Losing your job is painful and unfortunately the current economic conditions have led to many layoffs and firings in companies large and small. However, we’ve learned though thousands of interviews over the years that job loss is one of the most common catalysts for massive life improvement. Below, we’ve shared stories and perspectives from some very successful members of the community around how they dealt with job loss.
Dr. Omai Kofi
I thought I was selected as the permanent poster child for lay-offs. Matter of fact, I knew it. I found myself talking to unemployment way too much for my taste, it was almost like a dependency. I was embarrassed, ashamed and started to think something was wrong with me. 5 years total on unemployment benefits, welfare was too much to bare. Knowing I came from 3 generations of welfare recipients and me taking us into the fourth wasn’t a game I was willing to continue to play. Read more>>
Adrienne Horn
When I was laid off in 2016, I was scared for my life. I had just moved into a brand-new townhouse and had a helpless one-year-old to take care of and a Christmas to plan. I had no one to turn to, but God, and He just didn’t seem to move fast enough. There was no Plan B. I lost my paycheck, my health insurance, and my 401K. It was sudden and completely unexpected. It would have been so much easier if I had been allowed to continue my desired path to career advancement. It was comfortable and familiar. However, if I had not experienced such a terrible time in my life, I may not have ever discovered all that I was capable of. Read more>>
Kayak Speller
Being someone that can be part of the victim narrative is overwhelming. Even to this day when you take your official leave of absence. My original thought that can be easily mistaken as common. Being fired is an easy task since I already felt that i wasn’t “welcome”. The way I’ve overcome the issue is by focusing on the financing for each project. Read more>>
Katie Laster
I’m an esthetician and own my own business because I was laid off. Sometimes, the best thing can come out of the worst situation. I was a few months short of turning 30 and working at a startup company. Despite me actually enjoying this job, my coworkers and boss, it was still just another job that I knew was not going to last more than a few years. My boss told me they lost funding for my position and I was given my paycheck and some severance and that was it. Here I was, nearly 30, jobless again. I could go get another job that would last me a few years, or I could finally go to school to become an esthetician. Read more>>
