When Things Don't Go According to Plan

 “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.” ? M. Scott Peck

Things changed overnight and we had to shut our doors.

We borrowed too much money, got in over our heads, and the bottom line, went bankrupt.

After all these years of hard work and sacrifice, now I am told my services are no longer needed.

This isn’t what I had planned – I am not supposed to be here getting career help.

In my wildest dreams, I never thought they would get rid of me.

Regardless of how it is said, time and again, I hear assorted versions of the above job loss stories. Stories about how life didn’t go according to plan. Stories about how life is tougher than expected. Stories about how things didn’t work out the way you thought, dreamed or expected they would.

So, what do you do when things don’t go according to plan?

For sure, I don’t have the answers. And while I may not have answers, I do have some ideas – ideas for you to consider if you find yourself in a state of career transition:

Grieve. Grieve your loss. And in that grieving process, make a list of what you are losing and make another list of what you get to keep. Then, out of what you get to keep, make another list of what is worth keeping and what needs to go.

Losing your business or losing your job is tough. Keep telling yourself that you are tougher. Spend more time focusing on what can be rather than what was.

Evaluate your present mental, physical and spiritual health and well-being. What could use some work? What is already working well?

Figure out with precision your financial status. Whatever it is (or isn’t), know what you’re dealing with.

Talk with someone you trust and let them know how you are really doing. Maybe that trusted person is your lifelong friend, spouse/partner, or maybe it is a trained professional. Talk it over; talk it out.

Decide.

Decide that you can.

Decide that you will.

Start again.

What we call the beginning is often the end.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.
- T. S. Eliot

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