After being laid off you may experience feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, and confusion; whether you see the writing on the wall or the news hits you out of left field, the news can be jarring. This global pandemic has had a significant effect on businesses all over the world. Companies have gone out of business or scaled-down; meaning, many people the world over have lost their jobs. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone and it’s going to be ok. Remember a lay-off is not about you or your performance, there’s nothing you could have done to change the outcome.

“I was trying to keep the company happy; it wasn’t enough.”

“Never again will I work for anyone else and allow them to dictate my future.”

“I never want another woman to be in a position of desperation because of somebody else.”

Yes, those are all my own words. In a recent YouTube video, I share my story and even spill a little tea about my recent lay-off. The bottom line is this; don’t let someone else dictate your future. Not a family member, not a man, and certainly not a company that clearly doesn’t care about you. If you’ve lost your job to downsizing, here are the 5 things you need to do after being laid off.

1. It’s ok to cry it out after being laid off

A lay-off can come as a shock, even if you’re totally expecting it. I knew the moment I logged on to that ‘conference call’ what I was in for, so while I was mentally prepared for the most part, emotions took hold. I was sad, frustrated, and of course angry with how the news was handled and delivered. We can’t fault businesses for doing what they need to do to protect their bottom line, but when we put our heart and soul into our work and pour everything we have into a company that doesn’t respect us enough to give us a heads up on what might be going down, it just hits differently.

It’s ok to take time out to be in your feelings about the entire situation. Be mad, cry, journal it out and let yourself feel all the emotions. Once you move through the initial stages and shock after being laid off, allow yourself to fully process your feelings, you’ll be better prepared to move on and build a new life for yourself.

2. Find a support system that will have your back

There’s something about having someone in your corner cheering you on and letting you ugly cry in front of them. We all need a reliable support system that we can lean on when we’re struggling. Whether that means commiserating with you and your plight or yes, sometimes even telling you, ok, it’s time to suck it up, buttercup, and keep it moving.

Of course, this is easier said than done. In the last several decades, we’ve lost our sense of community. There’s no longer a village to step in and help out when necessary. This is no fault of our own of course. Many of us still crave this type of connection. It’s just that in this changing world where many of us don’t even know our neighbors anymore, our priorities have gotten a bit skewed.

If you struggle to find a support system or people to help cheer you on and keep you aligned with your goals, know that there’s always someone out there to help. My number one priority as a coach is to help women build a backup strategy so that after being laid or experiencing a loss of income, they have the tools, resources, and confidence necessary to launch their own business. If this sounds appealing, be sure to book your free discovery call with me and I’ll help you take those first baby steps toward financial independence.

3. After being laid off get clear on the things you love

Before you became a wife, mother, or professional, you had dreams, goals, and aspirations. Parenting and keeping a home are aspirational of course, please don’t misunderstand – every woman, regardless of the lifestyle they lead, takes on far more than one person can handle. It’s just our nature. But, think back to what you loved to do before you became all of these ‘things’ to other people. Who were you then? Did you love nature photography, was cake decorating your go-to activity, are you an amazing singer?

Think about what you enjoy doing now. What types of things do you love, what brings you the most joy. Do you have a passion project that inspires you to get up and continue on every single day? Figure out what it is that truly resonates with your soul. What is God telling you right now?  Figure out what your strengths are and let’s work together to find a way for you to monetize your passions. The online world is a vast place, so while you think that the market for your interests may be oversaturated, remember, no one does it like you. Your experiences, background, and personality all make your way of doing things unique. You bring more to the table than you realize – book a call with me and let me show you!

4. Determine YOUR why

Getting clear on the things you love and figuring out how to go about making money doing what you love is one thing but sustaining the energy and excitement you have about your new venture is something else entirely. The key to longevity is not only making sure what you are doing aligns on a deep and personal level, but also that you know exactly why you’re doing it, to begin with.

I learned long ago that having a backup plan and exit strategy was key. This most recent lay-off was not my first rodeo; I’d been laid off in my fickle industry four times. Yes, you read that right, four times. After that first experience, I knew I wouldn’t allow someone else to dictate my income or finances. That was MY why. After being laid off once, you tend to look at things differently.

Figure out why you want to run your own business or monetize your passion project. It could be that youwant to be home for your children or you feel you may soon find yourself in a caregiving role and need the flexibility that business ownership allows. Get clear on why you need your business to flourish, how it will help you and your family, and put it on a vision board where you can see it and be inspired by it every single day.

5. Find your people

So you know the what and the why, all that’s left is the how. This is where a business coach who has been there can help. You do not need to reinvent the wheel here. Find a mentor or join a mastermind group and learn from others who are doing what you want to do. Motivational speaker, Jim Rohn said it best, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”  Surround yourself with like-minded people who will encourage you; people you can bounce ideas off of and collaborate with.

My goal as a coach is to help women like you who have either been laid off or can’t bear their 9-5 job another minute and need something to look forward to. If you’re having difficulty finding people whose values resonate and align with your own, let’s chat and begin working on building a future where you’re the main character, excelling and thriving, despite what life or any random company throws at you.