Allaying the fears of being laid off!

Were you laid off?
Recently?
Did you panic?
Bet you did...and now! You are out of the initial vice like grip of the "lay off syndrome".
Dont know what to do next...do you?
Let me help you here.

I have been through that phase my self, several times, in these past fifteen years.
The first time was, when I decided to lay myself off, from the IAF, as a Combat Pilot, with more than a decades experience, behind me.
Ever since then, I did lay my self off, a couple of times, in the corporate world too.
There fore, I can strongly vouch, that you should not overtly or covertly worry too much, on being laid off.
It's a temporary loss, nothing more.
It's a water-under-the bridge type of a situation, that you are currently in, and not a dangerous ridge, that you need to conquer.

I had laid myself off last, as early as April 2006.
It was a self inflicting exercise, as I was never to be a party to: " when you cant win them, you join them" types.
I was well settled in a CMMI-L5 business plan as a Head of a vertical, that matured as a major cash cow, under my umbrage.
On grounds of values, one day, I just walked out.
I moved my cheese.

Since then I have moved up too, as assignments befitting my experience and expertise did come my way.
In spurts, if not in continuation.

Looking back now, at all those tough times I have been through, I feel I did well, as a self respecting professional, although I may be not have done so well, monetarily speaking, as a corporate honcho.
That fact itself gives me the solace, I need, to keep my self on my toes, always.
And stick to my coveted values of long standing, of as long as three decades, figuratively speaking.

Having said that, here are some tips that will help you work out a way, out of your current state of affairs, if you have been recently laid off.

It's nothing but a "Sahara," that you need to cross over once again, in your life.

Would you like to learn from others' mistakes and amble across, that "Sahara"?
A "Sahara" that several qualified professionals are scared to cross, ever since it first appeared on their horizons, in the form of a global meltdown, beginning in Oct-Nov 2007.

Here are the Tips:

1. Do not dismay or mull over it too much. Remember change is the only constant in life.
2. Get over it quickly! If you are into it, agonizingly speaking.
3. Work out your finances to the minutest of the details. Hold on to them. Don't advertise that you have bulk of savings with you. There are hawks out there, who will swallow all your savings for sure, if you do.
4. Hold on to your expenses, be very selective, prioritize and clear as many dues as you can.
5. Get rid of your credit card dues too, and the card itself, if you are an impulsive type of a buyer.
6. Take a paper and work out the time lines you have on your hand, to do so.
Call them: Bingo.Joker.Thirsty. .

a) Bingo: A stage and a date in future, when you need to delve into your savings.
b) Joker: A stage and a date in future, when you need to borrow.
c) Thirsty: A stage and a date in future, when you need to sell your assets to survive.

7.Map the over all dimension of the "Sahara" with these time lines, now that you are about to set to cross it, as a planned exercise, based on your experiences and expertise you have now garnered, through your last assignment, and the earlier ones too.
You are better armed now onwards, as the next assignment would not be a first assignment for you, if your last one was the first one.

8.Once you have these dates on hand, do a SWOT analysis.
9.Work on your strengths, discover new strengths within you that were so far dormant.
10.Do read the book, ' Who moved my cheese ', a couple of times, now that you have the time.
11. In case you can, work part time, in any job that you like/comes your way, without worrying about the incomes.
12. In case you have enough savings, consider the prospects of improving your academic qualifications.
13.Dont even think of making a quick buck at all, through any of the several opportunities, that will knock on your doors.
14. Dont venture into any business/venture that you do not have the domain experience on, with an intention to make a quick buck, with a friend(s)/partner(s).
15. Set your goals afresh, based on the exercise sated above. Write them down and display them prominently, so that you can read them often. Add some powerful affirmatives to that, as frills.
16. Keep yourself focused on the goals that you get to set. Get after them with a new found zeal.
17. Exercise every day, play games, move around with friends that empathize with you.
18.Indulge in a Hobby...the one you loved, and never had the time to indulge in, as you were working your back off.
19. Get active on social networking sites like, Linkedin, Spoke,Face book. Update your resume daily, on Job Boards.
20. Think out of the box always, in these not so usual a times.
21. Expect the unexpected.
22. Reach out, to the Law of Attraction, once again, dream, dream big, revisit the catalogue of universe, and select your needs from within that.
23. Curb your desires to the barest minimum while you do so. Indulge only on your needs.
24. Do not be too parsimonious with your expenses...be frugal.
25. Pray regularly, have faith in the almighty, and help yourself as, "God helps those who help themselves".


With the above in place you will amble through the "Sahara" not gingerly but with confidence.
I have done so, not once, but several times.
Trust me and take the first step.
Confidently.

As: "Behind every Exit is an Entry that you are not aware off! till you Exit".
You were made to Exit.
Now enter with elan.

Enter a new phase in your life without a frown on your face or a complaint in your mind...so what if it is a "Sahara."
Address and tell that "Sahara" what Sir Edmond Hillary told Everest, before he finally conquered it.
The "Sahara" cannot grow, like the Everest has not...it has limits and boundaries too.
It can only shrink!

Your mind has no limits, it can grow to outgrow the Sahara's and the Everest's, and conquer them as well, as a challenge.

With a new found bounce in your steps, you will too.



Axee
Alias
Arun