You Can Make Getting Fired the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You
You may even want to fire yourself
There’s a huge, gargantuan, and mega solution in life for all of us in this quote.
“Getting Fired Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.”
Ever heard anyone say that? Ever say that yourself?
I have heard it many times. In a way, I’ve said it myself.
There is a lesson behind this quote to have the life and career you want, need, and deserve.
It can be even better if we have the courage and awareness to fire ourselves.
Taking control rather than being controlled
No doubt about it, being fired and deciding to “fire” yourself from a job, career, situation, relationship or other things is hard.
Being fired from a job is invalidating and scary.
Yet, it can be the best thing that ever happened to you.
In her #Unf*ckwithable newsletter, Amani Said Ph.D. writes, “We often KNOW what we truly want, but it is the clouds of doubts and fears that keep us stuck in confusion.
“Getting fired, forced me out of that cloud and got me onto my true path. Which I knew all along by the way but was simply too afraid to take the leap.”
So, what about taking the leap yourself?
Firing yourself from something can also be scary, but it can be extremely validating and freeing sending you along a better life path.
Lifequakes
In his upcoming book (May 2024 release) The Art of Pivoting to Purpose: A Blueprint For Total Well-being In An Era of Longevity, Marc Michaelson coins the term “Lifequakes” to describe seismic shifts in our life such as being fired (or firing yourself).
“These moments of profound change, whether triggered by personal losses, career setbacks, health issues, or global events, can feel overwhelming,” says Marc.
“However, the silver lining is that they also provide opportunities for deep introspection and reinvention.
“Life crises compel us to confront our vulnerabilities and question the paths we’ve taken.
“This introspection can be painful, yet it often results in a clearer understanding of our desires, goals, and values.
“It’s the reimagining and reshaping of our journey in a direction that aligns more closely with our redefined purpose.”
Embracing this saved my life
My wife thought my job was going to kill me.
Granted, creating producing, and directing car reveals, big product launch videos, and major events for the auto industry is extremely demanding and very high pressure.
But what was really killing me was my former friend and collaborator who was now my boss in a boutique firm I initially launched with him.
Gaslighting, sabotage, and lies.
And it was getting worse.
One morning he who shall not be named walked into my office, and told me he had to lay off two people but instead offered me a package to just lay me off.
“I’ll take it”. He walked out and then I walked out all in five minutes.
This was the first step in a major life change that has led to me being the best me ever and a better life.
It was scary at first. I was in a dark hole with a lot of financial and family responsibilities pounding away at me. My doctor said I had PTSD.
Whether it was me, God, the universe or whatever, I got in a flow. A totally new flow.
I took control of myself and my life. Who I am, what I do, and how I be.
To Marc’s point, I reimagined and reshaped my journey in a direction that aligned more closely with a redefined purpose.
I gained clarity.
I started taking 10,000 baby steps to better my health and began reassessing myself, and my purpose and pursuing my own spiritual path.
I still did what I did professionally but did it in ways that were better for me and, despite the recession enabled me to provide for my family.
But while I was providing in better ways, I also started the process of finding a new way forward for my life.
I looked to the future, and determined what was best for me in my “olderhood”.
What could I do to be fulfilled, relevant, and purposeful while earning a living, being healthy, and loving it so much that I would eventually fire myself from my current path?
My new way forward became a New Way Forward.
I recently fired myself from my business to pursue my new way forward and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
This is great, Paul. However…
Yes. There is a “However” to this.
What if I had fired myself from that toxic job before I hit extreme misery?
I coulda, shoulda, woulda if I had known what I know now that I am sharing with you.
What if you could do the same with your whatever?
You can probably give me an impressive and legitimate list of why you can’t fire yourself from whatever.
Yet, I argue you can come up with an impressive and legitimate list for firing yourself now. Such as:
- Making a better life for yourself.
- Being who you truly are and having what you truly want and need.
- While it will be hard to do, it will be harder to live with the misery of your current situation.
- You have one pass at this life, don’t waste it.
- If not now, when? (and don’t assume there’s a better “when” because there probably isn’t).
- You can use your golden handcuffs to support you while you pick the lock.
- You will be happier, healthier, and maybe even richer.
- (Come up with your own reasons).
The concept of firing myself also helped prevent me from considering a path that I knew I would someday want to fire myself from.
Consider this for yourself — I dare you
As Michaelson says, “rewriting the script to new definitions becomes a Kickstarter for your life pivot.”
Here’s what I wish I had done, and I strongly recommend you do:
Give this some thought. Step back and look at what you’re doing versus what you really want.
Consider the potential return on investment of firing yourself from the thing that deserves leaving. The benefits and payoff from the challenges that will occur.
When you start thinking about it…
When you start looking at things from a different angle…
When you start focusing on what you truly want…
When you connect with what your standards and values are…
Then you reprogram your brain, you get emotionally excited and you get your chance to find a new way forward in your life that you will thank yourself for.
It’s the Great Rethink
In a Forbes article, Sara Bliss profiled three people who were fired and yet consider it the best thing that ever happened to them.
Not that it was easy by any stretch. It was really hard. But it was really worth it for them.
“It taught me not to be afraid, to be courageous, and that the human spirit can be resilient in every situation. If you are open to these changes, you will be amazed where life takes you.” — Will Day
“I believe the job elimination liberated me from the box others and I had caged myself in.” — Dawn Kelly
“There are points in life when we just have to embrace change and see where it takes you.” — K.C. Kavanagh
Getting fired can be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Firing yourself from your job or your current life could be even better.
Looking for a New Way Forward in your life? You can get my free “Launch Yourself Get Started Guide” by going to www.NewWayFWD.com.