I first ran into SEOmoz at HostingCon 2009 where they talked about Search Engine Optimization and eventually I fell in love with their “Whiteboard Friday” series where they basically give knowledge away free. Their feeling is that if you see how difficult their work can be, that you maybe you’ll hire them instead of attempting to this work yourself.

Watching the June 24th episode I witnessed something very cool yet foreign to me. At the end of the video presentation, the host of the show (Rand Fishkin) takes a few minutes to wish his colleague Scott a fond farewell as he’s moving on. Not only a fond farewell, but also mentions that they aren’t sure he’s found something and go on to post his Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter links. They don’t hold back any praise for him and indicate that he’ll be sorely missed. Wow.

I’ve worked in large corporations and I’d like to contrast how Scott would have been treated at one of these firms. (Scott – no offense this is just an example!)

Large Company #1

Stated Publicly: “Scott will no longer be with the company effective immediately. Can’t give any other details at this point.”

(By doing this, it completely gives the message that Scott can’t be left alone with the supply cabinet keys because all the sticky pads will definitely disappear into his laptop bag.Remember, it’s Scott who left and not the other way around)

Stated Privately: “You know, Scott was just a few weeks away from getting canned anyhow, couldn’t pull his weight and I’m glad he left so we didn’t have to can him.”

Large Company #2

Stated Publicly: “Scott is no longer part of the business.”

Indicates that Scott was let go through no choice of his own and that there’s something bad that went down that will never be known unless you disguise yourself as a janitor (a la Wall Street’s Bud Fox) and check his HR file after hours.

Stated Privately: “He wasn’t a team player, when we pressured him to perform he folded and decided he wasn’t ready to be part of the big leagues.”

It’s interesting that in working for large firms, the employees usually don’t own much of the firm but will take someone quitting personally. Quitting a smaller firm where the owner is present probably wouldn’t draw so much drama as it does with some of the larger firms I’ve been with.

Scott I wish you the best although we don’t know each other.