My Unemployment Story
Hi friend,
My next door neighbor, who is an employment attorney, knocked on my door this morning (we kept a social distance!) and wanted to pick my brain about some of her new cases. She wanted to share with me the current flood of lawsuits by employees against their employers is at its peak right now… and majority of states labor websites are down because they are being bombarded with employee furloughs and layoffs. As an employment lawyer, she’s never been so inundated with new clients and cases so she wanted to bounce some ideas off of me about how to support her clients, and, of course, I wanted to make sure I relayed the info to you.
But first I think this might be a good time for me to share my experience with being unemployed.
In early June 2017, I received a phone call from my then boss giving me the notice that my position was being eliminated from the company I was employed with. We were going through a huge merger, and my position, did not make the cut.
That phone call REALLY sucked because it was out of left field. I had ZERO clue it was coming.
I was a new mom, the bread winner in my family, and had student loans & a mortgage to stay on top of. Needless to say, it was NOT in our family plan for me to be unemployed.
Moreover, at that time, I had NO ONE to turn to for career related advice. Sure, I had my mom, my husband, prior coworkers, and friends, but no one to give me OBJECTIVE, non-biased support. I fell apart, and fell into a deep depression.
I allowed myself a few weeks to mourn my identity (my identity was my career), and then it was time for me to get my sh*t together because I had a family to take care of.
Within 6 months, I was offered over 35 high-level positions but, unfortunately, was forced to turn them down because my husband and I were in a huge transition moving from Kentucky to California (seriously, terrible timing for all of this!).
So…. Why am I sharing this with you?
Well, in the midst of my chaos and my mess, I launched RX Ashlee because I knew ONE thing was that I never wanted anyone to ever feel as lost or unsupported as I did. I never wanted ANYONE to ever feel like they were alone in their career or lack the support in making big LIFE changing decisions.
Just 2.5 years later, times have really changed for me, and now people are turning to ME for trusted career related advice...
Moral of the story: During CHAOTIC messy and unpredictable times – YOU can turn your mess into your MESSAGE.
In today’s blog post, I want to give you advice on how to manage a lay off because I’ve been there, and times are tough right now and maybe you are experiencing a job transition.
It’s okay to be scared (for a hot second): This is not the time for you to panic or feel lost, this is the time for you to feel INVIGORATED and think wild & big…..about the new opportunities that are available to you!
Your value as a professional is NOT associated with your job title, your salary, your certifications, or your CV. You are valued as a person based on how you treat people, how you manage crisis, how you support your community, how well you parent, how you show up for your family, and how you BOUNCE BACK from a perceived failure.
Worrying is NOT the same as working: At some point, you need to put your emotions aside and focus on what YOU have control over. Right now, there is a lot out of our control with COVID-19, so instead FOCUS on what you DO have control over.
NOW is the time to take massive action: Four of my clients landed brand new jobs in the last 14 days AND I’ve been supporting multiple interview prep clients as they prepare for new interviews… so there is no excuse as to the TIME it requires to position yourself as an expert. NOW is the time to level up, and rise above the chaos!!
This too shall pass: Just 2.5 years ago I was on unemployment, and now I am paid to give keynote speaking engagements & be a guest expert on multiple podcasts. If you have ever experienced self-doubt about your future, please reflect on my story because I am living proof that you can get through tough times.
Here is the truth: The best thing that ever happened to me was losing my job because it made me realize there was more out there, and NOW I get to do what I am MEANT TO DO.
I am sharing my story PUBLICLY for the very first time with you because WHY NOT… it is time for me to level up too!
I just want you to know that I am with you… through the good and bad!
And do me a HUGE favor - forward this to a friend or colleague who needs to hear it too!
X
Ashlee
p.s. If you missed the conversation around Contributing, Growing, & Nurturing Your Network, make sure you go check it out right here. https://www.facebook.com/rxashlee It is a quick 25 minutes full of tips on how YOU can build your community & network beginning today… also, you get to meet my daughter, Madeline!
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