So, we hit record revenue but get the boot anyway?

The corporate math never adds up for the people on the ground. It is brutal to watch them celebrate record growth on the backs of thousands who are suddenly disposable. They always talk about 'optimizing for the future' or 'pivot strategies,' but it is just a cold way to hide the fact that they are burning bridges to pump up the stock price for the next quarter. If you deliver excellence and get a pink slip in return, it really tells you everything you need to know about the current culture there. Take the severance, update the resume, and don't look back.

I have been through three of these cycles over the last decade, and it does not get any easier. You spend years pouring your energy into complex projects and hitting impossible deadlines, only to be treated like a line item when the fiscal year wraps up. It is the same old script: the leadership team hits their performance metrics, secures their equity payouts, and then cleans house to satisfy the shareholders before the next earnings call. It is a cynical, heartless game. The brand loyalty you give them will never be reciprocated, so make sure you are always looking out for yourself first.