Well, it's official, our team of 12 will become a team of 10 within one month. Two are being laid off due partly to the economy but mostly due to changes in the cellphone industry.

Fortunately, I don't work in the cellphone side of the business. If our side of the business (building police cars and two-way radio / 911 center systems sales and service) slows down, there are three people under me that would go first - so I am probably safe.

But my industry (two - way radio and 911 center systems) HAS had a bad year. One of the largest dealers in GA/SC actually laid off five technicians this year. (Three just north of me in Atlanta and two in SC.) These are the first layoffs of technicians in my industry since I entered the field in 1981.