5 Essential Lessons I Learned From My Job Elimination
“I have some bad news. Your job is being eliminated.”
Those are the words spoken to me recently.
Elimination is such a strong word. It hurts.
I’ve never experienced this before. In fact, I’m grateful to have only experienced the opposite in my career. I know many of us have now experienced this for the first time due to extraordinary events and decisions made by others. It hurts. It’s confusing. It’s scary. It’s risky. It’s feels out of our control. It’s a lot of things.
I’ve travelled to the extremes of emotions so far but keep coming back to a few truths I am choosing to guide me through this season. I’m not sure how long I’ll be unemployed, but these are (5) lessons I know to be true and (5) lessons that shape the story I tell myself. My hope is this will help those who find themselves in a similar situation, but also help everyone as you think about where you choose to invest your time and what you choose to focus on.
Remember, the most important story you tell is the story you tell yourself.
My (5) Lessons Learned
#1 Lesson: I choose my frame — Not someone else
All of us have a narrative actively playing inside our minds. The question is which narrative are we believing and what is influencing that narrative? Although we may not control the external factors that are now driving involuntary change upon us, we can choose the frame through which we process what is going on. That story we believe will directly impact how we feel and act. I know I cannot play the victim story in my mind, even though part of me wants to. I need to take charge and be intentional to tell myself a story that is positive, true and littered with hope.
I learned a few years ago what the Navy Seals do when they experience chaos on the battlefield. They are trained to simplify the battlefield in those situations and execute what they call front-sight focus (read more about that here).
Mark Divine, the author of The Way Of The Seal, speaks about how in the chaos of war, elite SEALs are taught to “simplify the battlefield.” That means we need to identify the next most important target and then put all of our energy into successfully executing that mission as we maintain what he calls “front-sight” focus. This requires defining the WIN — What’s Important Now and narrowing our focus.
You choose your frame. I choose my frame. Someone else does not do this for us unless we allow it.
#2 Lesson: Sometimes the obstacle IS the way (not just in the way)
We often view obstacles as an inconvenience, something slowing us down, something that redirects us in a direction we might not anticipate. Generally, obstacles are not viewed as great things to run into. In fact, an obstacle is defined as, “a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress.” That’s often how we view our obstacle.
But, what if the obstacle is not IN the way but IS the way?
What if your obstacle is there for you to push yourself through it or bust through it? What if it’s not meant to redirect you or prevent you from moving forward or hinder your progress? What if it’s an opportunity to create something new or push you out of your comfort zone to do something you’ve always wanted to do? What if it’s the nudge you needed?
That’s is how I am choosing to frame up my job elimination. This is an opportunity to start and write a new chapter that will be thrilling, compelling, challenging and fulfilling. Maybe the same is true for you. Maybe the obstacle you face is not in your way, but it is pointing you in direction you should head.
Maybe your obstacle IS the way.
#3 Lesson: Choose to create more than you consume — Make it better
As I leave my current role, I am proud that I have been able to make things better. You can do the same wherever you are. We can choose to create more than we consume. We can choose to engage with people to help them advance themselves and choose to engage with our teams to make what we do better.
That is something I always want to experience and something I always want said about me when I move on from an opportunity. I want people to say I made them and what we do better.
This does not happen on accident. This happens by intentionally choosing to engage in this way over a period of time. We can choose to make points, or we can choose to make a difference. I’ve learned that I always want to be known as someone who made a difference.
Choose to bring your best every day.
#4 Lesson: It’s hard to build a relationship when you need it
As I go through this journey, I’m reminded of this truth. It really is hard to build a relationship when you need it. That means, whatever your situation, we all need to be networking and intentionally investing in connecting with other people. If you find yourself with your job being eliminated and you struggle to come up with a list of people to contact for support, that is a very challenging situation to be in.
This means we need to be intentionally networking and building relationships with people as we go along our journey. We need to be serving, adding value and helping others every way we can. We never know when the person who needs help will be us. Make deposits in relationship bank accounts and you’ll position yourself to pivot faster when you find yourself in a situation of need.
#5 Lesson: Invest in people. That is what will last
This might be the most important lesson. At the end of the day, it is all about people. Many lose sight of this and suffer as a result. We may forget what people say, we may even forget what people do, but we will never forget how people made us feel. That sticks with us forever.
The people you invest in become carriers of your legacy. They help you multiply. They help you extend your reach. They are the ones who will continue to push up ceilings and push out walls after you’ve gone. The accomplishments I am most proud are the people I was able to serve. Seeing them grow. Seeing them get promoted. Seeing them achieve their dreams and extend themselves further than they thought they could. That is why I lead. Wherever you are today, whether in a position where your job was eliminated like mine or you’re secure in your job, invest in the people around you. That is what matters. That is what will last.
Those are my lessons. These are the thoughts and truths I take with me as I face a career transition. I don’t have it all figured out. I don’t have everything lined up, but I know wherever I end up and whatever I do, I want to be living and applying these (5) lessons so I can make a mark and awaken greatness in those around me.
