Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Tra-la-la-la-la....

You Need to Read this Article....it's the Fear of the Unknown

You are probably wondering .... what's so scary?

Is it in front of you? Sitting right next to you? Is it crawling on your head?

Actually - it is. It's looming in the air around you as you walk around your office, up and down the aisles, in the break room, in the elevator, or next to the coffee machine.

Chirp-chirp-chirp .... little birdies are chatting about the work culture, their boss, their CEO, earnings, sales, their commutes -- LAYOFFS!!!

The good ol' rumor mill. Don't you love it? I certainly don't. In the past ten years, I have been laid off three times. Typically the chances go up if you work in a corporate function within a large corporation.

In fact, nobody is immune to layoffs. Whether you're an executive with tenure or an entry-level hire, layoffs will likely affect you (if it hasn't already) at some point in your career.

I've taken a pragmatic approach to the 'fear of the unknown.'

I learned how to better anticipate it and how to best leverage my mindset and most of all, my network of connections to keep myself going (even after my employer has let me go.) So....What’s the best strategy?

Step back, embrace what’s happening, and rethink your strategy.

This may be the first time in a long time that you can take a pause. Stepping away from the daily grind allows you to consider what you really love (and what you really don’t!) Remember the journey you set out for and DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOAL.

Personally, stepping back gave me a lot of clarity and let me look back on what I have done and how I can create my own vision. A few years ago, I made a vision board with a group of friends at my favorite yoga studio. A vision board is tool that allows you to visually show wants and desires (I used magazine images/words) with the goal to help narrow down these desires through the power of choice. The tool helps you invest the time and energy to visualize your future and consistently reminds you of your life goals. Here is mine.

I also took the time to rebrand myself. I refreshed my LinkedIn profile. I also found ideas on anything that I felt passionate about and started to write about it -- I called it #TinasObservations. Not only did it serve as an an outlet for therapy, it also was a way to gain exposure....just like I hope this post will get (hint hint -- please share.)

Dig deep within you and let go. It’s normal to doubt yourself when you think nobody seems to want you.

If there was ever a time to start thinking about marketing yourself, it is probably right now when you have a job. Marketing YOU is a vital part of finding a job and the key to help you reach the next level of success. Don’t do it alone. It is going to be hard and yes, it will feel weird. Enlist a coach, mentor, spouse, friend, a trusted partner to help you. You are pretty amazing…. keep on shining!

And please....let go! 

Do this on your own terms. Audit your mind…and your soul. Don't get hung up on the rumor mill. Look out for yourself.

"Each time I was laid off, I reconnected with myself and with others in my network." Tina Nathanson, serial optimist

Over the past ten years, technology has changed the way we do business and the way we look for jobs. Algorithms and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are not your friends and if you aren't 'feeding the system', you could be denied the chance to interview with the company of your dreams. The power of your network is more important now than ever.

I love the people I have met on LinkedIn and I really do my best to stay connected.

If you got this far, thank you. I had the courage to say this because some of you may not. I presented this at The Quirks Event in Brooklyn, NY in March and am grateful for all the support I've received along my own journey. You can hear the replay on YouTube.

I would like to thank my husband, Mitchell who has literally been by my side through many layoffs and this one too. He was let go a few days after me. We spend our days working side by side, helping each other to find our next tomorrow.....

I'm open for business and look forward to connecting with you too. Thank you for your time!

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Tina Nathanson is a strategic marketing research leader and influential communicator with 20+ years of diverse experience in global B2C and B2B analytics. Recognized for the ability to collaborate with C-Level executives and lead cross-functional teams to deliver insightful research and provide solutions to complex business challenge. You can visit her page for more details.