How to prosper from being laid off: It's an opportunity to grow in Everyday Life

1. First, you want to realize and accept that you are not a failure or loser because you were laid off
You were not discharged because you were unworthy, or a bad person, or a bad employee. Do not blame or get down on yourself. There is nothing wrong with you. You are truly a very special and unique human being. Enjoy who you are.

2. Instead, the real truth is that the company failed you
The company could not conduct its business profitably enough to benefit from your efforts and productivity. If you need to cast blame as part of your healing process, direct it toward the highly-paid executives of the company, who caused the company to downsize.

Just look at how many executives at Enron, World Com, Tyco, Adelphia and others drove their companies to disaster. Mergers, corporate acquisitions, hostile takeovers and bankruptcies that were all generated by others also put millions of very valuable employees on the streets.

3. There was virtually nothing you could have done to prevent being laid off
You never really had job security within the bureaucratic corporation. Your position within the corporation was totally dependent on the decisions, whims and political motivation of others.

Unfortunately, you had extremely little, if any control over keeping your position. Give yourself a break and accept that it happened, and move on.

4. Take advantage of all severance monies available
Most companies offer some form of severance, but sometimes the severance packages may not be fully disclosed. Be sure to actively pursue any possible severance monies that may be available. You might as well get all you can to help tide you over during your transition.

5. You are better off than the remaining employees
The employees who remained at the company are undoubtedly experiencing increased stress and more difficult working conditions.

They will have to do more work without receiving additional compensation. The camaraderie and good times you remember have been replaced with tension and anguish. You are no longer subject to these difficult conditions and are free to pursue a far more prosperous and enjoyable income position.

6. You still have considerable skills, knowledge and special talents
They cannot take any of these away from you. Your work efforts will continue to provide considerable value to others. Your skills, talents, experience, knowledge, work ethic, integrity and ability to generate results are extremely transferable to thousands of other very worthwhile income producing positions.

You will want to find the right environments to exercise your talents and skills to the valuable benefit of others. The more valuable you become to others, the more rewards you will receive.

7. Use this event as an opportunity to greatly improve your life
The Chinese symbol for chaos and opportunity are one and the same. The Chinese knew what they were doing. Your life has probably been thrown into chaos by being laid off. Yet, you have been given an opportunity to redirect your career, your personal life and your family life to become much more enjoyable and rewarding than ever before.

In essence, you have been blessed with the chance to get more control over your life. Take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

8. Set life, personal and career goals that will create the prosperous and enjoyable life you want
Look to the future and visualize the prosperous and enjoyable life you will want.

You will then want to set the goals that when accomplished will create the life you visualized. Anything is possible, so let your imagination go. You will want to set goals that allow you to fulfill your passions and priorities, follow your beliefs and maximize your talents. By doing so, your life will be in total harmony or alignment with who you are and what you want out of life.

Many people call this the "zone of life," or "being in the zone" or "being in balance." These goals can be work related, family related, personally related or some combination of all three.

9. Get help from others to support you in your journey
If you look at your life history, you will discover that you made your greatest life improvements with the assistance of other people who cared enough about you to show you the truth and support you.

Now is a very important time to get support, because so much is at stake. Being laid off can easily make you feel alone. Lonely people do not improve and certainly do not prosper. One of the greatest strengths of the human race is our ability to help each other.

There are many people who will want to assist you to achieve your new life goals. All you have to do is ask.

10. Pick the right person or persons to assist you
You will want to select a person who will assist you to discover your true passions, desires, beliefs and talents. You will want this person to be as objective (without judgment or criticism), truthful, and thorough as possible. You will want the person to eliminate his or her own agendas and/or biases. You want the person to see and recognize what you are really saying and doing and to be able to describe it to you so you will recognize and understand the truth. You will want the person to be totally focused on you.

You will also want this person to be totally supportive of you and your newfound truths about yourself, and to give you the confidence and encouragement to improve and grow to achieve your goals.

11. Where can you find the right people to assist you?
Here are a few groups of people to seek the right person to provide you the specific help and support you will want and need. You are now armed with your goals and what you want others to provide to achieve them.

Be sure to express both to anyone you visit with, before you decide to ask for their help.

Present or former mentors who have assisted you in the past. If you have already benefited from someone whom you have a trusting and caring relationship with, ask them to help you again.

Religious leaders or counselors. Some religious people will be able to help you. You will want to be sure they do not impose their religious doctrine on you during the process.

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Career counselors. Some career counselors will also provide you help in these areas. You will want to hire your own counselor who will be totally loyal to your interests and not to someone else who hires them. Career counselors can be very helpful when it comes time to actually getting jobs.

Personal or career coaches. Virtually all personal coaches (whether career, life, personal, or otherwise) will be prepared, trained and motivated to assist you to accomplish all of the steps outlined above. Their personal and professional lives are focused on being your equal partner to assist you in achieving your goals. The most important factor for you will be to find the individual coach whom you feel is ideal for you.

You are in a great position to get out of the rut you are in today and redirect your life to attain happiness and prosperity. Go for it!

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About the author: Bill Dueease is the owner of The Coach Connection, where "connecting great people with great coaches" is their goal. You may receive a free copy of the article "10 Secrets Most Business Owners Never Learn" by contacting The Coach Connection at (800) 887-7214 or coaches@findyourcoach.com or www.findyourcoach.com/0o-career-coach.htm .

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