by Joseph Pescatello

Created on: December 29, 2008

Getting the Boot

Being laid off or fired from a job that you like is terrible. Feelings of inadequacy, disillusionment, self-doubt and despair will shake the very core of the modern working man or woman.

But losing a job that you've been unhappy with can be downright invigorating. Suddenly, and usually without warning, life is wiped clean of the stresses and mundane details of the daily grind. Your time is once again your own and you are freed from the tyranny of the time-clock (either actual or virtual).

Instantaneously, the world holds vast possibilities. Options open up that had long been closed. Going back to school might be among them, or getting back to some long lost ambition. Perhaps you once dreamed of becoming a professional chef or teaching, or playing the trombone, or. . . When the work-a-day world is stripped away by force, you have no choice but to re-evaluate where you want to take your life.

If you have enough savings, severance pay or unemployment to meet your basic needs, don't let momentum carry you into another job that you'll probably be miserable in. Instead, consider all your options and pursue whatever opportunity you feel most compelled toward. It may not lead you anywhere, and if not, you can always return to your previous line of work. But the risk you take by pursuing a new direction might lead you to vastly different and more rewarding pursuits.

If your financial resources are severely limited, then the immediate problem, of course, is money. Modern life is full of expenses that have little to do with survival, or even comfort. The family's food, clothing, shelter and healthcare are paramount. But beyond those essentials, almost everything can be thought of as a luxury. When one's income is severely curtailed, it's easy to see exactly what those extras are. Eliminating them is not an option - it's essential.

Once you pare your budget down to the very bone, you'll know how much money you need to get by. That should be your minimum target income when looking for your next paycheck. If you can meet that number without working fulltime, then you'll have time to pursue your own ambitions. And if you have to take a fulltime job, you can look for one that's closer to your ideal than what you came from. If you dream of being a chef, getting a kitchen job in a good restaurant will get you very close to a chef. If you want to teach, becoming a teacher's aid puts you in the classroom. And for the aspiring trombonists, working in a music store will get you in touch with dozens of musicians every day. Changing direction might mean taking a lower salary, at least to start. But if you truly enjoy the work, you'll excel at the job and move up quickly.

For many people, uncertainty is the most stressful possible condition. But with uncertainty comes opportunity - opportunity to make positive changes in life's direction. If you find yourself suddenly without work, ask yourself what you'd really like to be doing. Then figure out how to do it!

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