Rafal Szczap’s Post

It's pretty cool when, after a month of working together, you finally get to hear the other side of the story on a zoom call of why a client who signed a contract went dark for six months. "$15 Million in annual revenue was where I hit a wall—and it broke my business. I hired Jason Sayen in February, thinking we were ready to scale further. But before we even started working together, everything fell apart. -$15M in revenue -30+ employees -Random ad hoc processes -Mistakes piling up every week -Clients getting frustrated -Sales suffering Then the layoffs began. I thought we could push through the chaos, force our way past the lack of structure. But I learned the hard way. When there’s no process in place, something has to give. Everything broke, and we had no choice but to cut back: headcount, revenue, all of it...just to regroup. A month ago, we finally got serious about fixing things and engaged with Jason. After a month of defining how we actually operate, we identified every bottleneck. Those ad hoc processes? They weren’t wasted efforts. Now, we’re aligning them with our overall strategy. We’re not lost anymore, just re-building the right way. It’s not easy, but now we know how to move forward and why we had to scale back to do it."

You could look at it in two ways; Either you become exit ready or you can become lay off proof (irreplaceable). A) In the first instance, when you find a new job, have a plan for the next move immediately. Plan on what you want to get out, what you want to learn, and how long it will take you to learn it. Learn as many skills as you can - become better every single day. Improve on your network, broaden your brand. When the time for layoff arrives, you will be ready to leave. However, the biggest mistake employees make is to become very comfortable at their jobs, then start to think about the next move when it's too late. B) In the second instance, when you get a new job, make sure you learn the and master the hard stuff in a company that not many people really want or willing to do. Concentrate on doing the hard stuff and become the best at them where by everyone depends on you for answers - that makes you layoff proof. You can't easily be replaced nor laid off. If a layoff is inevitable then you would be the last to be laid off. However, the downside of this strategy is that you will not easily be promoted because there's no one else can do what you do. So it will keep you in place for quite a long time.

Things are slow. Deals stalling, layoffs, it's not necessarily getting brighter. But I heard a contrary opinion from Hannah Ajikawo yesterday She shared that there are companies out there spending big money to figure: ✅ how to make best use of AI ✅ re-structure their sales organizations, enable & train them ✅ opening their eyes to "new" methodologies like MEDPICC ✅ trying out new tools for go-to-market 👉 I'm curious to get more perspectives on this: ❓how are you observing the latest economic environment? ❓are they signs of recovery? ❓which sectors are spending money and which ones are bit more frugal? I hear more and more SaaS companies pursuing manufacturing, construction and real estate as traditional sectors to disrupt with tools and gadgets. Let me know

The easiest way to protect yourself from layoffs: Being exit "ready". The job market is a difficult place at the moment. With the rise of AI, many businesses are downsizing.  Resulting in a lot of layoffs. The time to safe proof yourself,  Has never been more important. It's time to be exit "ready". This is where you can swiftly move on from a layoff.  Due to having other income streams as a backup. Here is how you can build out yours in 7 steps: 1. Start planning your next path.  ↳ Research markets with high demand and low supply ↳ Think about your unique strengths and how they fit in. 2. Grow your personal brand  ↳ Start posting content. Sharing your story.  ↳ Build an engaged audience. This will bring huge leverage. 3. Start crafting out a clear offer  ↳ Figure out exactly what you can offer as a product/service.  ↳ Understand who your ICP is and how you can reach them. 4. Work for free/ cheap  ↳ Controversial, but this will allow you to build testimonials. ↳ This may also lead to a lot of referrals. 5. Scale your brand  ↳ Go all in on content and grow your personal brand. ↳ Start to raise your prices and double down on your offer. 6. Rinse and repeat  ↳ Continue until your income from this is higher than your salary.  ↳ Start to plan your exit. 7. Build your multiple stream plan  ↳ Build out your stan store with multiple products. Monetise as a creator in multiple different ways with Stan: - Grow your newsletter - Develop a coaching offer  - Build your own paid community  - Build out some online courses - Start creating digital products The thing I love so much about Stan is that it's all in one place. So once clear on your offer, you can build out alternate products SO quickly. Super happy to partner with them to help more people become: "exit ready" You can get started for free today!  Check out the link in the comments below ⬇️ #stanforcreators #stanambassador #ad

Wake-Up Call: Tech Layoffs & Your Career Tech layoffs reveal a stark reality: In big companies, you're often just a number. Don't wait for a crisis to start planning. Check out the video for how I think you can take control of your career journey. What actions are you taking? Comment below. #career #bigtech #coaching #personalgrowth #bestcareeradvice --- Found this useful? Awesome. Follow to never miss an update and ♻️ with your network.

💼 Navigating Layoffs with Heart 💼 In today's rollercoaster of a business world, layoffs are a grim reality we can't always avoid. Yet, it's in these hard times that the soul of our company culture shines through. 🤝 Talking the talk is easy in good times, but walking the walk? That's the ultimate test when the decisions get tough and the future looks uncertain. How do we make sure our actions aren't just lip service? Let's dive into some key steps: 🔹 **Transparent Communication**: Honesty isn't just a policy, it's the bedrock of trust. Are we being open about the challenges and crucial decisions? 🔹 **Support Systems**: Transitioning isn't just about moving on, it's a journey. Are we equipping our people with everything they need - from career advice to mental health support? 🔹 **Respect and Dignity**: Every individual deserves respect, no exceptions. Are we ensuring everyone is treated with the dignity they deserve, no matter the situation? Your insights are invaluable! How can we, as organizations, step up to better support our teams through layoffs? What moves have you seen or made that genuinely made an impact? Let's get this conversation going!

"In the ever-evolving world of technology, layoffs can feel like encountering a '404 Error: Job Not Found' message. But fear not, fellow IT aficionados, for we are the masters of troubleshooting, the wizards of problem-solving, and the architects of innovation! When faced with major layoffs, it's natural to feel like a software update gone wrong - unexpected, frustrating, and leaving you wondering where you went astray in the code. But remember, just as every bug has a solution, every setback is an opportunity for growth. So, to my fellow IT comrades experiencing these turbulent times, let's embrace the challenge like a new line of code: with curiosity, resilience, and a dash of humor. After all, who knows? Maybe this is just the universe's way of nudging us towards our next big breakthrough! In the meantime, let's support each other like a well-functioning network, sharing insights, resources, and yes, even a few laughs along the way. Because in the realm of technology, as in life, it's not about avoiding errors but about how we debug and move forward together. Stay strong, stay innovative, and remember, we're all in this program called 'life' together!" CareerUS Solutions #Careerussolutions 💻💡 #TechHumor #Resilience #Innovation #LinkedInLaughs #ITCommunity #StayStrong #Adaptability #HumorInHardTimes

I’ve always been aware that I’m terrible at managing up. But until recently, I had no idea that I’m exceptionally good at managing down. I recently met Wonder Woman Aishwarya Malkar, who joined my team as an intern and, within a few months, became the data lead for all of marketing. Here’s a snippet of our conversation: Aish: “We all miss you so much. Everyone I talk to wants to work with you.” Me: “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing." Aish: “It is. You were strict but also genuine and nice. Our problems didn’t fall on deaf ears.” This isn’t me flexing. Honestly, I had no idea my teams felt this way. As a manager, I care irrationally about my team’s well-being. For the longest time, I thought that was a weakness. Once, I was ready to give up my hike and rating to support a teammate. My manager looked at me in disbelief. Guess what? We both got our hikes. 😎 Another time, I cried the first time I had to let someone go during layoffs. I still do :) The moral of the story: In the rat race of managing up and excelling at it, try managing down like you mean it. These relationships go a long, long way. Laters, ZK

The tech industry led Q1 layoffs, but I’m guessing this isn’t news to you. Maybe you’re suddenly fearful about losing your job and are working extra hard to prove your worth… Maybe you’re experiencing the repercussions of layoffs… You know those “do more with less” talks from executive leadership. Or maybe you’ve personally been laid off and are grappling with what's next. Wherever you're on the journey, you’re probably not immune to the chaos of restructuring. Companies are being stingy with raises and promotions feel more competitive than ever. When there is less to go around, you need to stand out even more - without burning out or getting buried in work. Is this all feeling relatable? Not knowing how to self-advocate is a silent career killer. And this skill is even more critical in a chaotic environment. One of the biggest challenges female tech leaders struggle with is knowing how to talk about themselves in a way that doesn’t feel like bragging. So I’ve teed up THREE super practical (and slime-free!) ways you can start self-advocating right now - regardless of your level and where you’re headed next. Swipe through to see all three >>> ------- Our brains are so biased toward the negative - especially if you’re struggling with imposter syndrome. 🥴 That’s one of the many reasons why over 55% of people won’t even start the conversation to ask for a promotion or raise. If you're ready to crack the code on increasing your confidence, effectiveness, and impact as a leader, I’m inviting you to dive into my brand new free training: LEAD with Confidence! Inside, I’m sharing the exact approach you need to take to go from anxiously overwhelmed to crushing it with confidence. DM me ‘CONFIDENCE’ to get instant access! P.S. Know other new female leaders in your network? Please spread the word, hoping to have this training touch and impact as many women as possible! #selfadvocacy #leadwithconfidence #leadershipdevelopment

🔥 Ever feel like your career’s just another casualty in the tech industry’s favorite game: "Who’s Getting Axed Next?" Well, buckle up, because it’s time to stop playing victim and start rising from the ashes—phoenix style. Here’s the deal: The layoffs in tech are crazy with no one immune not even the likes of Google, Microsoft or Meta And the ripple effects in other industries are staggering It is all a chaotic, soul-sucking mess that seems like the end of the world. But it’s not the end, not for you. It’s time to spread those fiery wings and show the world exactly who they’re messing with. This isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about soaring like a phoenix to new heights with a brand that’s too hot to handle. 🔗 Feeling the heat? Don't get burned by the turmoil. Learn how to protect your career and turn this crisis into your comeback. Rise from the ashes with my latest blog post on mastering the art of resilience and leadership during tech layoffs. Transform your trials into triumph. 🔥 https://lnkd.in/efiA3Gpb #LeadershipDevelopment #Management #ManagementDevelopment #JimTalk #CEO