Life's unexpected turns: Embracing change after job loss
Riding the Ups and Downs toward a New Beginning
Aged out in your career--too young to retire: Navigating your next move
After nearly six years with the company, I envisioned staying until retirement—a finish line just a few years away. At 63, that goal felt within reach. I had settled into my role, pouring my energy, creativity, and time into a demanding 40+ hour workweek from home. Yes, long before COVID-19 disrupted the world, I was already working remotely, positioned to ride out the storm while others were scrambling to adjust. As the pandemic eventually subsided, employees elsewhere returned to offices—but I remained, rooted in the comfort and security of a role I believed was mine for the long haul.
The axe in a manner of speaking
As part of a “workforce reduction” initiative, others lost their jobs along with me. That softened the blow a bit. Wasn’t anything personal against me, just a matter of finances and “tightening one’s belt.” The company did what they felt they had to do. There was still a sting to the action, I must admit. Performed in a cold and calculated manner, taking all of 4 minutes to complete, the “axe” did indeed feel personal and very unkind. After all, I’d been there when the company started, one of the original employees of a start-up. Seeing folks come and go after 1 year or less of employment, yet I still remained. Steadfast, loyal, devoted, trustworthy, and dedicated, my commitment to the company was obvious to most, but not to the individuals who really mattered, the ones with the “axe.”
Shame on me or shame on them
Shame on me for assuming my longevity there meant I couldn’t be dismissed. Being comfortable in my position left me vulnerable to being blindsided by the job loss. Shame on me for replacing an old car with 212,000 miles with a 2022 version that required a small loan. How foolish could I have been to replace a roof showing the early signs of leakage and signing on to an even larger loan? What was I thinking? I felt so secure in my position that the thought of losing it never even crossed my mind—until it did.
Act fast
The truth is that complacency crept in. I let the illusion of job security lull me into a false sense of permanence, blinding me to the possibility of change. Working from home dulled my once-sharp skills, leaving me unprepared for the reality of suddenly being without a job. But life doesn’t wait for hesitation—I had to snap back fast and reclaim my place as a contributing member of the household. Anger and hurt feelings couldn’t be dwelt upon. The next step, my next career, needed to be initiated.
Working for myself
For nearly 50 years, a paycheck with my name on it arrived—earned through roles in private businesses, hospital systems, and government agencies. I've always been part of a team, contributing to a shared mission and working toward a common goal. What about starting a business for myself this time? Making decisions that are healthy and profitable for me, is that too egocentric? Kind of an odd feeling, putting my well-being in front, but why should it feel so foreign? Altruism is ingrained in me and in the roles I fulfilled in the past. These places of employment not only depended on that trait but thrived because of it. They thrived but also fed upon it to become successful entities providing services to their users. Quite often, I felt exploited by these companies and organizations for having had that trait. Why feel this guilt for not wanting to feel exploited any longer?
To envision my new career venture as being beneficial not only to myself but also to the individuals I would serve seemed like a win-win situation. The services would be based on mutually agreeable terms, chosen at my discretion. The product, however, must be something one could take pride in upon completion. That seemed like an important part of this new path. The first hurdle was, I knew absolutely nothing about starting my own business. Despite this, I was confident in my ability to learn, just like mastering various skills in my previous roles. All I needed to do was find a program to guide me in this journey.
Reinvent yourself
It took about 4 months to navigate this next move in my life, partly attributed to keeping a similar schedule I had while working for the previous company. The modules were completed, practice exercises checked off, and then the search for clients ensued. The trick was having everything in place and to appear professional, ready, and open for business. Could I do that? Certainly. Will I be able to regain the income I lost along with my job? That remains uncertain. But this journey has taught me that reinventing yourself demands courage. It requires embracing every past experience, silencing self-doubt, and recognizing your own success. True resilience lies in adaptability, motivation, and hope. If this path doesn’t lead to prosperity, countless others await. My versatility is my greatest asset—opportunity is always within reach, as long as I remain open to it.