A Business Decision

'It's a business decision.' 'The economics just aren't there.' Many of us have heard the fateful words.

Suddenly years of work and dedication — not to mention financial security — are reduced to severance papers and contact information for unemployment.

Those who haven't been invited to a fateful end of day Zoom call, have been fired in their nightmares in some twisted form of corporate virtual reality.

And it's no wonder why.

There have been have been 1,170, 821 job cuts so far in 2025, according the latest survey from employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. That's up 54% from same period last year.

And the report didn't have a lot of good news. Employers have announced 497,151 panned hires since the start of the year — the lowest year-to-date total since 2010.

So, whether AI, restructuring or some other corporate buzzword is to blame, I'm not the only one left feeling like a statistic.

If the situation is so fragile, why do we put so much of our lives and self-worth into being a dot on an org chart?

Why do we allow companies to call us "family," and more importantly, why do we believe them?

After nearly a decade working in digital media and broadcast journalism, rising from a lowly social media writer to video producer and ultimately head of the department, I found myself at the wrong end of a layoff. And I asked the same question as thousands before me: What was it all for?

Sure, consistent paychecks are great — believe me, I get it. But did I really give 9 years to a corporate entity that viewed me nothing more than an economic decision?

What was left after the last video I produced was published and frozen behind glass?

The simplest answers tend to take the longest to reveal themselves. And they were sitting with me the whole time.

The salary and that dream job may be in the past, but the skills I learned with the blood sweat and tears are the cement that will pave my future.

And that's why I founded Black Coffee Productions LLC. The liquid the fueled endless work days now symbolizes the drive that fuel each and every one of the projects we will tackle, from shaping your company's video strategy, to managing social media channels, launching digital campaigns and editorial services ranging from blogs to articles to newsletters.

My background in digital and broadcast journalism and social media will help us shape your next multimedia strategy.

Let a little "business decision" of my own be part of your success.