Boss: “We’ve decided to transition you out of your role…”
Me: “Oh – um, ok.”
Boss: “…and transition you out of the firm…”
Me: “Wait – what? Am I being fired?”
Boss: “No, no, no. Not at all. We want to think of it as a transition.”
In my spinning head I kept thinking: “Stop saying transition.” But, phrase it how you want, at some point they were taking my keys, deleting my Outlook account, and canceling my payroll deposits. I was losing my job.
Most of us will have a similar experience at least one time in our careers. It can be extremely difficult to go through, but here are some ways to deal with it.
1) Get in touch with your emotions. Be angry, be humiliated, be sad, be depressed. Take some time to feel sorry for yourself. Talk through it with someone, and own the parts that were truly your fault. Always exit on good terms, with your integrity intact, and don’t burn any bridges, because you never know what the future will bring.
And then, get up off of your butt and get moving.
2) Take stock of your financial situation. In my case, we were out of debt, except for a small mortgage payment. We had nearly $20,000 set aside for emergencies. This money didn’t just appear. We built it up over time (thanks, Dave Ramsey!). You must be constantly looking ahead to 5-10 years down the road.
We cut our budget to the bone and pushed forward.
3) Figure out what you really want to do when you grow up. For me, I read books, took personality profile tests, and spoke to many people. I joined an online community to help me discover my passion, and not just look for and accept another J-O-B. Everything was on the table. This process can simply be a first step toward something new, a testing of the waters. You will never know until you try.
4) Make sure your important relationships get extra attention. My wife and I spoke more about our work lives, what we wanted to teach our kids, and some as-yet hidden frustrations during this time than ever before. She helped me through the process, encouraged me at the right times, and was not hesitant to tell me if an idea sounded “crazy, even for you”. Lot’s of hugs, kisses, and eye-rolling (her).
5) Move forward. Get up in the morning. Shower, shave, and brush your teeth. Get fully dressed. Help get the kids off to school. Then, begin working on you. If you want to work for another company, great. There are many resources out there. If you want to start a business (or a few), then get moving. Nothing moves unless it is pushed. No one owes you anything, except what you earn. Hustle wins every time.
6) Don’t give up. If you start a small business, give yourself a year to make it work. Some things take time to build traction. Keep pushing. Don’t spend more than you make. Don’t borrow money.
If you want to work for a company, pick a few out and stalk them. I’m not kidding. Find someone working there and make them your best friend. Even if you don’t get a job there, you’ve made a new friend!
Let’s hear from you. Leave a comment with your firing stories, and how you dealt with it.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.