Even though I’m out of the business, it’s still disturbing to see unexpected news about people you once worked with and respected. I noticed on Linked In where a former peer had taken a new job, and I just know that it wasn’t by choice. Out of curiosity, I googled to see if there were any articles since it was a high profile enough position to warrant news coverage, but there was nothing. He left to sell janitorial supplies, which is certainly a lucrative business, but about as far away from broadcasting as you can get. He had been in the radio business for over 30 years and in the twilight of his career, but “shift happens.” I haven’t stayed in touch with him, but I am tempted to give him a call.

I call it “shift,” as in an illogical move from one position to another. The circumstances are often hidden, but in today’s broadcasting business you sign a non-compete that prevents you from moving to an industry competitor, or in this case from one broadcast group to another. With this in mind, it is not unusual to “shift” out of the business until the terms of this agreement are fulfilled. For example, I sold men’s clothing for about a year after suddenly losing my position. It was a tough adjustment, going from being a community leader to serving the public. Fortunately, I didn’t have to do it in the same city, and answer the awkward questions associated with making such a “shift.”

“Shift Happens” for any number of reasons. It most likely involves a logical business decision like consolidation, down-sizing, disagreement, or dissatisfaction. In the end, they always say, “you can’t take it personally,” but you do. You always wonder what you might have done differently. I went through 30 years of promotions, raises, and success, and then one day it was suddenly over. It was followed by a healing process, but I’m not sure I ever recovered. When I see others going through this, I feel their pain. Yes, I was able to find a couple of other positions where I achieved modest success, but these were just shifts fueled by necessity. I never regained the momentum of consistently moving up the ladder, and started to anxiously await retirement. I’m glad it’s finally here.

You can’t live solely on Social Security, so it was this broadcast career path that allows me to enjoy being comfortably retired. It was the matching 401k, employee stock purchase plans, stock options, salary increases, and ultimately the pension plan that sustains me today. I no longer have to worry about corporate politics, budgets, entitlement meetings, and career steps. I do worry about those who still fight this fight, like my wife and those that I hired and associated with all those years. I like to stay in touch with what’s going on, and still get concerned when someone stumbles and is forced to “shift” gears.