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.
Jules Herrmann
After being laid off from my corporate job, I knew it was time to prioritize my happiness. While living in San Francisco, I went back to school to study Esthetics, and later moved to Austin to be closer to my family. In Austin, I worked in another corporate role, but was laid off again. Initially, I was in shock, but then I decided to focus on something that was truly for me. That’s when I took the leap to open my own small Esthetics business. I rented a room at a salon and started with just $500, unsure of how I’d make it work, but determined to succeed. Twelve years later, I still run that same business, now evolved into a Med-Spa. Read more>>
Celeste Grajeda-rojas
In December of 2022 I was 7 months out of college, working a 9-5 wfh job and bartending on the weekends. The following month I was fired from my bartending job and evicted from home. I knew I never wanted to give any employer another chance to put me in such a vulnerable position again and that’s how my business, Tipce, was born. I overcame the shame of losing my job by taking back control and taking a chance on myself using all the money I had to start a business. Read more>>
Patience Ojionuka
So maybe my example won’t be the greatest because it was probably what some would call divine timing. Just a month before I got laid off, I got accepted into a PhD program, which was something I had been trying to do for years. I spent weeks mulling over how I was going to balance keeping my job which would’ve helped supplement my income during the program. Then not too long later was laid off altogether. It completely removed the agony of having to make a decision myself, ahah! Looking back, it was truly, truly for the best. Read more>>
Kate Hammaren
Being made redundant was the worst thing that could happen at the time, but actually the best thing that could have happened in the long run! I was in my early 30s, had bought my first flat and bang! The company I worked for went bust. It was terrible timing for me, having just signed up for my first mortgage – the fear was real and my confidence was knocked. I didn’t want to start the whole job hunting process, it all seemed so overwhelming and unexciting, so I signed up as a temp for a few months just to tide myself over. But motivation to sort something more permanent was seriously low. I knew I wanted to remain as a writer and editor, and that was about it. However, once I’d got over the initial shock and was becoming seriously bored with the temp jobs, I began to realise that this was actually the perfect opportunity to intentionally take time out from my career and do the one thing I’d never had the chance to do: travel the world solo! Read more>>
Derek Terry
I was working for a moving company for almost 20 years. I was a dedicated employee with aspirations of climbing the ladder, but realized that company really didn’t care in the ways they claimed. After being passed over for a few opportunities I started dreaming of being my own boss. I had always wondered if I could actually take that leap into self employment, but was insecure and full of doubts. It was a week or so before Christmas that I was approached by a supervisor that I was being let go. I had begun to resent that dead end job, but was still hurt from all those years of dedication. The job market was a nightmare trying to start fresh at 40. It was after months of trying to find employment that my Fiance gave me the confidence to dive in to trying my own thing. Read more>>
Kajohnae Josaphat
Getting fired is never easy, especially when you know the termination was unfair. However, when I was let go from Target, I felt an unexpected sense of relief. It was as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Rather than wallow in disappointment, I took a step back and reflected on the situation.
I remembered the prayers I had whispered for years—the prayers to become my own boss, to create my own hours, to achieve financial stability, and to work without being micromanaged. Suddenly, it became clear: perhaps losing my job was not a failure, but the push I needed to pursue what I had been asking for. Read more>>
Je’laune Strong
For many people that have never gone through a divorce, it could very well seem like divorce is the effortless way out. I found divorce to be quite the opposite. It was like a death of a dream that was supposed to last a lifetime. I went into marriage looking for a forever partnership, but there were some issues that came up in the marriage that required intense healing and relearning of ourselves as individuals and as a couple. Unfortunately, we found that we did see ourselves going in the same direction in marriage because our individual directions did not align. That is not an easy reality to face after you have already taken on a new life together. Read more>>
