Downsized…Now What?! 2

So, when you walk out the doors of your former job…what do you do? For me it’s calling on my brain trust. I drove up the street, pulled over and pulled out the cell phone. They are the six people I reach out to for professional guidance, friendship, support, love and coaching. Everyone needs a brain trust. Do you have a handful of individuals in your field and in your personal life you can count on? People that are for you through everything…the good and the bad. People that give it to you straight with no chaser? Please develop relationships with people that can assist you in your career and in life. I treasure my relationship with each of them. They are my rock in this crazy industry.

The first person of my brain trust is my husband. How was I going to let him know we had been hit not once but twice by the economy. Just a week prior he was laid off from his job after 7 years and four months. When he came home after being laid off he was totally upbeat. He came in, put the blue envelop on the chair and said, “I’ve been laid off…I’m fine…and I’m headed to the patio to have a cigar. I needed a break. It’s time to celebrate”. WHAT?! I was waiting for the blow up that never happened. Now with my fate …how would he take it the second time? “Really”…the only word that came out of his mouth. After a few seconds, which seemed like an entire commercial break he said, “Just come home and we will talk about it. Everything will be fine. It may be time to go”. Cool! He took the news well. But I’m sure my mother who was sitting next to him wasn’t so cool. Naw, I can’t go home yet. I need more time to digest the situation so I can go home and deal with a mother’s love and concern.

I sat in my car dialing away and every call went to voicemail. You gotta be kidding me. Not now! I have some serious stuff to talk about and I can’t get through to anyone. Was it my phone? “Dang, T-Mobile work with me”. Now I start talking to my phone. OK, I’m really about to lose it. With the next few calls I started getting through to everyone. As I broke them the news, I kept hearing the same thing. “Really”? “Not You”. Here’s the kicker…they all said something like… you will have a new job in know time, just be positive. Start thinking and attracting the job you want. Go back to grad school. Get ready. Everything will work out. I was already in a good place about things this just make the situation feel a whole lot better.

Then one shared this with me, the best advise of the day. I would like to share with you. When you are moved out of a situation take time to be still. Be quiet. The good Lord has something to tell you. If you keep moving and worrying about what you are going to do next you won’t hear what he has to say. “Karen, be still”. Don’t think about radio for the next three weeks. Do nothing.

Have you been moving so fast on your job or worrying about the job you lost; that you haven’t taken the time to sit still? Image being still like a flower growing quietly in a garden. I know it’s the hardest thing to do. It was hard for me too. Just sit quietly and let positive thoughts come into your mind. Don’t worry about the bills, don’t stress about the kids, don’t think about updating your resume. Just be quiet.

As I wrapped up my last conversation…we are going on two an a half hours later. I was ready to be quiet and still. Well, until I hit the door at home with my mother waiting for me like I missed curfew. No more talking about the former job, no more career strategy sessions, no more calling everyone back telling them it was true. It was time to do nothing. During my drive home I turned on XM and listened to some straight up jazz. With the movement of the rhythm I got lost in the music. OK, so I’m not totally doing nothing. I told you it was hard. But I did zone out enough to hear my inner voice say, “You are loved, get ready for the next chapter. It’s coming sooner than you think”.

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Category: Karen Today