When the economic recession comes calling for your job you can see it as a crushing blow or accept it as a chance to explore new opportunities in an ever-changing economic world.

Fountain Hills Mayor Jay Schlum recently got the word that his job with a telecommunications company was being eliminated, and he is definitely looking at it as the glass half full.

Schlum was employed for the company for more than 10 years and had worked his way into middle management, overseeing product and project development.

Schlum said the news did not come as a surprise.

“The economy and technology has an impact on our business as it does most,” Schlum said. “The company has had to adjust and modify its business plan to deliver the best products to the customer.

“Over the past several years the company has gotten progressively smaller.”

Schlum said he was not upset.

“It just feels different to be in this position,” he said. “Fortunately the company puts resources toward helping those where their position has been eliminated and assist with the transition. For that I am grateful and fortunate.”

Schlum said now he is in a position to take lessons learned to shape the future.

“I’m a realist,” he said. “Companies need the flexibility to move in different directions. The reality is, in this economy we are more likely to be impacted as workers.”

Right now, Schlum said he is excited about how the future looks for him and his family.

“I’m more positive about the opportunities than I am anxious,” Schlum said. “I’m seeing a lot of opportunity I would not have thought about while I was working.”

Schlum said he has gotten some advice to take his time and not jump at the first thing that comes along. He is taking that advice with a measured approach to going forward.

He said he does not know if he will go back to a large company, work with a smaller company or even on his own.

Schlum is optimistic about his own fortunes, even though he says he is not overly optimistic that the economy will turn around in the next year.

“I only need one job,” Schlum said. “If you can provide a valuable service for your intended audience there is a marketplace for it.”

Schlum said he will be spending a lot of his time the next couple of months talking with his family and people in the community he respects, getting input from them.

Schlum said his family is doing well, and the biggest concern that his wife, Denise, has is that he might get too used to hanging around the house.

He added that one thing he wants to do with free time he has now is get into better physical condition.

“I love serving the public, that may be my future,” he said.

“I will be talking with people who can help me understand my skills and abilities and maximizing those assets that I have.”

Schlum also believes that those who find themselves out of work not only need to view it as an opportunity for career evaluation, but also a chance to reassess priorities.

“More and more people are focusing on the family, and learning to do without the ‘stuff’ we have put value on,” Schlum said. “Now the bill is coming due, I believe the value of the lesson is worth it.”

Change is a scary thing, particularly if you do not have any control, Schlum said.

“I have seen a number of people in this situation, and I cannot think of an instance where they have not come out better off,” he said. “You take these opportunities to grow and blossom.”

Review: 
Economic series, Part One: Surviving financial fallout
Economic series, Part Two: Sanitary District
Economic series, Part Three: School District
Economic series, Part Four: Construction industry
Economic series, Part Five: Town surviving
Economic series, Part Six: Laid off teachers
Economic series, Part Seven: Stimulus money
Economic series, Part Eight: Food Bank
Economic series, Part Nine: Retailers
Economic series, Part Eleven: Real Estate