I too have become one of the economic statistics. On Friday, July 10th, Microsoft decided to end its relationship with me, and I will no longer be sharing the hallowed electronic ether with the great community of people I have come to know and befriend in my 8 years at the company.
You can see a more detailed view of my thoughts now that I have left at my blog.
http://surkanstance.blogspot.com/2009/07/big-event.html
I started the Recession Study Group (an internal Microsoft club) back in 2005, that examined how a severe recession might impact technology, and the company in particular. It has grown to over 200 members and standing-room only meetings. It’s eerie to see how close things are following the predictions of the Austrian business cycle the study group examined. And to think that in 2005 a senior Vice President wrote me a note about a white paper I wrote on the possible impact of a recession on the company to say that while it was an interesting analyses, it was unlikely that anything that severe could ever happen.
In any event, I actually feel liberated, and look forward to say what I really think about Microsoft’s products and strategies on my blog!