Phoenix Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTEC - News), the global market leader in core system software, today announced that it will lose their last Channel sales Account Executive, effective Nov. 1 2006.

After a year and a half working at Phoenix Technologies, I am out here again to find a position that can use my skills and success. The company has been making some changes over the past few months and with the new focus of the business moving back to Core System Software, the application sales group was being removed. I made it through the last set of major lay-offs, but selling BIOS is not in my career plans.

It has been a pleasure to work at Phoenix Technologies. Their pressure cooker environment pushed me to grow professionally very quickly. I started as an inside sales guy that pounded the phones calling DMR accounts selling the applications and quickly was working with and managing the north west territory accounts that would buy through resellers, distribution or direct. All three models are sales worlds within themselves and because of the sink or swim environment, I adapted quickly and very well I might add. I have always tried to be the employee that raised the standard and exceeded expectations. I can thank the Army for that trait. The managers I have worked with have been some of the best I have known. Each of them great coaches that inspired me to do better. Application sales grew, all my accounts knew who I was. How easy is it for someone to forget who I am, when there is a bobble head sitting on your desk with my ugly mug and a regular communication being sent to you? In the end, revenue was not where Wall Street wanted it and the new CEO had to make some changes.

But I digress. With the company focus moving away from enterprise software I knew it was just a matter of time before my position was no longer needed. I got the news after lunch today from my boss Eric. He stopped by my desk and broke it as gently as he could. I think he felt worse than I did. It can’t be very easy for a manager who has been working closely with his people to let any of them go. To his credit, he did what a great leader does and owned it, letting me know as soon as he could. The company is keeping me on until the end of the month. I am glad they didn’t wait until Oct. 31. to let me know. At least now I can start the search with a small buffer of time working for me. I have a chance to look for a position that I want and not having to take the first one available because I need to feed my family. Eric has been very helpful and given me some of his friends names and contact information that may have positions open. But I’ll need to do a lot of searching on my own.

The major job boards like www.monster.com or www.hotjobs.com will be my homepages for the next few weeks. Since so many people look at this site, I figured you may know of a place looking for a superstar or maybe your company is hiring sales people and you could let me know. My next post will be a little more clear on what I am looking for, but now I just feel desperate and need to get this out.

Safe Harbor Statement: With the exception of historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. This is just a post from me. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon my little knowledge of the subject. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements are discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

****In other words, don’t read too much into this!!

koka@kokasexton.com

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