy we serve, not the organization or my job. So, to ensure continued service, I initiated merger talks with a larger entity. A goal in such an alliance is to achieve economies of scale by eliminating duplicate positions. I’m a duplicate, but I knew that before I set the wheels in motion.

Such things are never easy on companies, but our culture makes it harder. We are family. Sometimes, a dysfunctional family, but what family isn’t?

The coincidence? I didn’t realize that it was almost exactly 20 years ago, someone else left the family. That family was a company (newspaper) I owned at that time. I came to recognize that with a message that arrived tonight on my social networking site. It asked if I was the same Henry Dorfman who wrote a column about Dan when he died.

Wow. Talk about a blast from the past.

I replied to Dave and we exchanged some more messages about Dan, who had worked for me. I like to think all the employees were special, and I’m still in touch with a number of them. But Dan was a little extra special.

And, not just to me. Dave told me about a tribute web site his friends had set up for Dan and I was touched that they had included my column (http://www.jimnasium.s5.com/kessler.html).

As difficult as it is for me to leave my current family, I am reminded that there are worse separations. Perspective.