#mindset

Layoffs in 2026 are inevitable and I can’t help but chuckle when people come onto this board to whinge about more layoffs are coming.

Are layoffs stressful? Absolutely. No one is denying that. One thing you can do is change your mindset.

Control the controllables.

You can’t control whether you are going to be laid off or not. What you can control is finding a new job. It’s not easy to find a new job in this market, so start looking now. Don’t wait until your job is impacted to look for a new role. Who knows… you might get lucky… engineer yourself a redundancy when you have something else lined up. To do so, you have to be smart. You can’t be bitter. It takes weeks to engineer a redundancy so get your ducks in order! There is life post Citi. You might surprise yourself. You may enjoy life after Citi more than you enjoy life at Citi. Food for thought.

…is a game changer. As with everything, it takes a while to mature. We need to exercise some patience and it will have a purposeful butterfly effect.

Hey Y'all! I've decided to channel my inner hungry humble swagger and adopt a growth mindset. I used to care about being a team player and actually executing on work that would move the firm forward. But now I realize I need to grow into a self-serving buzzword machine who cheers for leaderships latest "brilliant ideas" like a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader while shirking actual work like a champ! After all, y'all, it's One Edward Jones and I've got to look out for number one! How will y'all be growing your mindsets?

Big day ahead, and I know a lot of people are nervous. Just wanted to share a few reminders that might help if you get pulled into a tough conversation today:

• Don’t feel pressured to sign anything right there in the room. It’s normal to want time to read things over — ask to take it home and review.

• Ask for clarity. If they’re making a change, it’s fair to ask: is this being treated as a layoff, termination, or resignation? Having that clear helps avoid confusion later.

• If offered a different role/pay change, make sure you understand exactly what happens if you say no. Ask them to put it in writing.

• Don’t say “I resign.” If you’re being pushed out, keep your wording neutral. Let them label it, not you.

• Keep your own notes. Write down the date, time, who was in the meeting, and what was said. Some people use other ways to capture what’s said, but at minimum, detailed notes right after the meeting can really help.

• Take your time. Signing away rights or making a big decision under pressure usually helps the company more than you. Give yourself breathing room.

Whatever happens, you’re not alone in this. Look out for yourself, lean on friends, and take care of each other.

Let’s stop pretending; our talents are leaving not because they don’t love，they are leaving because they are not loved. If we don’t fix our mindset, we will be exporting our brightest - absolutely free of charge…