Microsoft two-times terminated my employment - yet my ambition persists to work there.
Patrick Lyons, a 29-year-old former Microsoft employee from Austin, has managed to maintain financial stability after being fired twice from the tech giant, primarily by having multiple income streams.
Lyons' experience at Microsoft spanned a total of five years, with his last role being a product manager for Microsoft Teams. However, in October 2024, he was laid off due to corporate restructuring. This was not the first time Lyons had been let go - he had been rehired by Microsoft as a program manager for Azure, a cloud computing platform, only to be fired again within two months.
Despite the uncertainties, Lyons emphasised the importance of building independent financial resilience. He explained, "It's not possible to be completely 'layoff proof,' but diversifying sources of income helps you stay calm and financially stable during these times."
After his second layoff, Lyons spent his time applying for jobs and investing in hobbies such as improvisational comedy, fitness, and movies. He also considered quitting his job search and fully committing to his fitness business, which he had been running on the side for several years.
Lyons' advice for others going through a termination is to stay level-headed and manage finances prudently. He also encourages developing multiple skills or income streams to reduce vulnerability to job loss. Furthermore, he suggests using the layoff period as an opportunity to explore other passions or careers.
Lyons believes that Microsoft can be political and has a clear hierarchical structure. He found it necessary to constantly present himself and seek the approval of various leaders during his second stint at the company. Despite this, he chooses full-time employment for health insurance in addition to his multiple income sources.
In summary, Lyons' approach to financial and emotional stability after termination involved diversifying income and maintaining a positive, proactive mindset towards risk and career transitions. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of financial resilience and the potential benefits of pursuing monetizable passions to mitigate the impact of possible layoffs.
What about exploring various business ventures in personal-finance, technology, and even improvisational comedy to create multiple income streams, as Lyons did after being laid off twice from Microsoft? This strategy can help provide financial stability and reduce vulnerability, as emphasized by Lyons. Furthermore, investing in skills development in these fields can open up a wider range of career opportunities, serving as a safeguard for the future.
