Friday May 02, 2008 Yes, you will read bad stories from the media. You are probably worrying about the company and its future. That's a good thing that you worry. You may be even worrying about yourself. That's natural.
Yes, we lost money and planned to reduce OPEX (that means we may layoff people) for about 100 to 150 millions dollars. That's lots of reduction and it sounds scary.
Let me suggest a way to handle this news.
Sun Microsystems is in the "knowledge industry." You are very likely a "knowledge professional." This means you compete in this world with what you know. The company competes with the management of its employees' knowledges.
Ask yourself, "Am I learning more and applying what I have learned?" Also ask yourself, "Can I learn faster and more effectively?" (The 2nd answer is always yes. Think of coaching, environment, project scope, etc.)
You should feel the comfort that whatever you have learned is always yours. You should feel the pressure that the whole world is trying to out-learn you. You should compel yourself to out-learn them.
And that will make you a great employee, make the company stronger, and give you the security and a good career too.