Planning to attend your reunion?

Nope, not that one... your business reunion.

So there I am on the subway, and I bump into someone from highschool... I draw a blank...I know the face, just not the name. She knows my name.. and I apologize that it's been a decade since I graduated from highschool, and that I couldn't recall her name...

Not my point, but somewhat appropriate considering my train of thought today. Does your company have an Alumni Association? Yes, the company that you work for now, or have worked for in the past. What a great concept (I'm not claiming to have invented it, but I am an advocate)!! Who better to use as an inexpensive, objective third party to gain feedback on upcoming initiatives. Or who better to contact when you are re-hiring en masse! People who already know a significant amount about your business, and its culture.

Don't burn bridges, build them. Get the contact information for as many of your ex-employees as you can. Contact them, keep them in your circle of friends. Plan a reunion.