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Facing a Career Curveball? Spring Back with Resiliency - Article from our Life Coaching Programs
Facing a Career Curveball? Spring Back with Resiliency
Brenda Griffin Get a Job Expert
The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity. - Peter Drucker
![[Image]](/images/content/inspjan6-2009.jpg)
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes life throws career curve balls. Budgets trimmed. Projects cancelled. Promotions denied or postponed. Workloads doubled. Jobs threatened or lost. Career dreams put on hold. If any of these are your current experience, know that the path to recovery is through cultivating resiliency.
Resiliency. It is defined as the ability to bounce back from adversity. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? Just bounce back. Move on. It implies that it happens naturally, quickly and with little effort. As though resiliency is somehow built in, like the energy within a rubber band.
Yet this is what resiliency is really about! Bouncing back quickly and naturally. True, some people have more spring than others. One reason is the degree and nature of adversity. Losing a job and income is not the same as managing a trimmed budget.
Another reason for levels of spring is outlook on life. Those that bounce back quickly look at life differently. They anticipate and observe. They formulate plans. And, when necessary, take action as conditions change. In other words, they are tuned in, have their finger on the pulse, and listen to their gut, then respond accordingly. It is this effort that springs them forward when thrown a curveball.
This isn’t to imply that they are happy about what is happening! Resilient people embrace the notion that action is needed, now. They don’t live in denial. They come to terms with change quickly. By taking responsibility, they seek opportunities in their midst. When resilient people look back, it is only to learn what they can and bring those lessons with them into the future. No brooding over the past. They are too busy embracing the future!
How can you best handle a potential layoff career curveball?
Increase your spring:
Realize it can happen to you. Have your finger on the pulse! You could lose your job if your industry is impacted. Titles are irrelevant and range from presidents, VP’s, directors, managers, salary, and union employees. A friend quoted Harry S. Truman this week, “When your neighbor loses his job, it’s a recession. When you lose your job it’s a depression.” Don’t wait for the depression.
Have a response plan. Do the work! Know your options both internally and externally. Be resume ready. Be plugged into your network. Have copies of important documents at home (e.g. training records, work histories and performance reviews).
Set your mind on success. Take responsibility! Stay determined to get through it and you will. Rather than complaining about the changes, put your energy into action.
Embrace your inner entrepreneur. By cultivating resiliency, you too will be rebound from any career curveball.
I quite agree with you, although it is not always easy to bounce back after adversity and past disappointments - at least that is my experience!!
Wow, that sounds great but putting it into action isn't that that quick or easy especially when you have never experienced a job loss. I was at the same job for over 20 years when they closed down our offices. I am 58 years old and not in the greatest of health. I haven't found a job yet in a year and I was resume ready and had loads of help. After a year it is looking pretty bleak and very very difficult to pull myself up. My positive go get for it attitude is spiralling downwards. My relationship is almost over and life isn't as wonderful anymore. What happened? I have no idea. Any suggestions?
Thank you both for taking time to leave a comment and share your experiences. From my own various adversities, cultivating resiliency does take work and determination. I also know it pays off.
When I was in college, my parents died. My mother suddenly and my father after 3 years of living with leukemia. They died about a year apart.
A month after my father died, I had a decision to make: choose life - go back to grad school and finish or give up - stay home sitting in a rocking chair, listening to music while watching TV to numb myself from reality.
I had 2 months to go in the semester. It would have been easy to scrap it. I was on a teaching assistantship and scholarhips so I wouldn't be out any money.....most people would have understood. But, I choose to go back and graduate. I choose life.
I cried through the graduation service knowing the two most important people in my life were not there. I went anyway because I wanted to embrace my accomplishment and future. I couldn't change what had happened to my family, but I could take actions to build my future. My degree opened many doors for me through out my career.
It is important to realize that resiliency is not a feeling. It is about taking action no matter how you feel. It can range from getting through the day with out doing something self destructive to "suiting up and showing up" to springing out of bed with your positive attitude and outlook aligned with your positive actions.
In terms of job loss, sometimes, you just have to hang on until circumstances outside of your control change while you continue to explore all your options and do your best everyday.
I share many of my own experiences with adversity and dissappointment in Get a Job Tools. I hear what you are saying because I have been there. I also share how I persevered.
Taking temp positions, contract work, working part time, changing fields are all options to explore. It is important to cast a wide net. You don't need to see these positions as your final stop - just a stop along the way to what you really want or need. Others choose to open businesses or relocate. Yet others relocate temporarily on long term assignments.
Don't give up on your future...keep looking! Do your best everyday and continue to seek out support. I encourage you both to keep coming back to Tools for encouragement.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment. I wish you both the best in your endeavors.
Warmly,
Brenda