My Dad Gave 25 Years to a Company. They Gave Him a Gold Watch. Then a Pink Slip.
Every job is a temporary job, even the one where they said you're family. The whole time you're building their business, nobody is building yours. Build Me, Inc. instead.
Originally shared on LinkedIn: June 24, 2026
My dad gave 25 years to a company. They gave him a gold watch. Then a pink slip.
Not because they were bad people.
Because companies will always do what's best for the business.
This isn't meant to scare you. It's a reminder.
Every job is a temporary job. Even the one you've been at for 15 years. Even the one where they said "you're family." Even the one you turned down other offers for. Even the one you thought you'd retire from.
The whole time you're building their business, nobody is building yours.
Your resume. Your network. Your visibility in the market.
That's the only business that will never hand you a pink slip.
Me, Inc.™
Please choose you first.
Signed,
the 8-year-old daughter who watched her dad lose everything
For the full framework, read The Why Behind the Theory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Me, Inc.?
Me, Inc. is the business you build for yourself — your resume, your network, your visibility in the market. It's the one that never hands you a pink slip. Every hour you spend building someone else's business without building yours is an hour you'll never get back. Choose you first.
Why does Lindsay Mustain say every job is temporary?
Because it is. Even the one you've been at 15 years. Even the one where they said you're family. Even the one you turned down other offers for. My dad gave 25 years to a company. They gave him a gold watch, then a pink slip. Companies will always do what's best for the business. That's not evil. It's the reality.
Who wrote this post?
I signed it as the 8-year-old daughter who watched her dad lose everything — because that's who I still am when I tell this story. My dad's layoff shaped everything I now build for the people I work with. Nobody was building Me, Inc. for him. Someone has to build it for you.
