Post-Termination: Power Your Next Chapter With Daily Motivation
After witnessing a new wave of layoffs and the emotional toll they take, I’m going to post—a daily resilience post to support those in career transition.
Being In Transition Requires Strength
In 2007, I joined a dear friend, Mike Powers, and a group of HR professionals to create something called HR in Transition. It was more than a support group—it was a lifeline. At the time, the HR world was shaken by mass layoffs, unexpected terminations, and career disruptions that made even the strongest among us question our worth.
HR in Transition was born to meet that moment. We came together not with answers but with presence, not with fixes, but with solidarity. That experience has stayed with me.
And now, all these years later, I'm watching a new wave of transition unfold—this time through the lens of LinkedIn posts, quiet goodbyes, tearful updates - and gutwrenching news reports.
I've seen people announce layoffs from jobs they once described as "the dream job." I've seen marketing professionals, content creators, and social media experts navigate job loss and the growing shadow of AI, quietly wondering if there's still a place for their craft.
I've watched dedicated, resilient DEI leaders—people who gave everything to build inclusive workplaces—get pushed out by organizations that never truly intended to do the right thing. Their vision was clear. Their impact was tangible. And yet, they were marginalized the moment inclusivity became inconvenient. If that's your story, I want you to know this space is for you, too. I see you. I support you. Your next chapter still holds power.
I've watched brilliant scientists, dedicated government employees, forest rangers, and countless others be locked out—sometimes literally—of the workplaces they loved. Careers they built over decades gone in an instant with nothing more than a cold goodbye. No consideration for their families, their mental health, or the profound loss of identity that comes with sudden termination. It's been painful to witness.
I can't undo what's happened, but I can offer this: solidarity, support, and daily encouragement to help you move through this. You are not alone. And yes—this, too, will pass. Your career is not over. There is life, purpose, and power waiting on the other side.
I've watched entrepreneurial women and women in the inclusivity and training space with government contracts lose their businesses with the stroke of a presidential pen—forced to rethink everything overnight. We've had to pivot, reimagine, and fight to regain our footing in systems that were never built for us. I am there. I am with you. And I'm here to say: you don't have to be visible to be exploited, and you don't have to be silent to survive.
Pivoting is not failure—it's a radical act of resilience. It's the spark that says, I will build again. I will rise again. This space is your daily reminder to keep going.
I’ve seen brilliant men and women out of work for a year, sending resumes into the void. ATS systems have zapped their resumes, and recruiters have ghosted them after countless interviews. Inconsiderate hiring managers have sent canned rejection letters—or worse, nothing at all. And I’ve seen the pain etched in every word of a post that simply says, I don't know what's next.
And it hits me every time: How do we hold space for this pain, this uncertainty, this fragile hope?
Here's what I know: you don't need more career hacks, resume templates, business coaching, or AI tools. Yes, those help, but they aren't the anchor people need right now.
What people in transition need is a voice that shows up every single day.
Someone to say:
"You're not alone."
"You are not the job you lost."
"You are not your last title."
"You are not the career you built up to now."
"You are still worthy."
"And this—this moment—is not the end of your story."
So that's what I'm going to do.
Every day, I'll post a short, grounded note called Your Next Chapter—a daily resilience check-in for those in career transition. It will live on my Substack, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and it will be just one thing: a reminder that you can still write what comes next.
Because I've been there. It’s the least I can do in this moment of sheer anxiety and confusion.
I've been fired four times in my working career. Over the twenty-five years of my consulting practice, I've had clients we've vested in walk away without making the changes we recommend - sometimes, that was even worse than being fired. I've sat with the sting of rejection and the long silence of waiting. I know the emotional toll and the transformation that comes when you realize your worth isn't tied to your work.
So this is for you.
For the woman who hasn't landed a single interview in months.
For the DEI leader who gave their all and was still got let go.
For the Black professional quietly battling doubt and microaggression.
For the professional who was abused by their manager and struggling to forget that past.
For anyone angry, they stayed too long and were too loyal.
For the entrepreneurs, rethinking everything.
For everyone blindsided by job loss...we see you, we hear you, and we will support you.
For anyone who is just…tired and you can't call anyone anymore to tell them how you feel.
This is for you...Your Next Chapter is around the corner...hang in there!
And it begins, simply, with believing: there is a next…
Let’s stay connected - I am pretty active on LinkedIn - Follow me there too.
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