The year was 2001, mood at Xerox was somber
In 2000, Xerox suffered from a financial meltdown
Priority shifted to profit growth and cash preservation
Growth businesses needing cash faced shutdown

At SOHO, we were building inkjet printer business
It was to be a growth engine for the Corporation
Due to the financial crisis, a decision was made to
close SOHO as a means of corporate resuscitation

June 14, 2001, the day the SOHO dream died
Stunned and saddened; silently, we cried
It felt as if we got hit by a high tide
Pain and disbelief were felt far and wide

In retrospect this was our “nine-eleven”
We could not have seen the tragic ending
The team of 1000+ across the globe
were told it was a matter of funding

Building 855 in Webster NY was like
a morgue after the announcement
To Xerox’s credit, they allowed people time
to go through the process of bereavement

It was made clear that majority of us
would not be able to find jobs at Xerox
We were told to broaden our search,
look externally & think outside of the box

I was not an appealing commodity outside
I did not have skills that were transferrable
Sales, accounting, engineering, purchasing, …..
My “paper-pushing” experience was not marketable

I was an outsider, never worked in Rochester
From Xerox Canada, I moved to the “coast”
My Xerox network was extremely limited
Without a Godfather, my chances were toast

Very few non-SOHO senior managers knew me
My only hope for a Xerox job was my boss*
At the age of 53 with only Xerox experience,
externally I would have been treated as a dross
(* Mr. Jim Miller)

I was to separate from Xerox on September 30
Thanks to Mr. Miller, I got an extension
Now my contract was to expire at year-end
Though respite was brief, yet a welcome protection

December came, and I still did not have a job
My spirits were low, anxiety was palpable
All my peers had found jobs within Xerox
Through connections, they found seats at the table

Finally, just a few days before New Year’s Eve
I too found a job within Xerox; thank the stars
The six months from the D-Day were most stressful
The anguish left, on my psyche, permanent scars

The job I was offered was a result of
Mr. Miller pulling some strings
He must have felt pity on me; I owe
eternal gratitude for ending my sufferings

Had I not found a job with Xerox
I would have been in big trouble, financially
Both my kids were in college and
I was the primary wage earner in the family

Most likely, outside jobs I would have found
would have paid considerably less
Our savings would have been drained
We would have been in deep financial distress

As they say all is well that ends well
I was truly fortunate to have Mr. Miller
as my boss, well-wisher, and protector
He was my bedrock; he was my pillar

I retired in 2010 – 9 years from the D-Day
I barely treaded water during this period
The best for me was in the rear-view mirror
Still no complaints, end result better than I feared.

Notes:
Sadly, Mr. Miller met an untimely death at a young age.
My homage to him can be found by clicking on the following link.

In memory of Jim Miller – a true friend, mentor, coach – Rhyming Prose

Blue Dog was the mascot of the Inkjet Printer business.
Even he had tears in his eyes on June 14, 2001!