Rise Up

Rise Up

"What defines us is how well we rise after we fall." - Zig Ziglar

Life is filled with bumps and stumbles. Many of these are minor annoyances, like fender benders, that don't set us back too seriously.

Others however can be quite large and significant. Some, like job loss, can seem like a real disaster, where we not only lose a paycheck, but we may also lose our own sense of self-worth.

Thinking about the process of recovery from job loss, I have asked myself, What does it take to bounce back?

Some years back, executive coach Dr Margie Warrell came up with seven great tips. She said:

  • Focus on the future
  • Don’t let job loss define you
  • Take care of yourself
  • Be with positive people
  • Tap into your network
  • Your job now is to find your next job
  • Do good for others

Three more tips come from Charles Pixley, the downsized Wall Street guy who turned his resume into a sandwich board in 2008. Because of his audacity, the media asked him what he would say to others. Pixley said:

  • Believe in yourself
  • Improve yourself
  • Put yourself out there

In a job search support group meeting, I had a group of transitioners put their heads together to come up with even more recommendations.?Here are some of their lessons learned about "rising up" after job loss:

  • Stay positive/Cultivate a positive attitude
  • Strategize: Set a course toward the future
  • Cut loose the bonds keeping you stuck in the past
  • Exercise and take care of your self
  • Good nutrition
  • Get input and support from friends
  • Grow and mine your network

Having personally experienced job loss a number of times in my career, I can attest to the value of all of these ideas. Truly, the loss of a job is not only a major life event, but an epic learning opportunity.

The Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung once said, "Where you stumble and fall, there you will find pure gold."

About the author: Terry Seamon has experienced job loss many times. One of the lessons learned is that "job loss does not define you." Rather, as the great Zig Ziglar once said, "What defines us is how well we rise up after we fall."

An earlier version of this article appeared in 2016.

?? I'm Terry Seamon, creative & collaborative career transition coach. Let me know how I can help you navigate to your goals.

?? I post frequently about job search, careers, leadership, and more. Follow me for practical and inspiring content.

Frank Powers, PMP MBA

Technology Leader | Cross Functional Leadership | Fractional Consulting | Chief of Staff | Enterprise Application Development & Support | Digital Transformation | Client Relationship Management | Program Management

3 个月

Terrence H. Seamon, I really like this post. It is chock full of great advice. Having been impacted more than once, I would add, to give yourself a little time and grace to reflect, recover and set your vision for your next chapter. You need a roadmap to get where you want to go. PS - You had me by starting with a Zig Ziglar quote.

Paul Cecala, GCDF - Certified Career Coach

Career Coach | Expert Job Search Strategist & Tactician | Career Counselor | Corporate Trainer | Speaker | Expert in Resume Writing + Networking + Interviewing | Author of best-selling "Take Control of Your Job Search"

3 个月

There are a few people - trusted mentors especially, whom I call after a setback. They always seem to know how to help me get back on the proverbial horse and steer me to a quick success. In another example ... I remember when I was training to be a flight instructor one of the maneuvers I had to master was recovering the plane from a spin in 1 turn. My instructor and I had discussed it and rehearsed it on the ground until it was rote memory, practiced it in a simulator until it became muscle memory, and then went to the plane. I messed up 8 of 10 times. By the time we got on the ground, my stomach was in knots and I had scared myself out of ever flying again. We scheduled for another lesson the very next day where all we did was "make holes in the sky" flying here and there until I again felt the joy I had for flying.

Terrence H. Seamon

Guiding executives, teams and professionals through challenging transitions to change while strengthening their resilience and well-being | Leadership development consulting | Career transition consulting

3 个月

What has helped You to rise up after a setback, loss, or fall? Paul Zarou Kenneth Hitchner David Schuchman Paul Cecala, GCDF - Certified Career Coach Mindy Stern SPHR

Ari M. Weinstein

Making you memorable to advance your career · Author of Personal Branding at Work · Coach · Speaker · ACCP, CEMP · Mostly retired · Follow, and ask me anything! Meaningful connections only please.

3 个月

Great suggestions in your article Terry. Taking time off for yourself is enormously helpful after job loss. Planning to do just that for myself soon!

Terrence H. Seamon

Guiding executives, teams and professionals through challenging transitions to change while strengthening their resilience and well-being | Leadership development consulting | Career transition consulting

3 个月
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