Laid Off? Today Is A Brand New Day

Guest blog post

Laid Off? Today Is A Brand New Day
Copyright (c) 2008 Deborah Brown-Volkman
Surpass Your Dreams, Inc.
http://www.surpassyourdreams.com/



A sudden job loss can be very unsettling, and it makes a person
look inside in order to get perspective on their situation.

I was a person that was laid off too a few years back, so I know
what it is like to not have a job to go to.

I feel fortunate, though, that I was building my coaching
practice while working full time. Because of that, I was able to
transition into coaching full time. But still, not seeing the
same faces everyday, having deadlines, and an office to go to,
took some getting used to.

The best thing about that experience is I had the opportunity to
create whatever I wanted with my future. I could coach full-time.
I could go into consulting. I could freelance. Whichever way I
chose, I knew that it was the start of a new adventure.

For me, the job loss was a blessing; and it can be a blessing for
you. Yes, you will worry about how you will pay the bills, if you
will get another job, and when the new job will come. You will
also have the opportunity to spend more time with your family,
friends, and yourself. You will have time to do all the things
you wished you had time for when you were working. You can go to
the gym, get outside more, and use the time to reevaluate your
life and your career. (Yes, this is a good thing.)

So How Do You Make Peace With What Just Happened To You And
Create A New Future? I Have 7 Tips For You:

1. Recognize That Losing Your Job Was Not Your Fault

Yes, there is some relief knowing that the inevitable has finally
happened vs. the waiting to see if you will go next. But there is
still a little part deep inside you that wonders if it was your
fault. Maybe if you worked harder, then this would not have
happened. Maybe if you worked weekends, evenings, etc, it would
have been some else that was cut. Maybe if you participated in
office polices more, you would still have a job. All these
thoughts drain your energy and take away from the contributions
you made when you were there. Your company was not doing well.
They had to cut costs, and you were one of the people they cut.
This is all there is to it. Period. Stop making it mean something
more.

2. Decide What's Important To You

You probably have put YOU on hold for years as you have been
spending all your time figuring out how to mold yourself to be
someone else. You worried about what your boss thought of you,
what his or her boss thought of you, and what your co-workers
thought of you. You spent many evenings trying to calm down or
figure out what to do with a co-worker or boss that was driving
you crazy. All of this is gone (if only temporarily) and now you
get to decide what is important to you. What makes you happy?
What gets you excited? These are questions that you can answer
because you have been given the gift of time to do so.

3. Recognize That The Time Off Is A Blessing

Things in life happen for a reason. There was some purpose for
you to stop and reassess how you have been living your life at
this point. Why do you think this happened now? Were you working
too hard? Were you neglecting yourself? Was your family screaming
for you to spend more time with them? Now is the time to see if
your former lifestyle will fit your future one. Use the time
wisely because an opportunity like this one may never come again.

4. Decide What You Will Do Next:

Will you stay in the same career? Will you do something
different? Will you start your own business? Or, will you decide
to scale down your lifestyle so you can stretch out the time
before you go back to work? There is no right or wrong choice,
only what calls to you. Trust your instinct. The answer is inside
you. It is up to you if you will take the time to listen.

5. Put An Action Plan In Place:

Now that you have free time, how will you make it as productive
as it can be? How many resumes will you send out each week? How
many hours each day will you spend searching for jobs online and
in the paper? How may people will you talk to, and how e-mail's
will you send out? Your job search does not have to consume you,
but having a daily plan, will keep you from sitting in front of
the TV saying "I really should be looking for another job."

6. Get Support:

Enlist the help of a friend, spouse, coach, colleague, etc.
Someone who will listen and support you through this transitional
period in your life. Looking for a job can be frustrating, time
consuming, and disappointing. Remember that you do not have to do
it alone.

7. Reward Yourself:

Yes, the final reward is finding a new job, but there are
milestones that can be rewarded along the way. Sent your resume
to five employers? Reward. Went on one job interview this week?
Reward. When you look back, you will know that you are not the
same person you were before this happened. And, you will smile to
yourself because you know that this is a good thing.

So what do you say? You only have one life to live so it might as
well be one you love!




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Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, noted career coach, and best-selling
author of several career and business books works with Senior
Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for
new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in
their current role. Do You Dread Going To Work On Monday Morning?
Visit http://www.surpassyourdreams.com to discover Deborah’s
complimentary career action tips for making Monday the best
day of the week.


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