Getting Laid off Isn’t a Horrible Thing
Because the ripple effect is positive and motivating
It looked dismal at first. Getting laid off kicked my ass financially, but it also turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened!
It completely derailed my retirement plan, and my perceived ‘big shot’ identity seemed to melt away overnight, not to mention my 6 figure income.
Desperate and lost, I didn’t have a clue what I’d do next.
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
— Alexander Graham Bell
Because of the reality of our current circumstances, you may have found yourself out of a job or possibly considering early retirement. Like the rest of us, you’re also wondering how to recover and move forward.
My hope here is to inspire you by sharing my experience with a similar situation when the economy crashed back in 2008.
Many people got walloped the last time the economy dumped like this. After thirty +years in the corporate world and at the height of my career, I was laid off on Nov 8th, 2008.
It was a quick and dirty phone call right before the holidays. There was no fanfare, no goodbyes, and no pension. I packed up my corner office and backed out of my private parking spot — never to return.
I was too angry to cry, but disheartened tears did surface later…
Have you worked hard for a long time to find yourself here?
I know some of you are facing this right now — temporary or not, it’s scary!
It rocked my world and gave me a much deeper understanding of what the phrase ‘you’re just a number’ means. Had those last 15 years of hard work and loyal dedication been for nothing?
After a couple of months of job searching, I realized I had an even bigger problem.
The level of employment I was looking for also required degrees, and I didn’t have one. I’d made my way to that corner office through hard work, sweat, tears, and dedication.
When I applied for jobs that didn’t require a degree, my job experience disqualified me because I was overqualified!
It was a classic catch-22, and it was all very depressing.
Take a Step Back to Regroup
Part of this process is looking at the bigger picture instead of just diving into another job blindly out of desperation.
Times have changed radically, and surviving financially means adapting to those changes or find yourself struggling. Temporary government handouts or not, this pandemic has crushed jobs and incomes for many people and has left them wondering how to survive.
It has become even more imperative in the last ten years that we find a way to create streams of passive income if we plan to thrive, let alone retire.
It’s especially critical for us Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) as we have been reaching and continue to reach retirement age at a frantic pace.
We’re also facing our retirement years with some (or most) of the following:
- loads of financial stress
- depleted savings
- a mortgage (wasn’t that supposed to be paid off by now?)
- divorced at a late age (so you own half of what you had)
- hours cut back at work, jobs outsourced and replaced by technology
- being laid off just before you retire (you know they timed that just right)
- kids are gone — but parents are moving in (yikes)
- health issues (no f**king wonder) — right?
Another massive setback like this can be devastating, especially if you still haven’t fully recovered from 2008.
The Positives of Being Forced Home
You’ve slowed down and tuned in to the life you’ve been working so hard for but have no time to enjoy.
I realized that I had no balance in my life. I just rushed from one obligation to the next. Once the shock of my layoff wore off, I started noticing things I’d been missing.
- I took my beloved dogs for walks in the sunshine instead of locking them in their kennels all day, lifting an immense amount of guilt from my shoulders.
- I noticed the birds chirping as I sipped my coffee by the pool instead of chugging it down as I rushed out the door every day. I woke up earlier each morning (without my alarm clock) and amazingly felt more rested.
- I looked forward to each new day instead of dreading the inevitable stress awaited me at the office.
It didn’t take long for those revelations to sink in.
Invest in YOURself Instead of Another Job.
I knew if I worked half as hard at my own business as I did for the Fortune 500 Company that laid me off, I couldn’t help but succeed.
Decide to look at your situation from a completely different perspective. Instead of feeling like a victim of circumstance, embrace your freedom.
The bright side of having zero options is that you can head in any direction you choose and set your own parameters.
So why not take this opportunity to recreate yourself and build the freedom lifestyle you’ve been dreaming of for years.
That’s what I decided to do, and the driving force behind my decision was that I wanted to be in charge of my destiny.
Ten years ago, that was a revelation for me.
Today it’s prevalent, and there are swarms of people taking advantage of legit opportunities to work remotely.
Take a look at some of the great options that have presented themselves instead of mumbling things like “I’m too old for this” or worse, throwing pity parties, succumbing to our fears, and drinking so much red wine our tongues are permanently purple.
Yes! I’ve done that too.
”If you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you’ll work until you die.” ~Warren Buffet~
Fast Forward Ten Years…
I’m 59 now, with a whole new set of current and valuable online skills.
But I also tapped into the skillset I’d developed over the past 30 years.
Yeah! It didn’t go to waste.
I joined 2 Network Marketing Companies and had moderate success in both. Through that experience, I also met some of the most intelligent, fun, uplifting and like-minded people ever.
My new skill set has allowed me to build and launch my website and has resulted in multiple passive income streams. I’ve also written and published a book — a fantastic and healing experience!
I work happily from home on things I’m passionate about, and I’ve never gone back to a 9 to 5! The reality; I worked hard to get here, and there were times I wanted to quit.
But I’m in control of my situation and how I spend my days. My schedule hasn’t been disrupted by the pandemic much at all, nor has my income, and I can’t ever be laid off. In fact, with everyone home and spending more time online, it’s an excellent time to reach more people and make more money.
If you’re facing a layoff or depleted savings, know that it can also be a great time to step back, weigh your options and tune in to what matters in your life.
Massive disruptions in our daily lives always generate change.
And as light disrupts darkness and chemo disrupts cancer cells, this disruption has also had positive outcomes.
There is no doubt in my mind that good things will come to us through this crisis. Will you be one of the few that can find positive change?
If you want more detailed ideas about what’s available online to supplement or replace your income, I’ve outlined 5 valid (doable) ways that I’ve researched and had personal experience with.
I’m Liz, the self-empowered, red wine & coffee lovin’, personal growth fanatic behind this article. I’ve stopped shrinking into places I’ve outgrown, and I’m a fan of straight talk and practical solutions. That’s why I’m here to Empower, Educate and Entertain.
