$hit.

The incoming CEO wants to talk to me in person... on Friday... even though I'm working from home that day. "I will come to you", he says. "Fine," I say, "I'll meet you there."

Then, on the advice of one of my Executive Coaches, I start writing down everything he might want to talk to me about. This can't be good or even remotely okay. 

July 7, 2023

He is disappointed in the video I shared with the executive team as part of my leadership development program.

He heard concerns spurring from that video post

I'm being fired.

I'm being demoted. (nailed it!)

Someone who works for me is being demoted or fired.

A claim has been filed against me or someone on my team.

Someone quit over the company's recent Pride Month post. (Yes, I believed this was a real risk that day.)

Leadership is in an uproar, demanding change in our DEIB commitment. (Concerning the same post noted above)

Well, the meeting took place at the coffee shop in my neighborhood. Thank goodness none of my neighbors needed coffee at 3 pm on a Friday in July. And I was calm; I already knew what was coming.

When I got home, I yelled and cried; I wished they would crash and burn. Most of all, I lost trust. I lost what I thought I was living for.

To make a living, you go to school, listen to your teachers, get into college, find a job, and continue to listen to the leaders around you, right? Well, that's how I became an accountant and then CFO. I did what others told me to do; why shouldn't I?

I guess because when you do that, one day you go to work, and those same leaders can change their minds and tell you you aren't doing well anymore, so you need to do something else. "Don't I have a say?" You think. Well, no, I haven't had a say up until now, so why should I get a say now? And that's the problem I ran into. I had spent my whole life doing what others needed and wanted me to do; I never stopped to figure out what I wanted.

Well, $hit.

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