What I Learned From Being Fired

I recall the day one of the senior partners of the firm I worked for walked in, closed the door, sat down, looked at me, and said, “Ralph, I'm sorry.”

He wasn't sorry because he had accidentally eaten my sandwich or taken my parking spot, it was his way of initiating a career-altering and life-changing event for me. Basically, his comment amounted to, “You've got to go.”

It was bad. I felt horrible. I saw myself as a failure (this was legitimate because I actually had failed in that job). I was embarrassed and ashamed.

My wife, family, and friends tried their best to console me and put as positive a spin on it as possible. “It's not the end, it's just a setback.” “What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.” “View this as an opportunity to reset and try something else.” And other sayings similar to that.

I eventually completed my sentence in the Valley of Despair and in hindsight, getting fired was one of the best things that ever happened to me. That may sound strange, but upon reflection it was the trigger and catalyst for making some major changes. It's also what motivated me to start my company, which is now approaching its 34th year.

I took the box of lemons, squeezed them, added water and sugar, and made lemonade. The good news is that people bought the lemonade and continue to do so three decades later.

If you can relate to my story because you've just gone through or are going through something similar, here are a couple of points for you to reflect on.

If this hasn't happened to you yet, chances are good it will at some point in your career. So, this is still worth reading.

Being fired usually sucks, but it often comes with valuable lessons that can help shape your future. Here are some things you might learn from the experience.

Fired? Here Are 7 Valuable Lessons That Can Help Shape Your Future

1.?It may be a personal or professional wake-up call.

2.?It puts an end to you being a round peg in a square hole (right person/wrong role).

3.?It forces you to look in the mirror and take stock of who you are and what you are best suited for.

4.?If you don't become bitter, you can become better.

5.?It opens the door to new opportunities.

6.?It makes you grow up (something many people try to avoid)

7.?It hurts at the moment, but when you look back it's often the catalyst for major change and growth.

Yes, it’s a cliché, but the key is to view it as a learning opportunity rather than a setback or personal defeat.

"I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life." ~ Steve Jobs

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