They lost their editorial positions at Conde Nast.
For some like Joanne Lipman, former head of now-disappeared PORTFOLIO, the fall from grace was from a great height. For others like Pilar Guzman, former head of now-folded COOKIE, the way down wasn't from that kind of pinnacle of success. Guzman told John Koblin of the NEW YORK OBSERVER, who did this follow-up on these former editors, that she wasn't part of the limo crowd at Conde Nast but rather a strap-hanger. However, it still represented a major loss.
Every one of these exiles from mainstream media who Koblin interviewed fell hard and have still not recovered. Falling is a brutal experience, particularly in this economy of scarcity.
But even in better economic times it's usually an emotional game changer. Former INTERVIEW writer Mark Matousek published a book in 2008 titled WHEN YOU'RE FALLING, DIVE. That rich source of wisdom deconstructs the dynamics of loss in general and describes how others, including himself, got on the other side.
On that other side, we are different than who we were. Maybe not better or worse, just different. After my own career collapse in 2003, I saw the world in binary terms:
- That brings in business or doesn't bring in business. Forget the latter.
- The person on my network is useful or not useful. Ditch the latter.
- That assignment will teach me something or keep me stuck where I am. Don't take on the second kind.
- That prospect will respect my time, which of course is money, or will waste my time, through which I don't make as much money. Have a cover story prepared why I can't service the time-waster.
Those who haven't fallen yet, I hope you won't. But if you do, know that the devastation you feel is a normal - and healthy - response to loss. There are ways to the other side, but no shortcuts.
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