“Even when I’m a mess, I still put on a vest, with an S on my chest.” 🦸🏾♀️~Alicia Keys
A few things helping me navigate this unexpected chapter. (#451)
A few weeks ago, I joined a club I haven’t had to deal with for several years… the recently laid-off club.
Definitely not my favorite club, but I will say, the people have been pretty great. 💞
After getting the news, I immediately went into super practical mode:
Filed for unemployment
Updated my resume and LinkedIn
Shared what I was looking for next with my network
Applied to defer my student loan payments
Squeezed in medical, dental, and vision appointments before my health insurance ended.
Talked with my doctors about prescriptions and ways to save money. (My PCP recommended a few resources, including this one.)
And yes, I also got new glasses…
—
Now, none of those things found me a new job. But they did give me something I really needed in those first few days: momentum.
Because when something like this happens, it’s easy to get stuck thinking about all the things you can’t control.
The economy.
The job market. (It’s rough out here!)
Other people’s decisions.
How long something will take. (I keep hearing 6-12 months at a minimum.)
Whether it’ll all work out.
And while those things matter, it’s been much more helpful for me to focus on what I can control.
Or, as I often tell my readers:
What’s one thing you can do today?
And then the next thing. And the next.
This week, it was figuring out how to pay my rent while I wait for unemployment to kick in. So I finally dusted off Flex, a service that lets you split your rent into two payments.
I’ve had it in my back pocket for years.
This month, I needed it.
I’ve also put my StretchLab membership on hold for now. 🥺
But dance stays. 💃🏾
It’s non-negotiable for me. Because while I’m looking for a job and needing to be ruthless about money right now, I’m still a person.
A person who likes to move.
A person who likes to laugh.
A person who deserves joy, even in uncertain seasons.
Especially in uncertain seasons.
So that’s where I am right now.
One practical step at a time.
One day at a time.
Trusting that the next chapter will eventually reveal itself.
—
💬 Over to you: If you’ve been through a layoff, career transition, or unexpected life change, what’s one thing that helped you?
I’d love to hear your advice, resources, or lessons learned.
On to the picks! ✨
P.S. If you hear of any opportunities for Engagement Manager, Implementation Manager, Customer Success Manager, or similar roles, I'd appreciate it if you kept me in mind. 💞
P.P.S. I’ve got a little more space for curiosity these days. What’s something you’re working on or trying to figure out?
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Definitely calling and letting companies I owe, I was not employed. That took away so much pressure to be able to temporarily lower cost of things like my car note and insurance.