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Being laid off at the age of 55 as a single divorced baby boomer has been more challenging than my divorce.   The impact can make or break you unless you step back and find solutions to get you through those challenges.

But, believe me, I didn’t learn that right away.  It has been a process of moving, downsizing, living with  family members and running out of money. It’s been a summer of house sitting, making sacrifices and reinvention.

As a person going solo, it’s very difficult to take on all the challenges by myself but the hardest part is getting the salary and the recognition I feel I deserve, after working for so many years.

This is why I am sharing this post.  I am thinking many of you readers have experienced the same thing or know someone is has or is.   These 7 lessons I have learned from a job layoff, are only the tip of the iceberg.  But they are the lessons I hear most often from my peers who are experiencing a job layoff.

It is harder to find a job the older we get. - When I was in my 20′s I would walk into a perspective employers office and ask for a job.  Then I would follow up with phone calls to remind them of my interest.  Many times I would get called within a few hours or a few days because they liked my persistence and my courage.   Now, with the internet and lack of a contact name or company, I am finding one has to just submit their resume and wait for a response.  But in this economy, with so many people looking for the same job, we become a number.  Many times there isn’t a hiring manager name or a company provided so how the heck can you follow up?

I realized I am not as marketable in the hiring mangers eyes. – As we babyboomers age, those who are interviewing us are younger and thinking they are more tech savy.  But I am one who believes that we have so much experience based on our years in the workplace.  Unfortunately, the competition is much greater and we babyboomers are not first in  line at the hiring office, even if we have kept up with the latest technology ourselves in our own careers.

There IS Age Discrimination – I don’t care what they tell you. – Yep, you heard me.   I have seen it, experienced it personally and know HR folks who have often admitted it.  First of all, we look “OLD” to some of the interviewees and second, they don’t want to pay us our worth. – Don’t they know that the 50s are now the new 40s?

Possessions can be replaced. - One major change I had to make was selling my possessions just to survive at one point.   Except for special “gifts” my kids have made or special tokens from my grandparents or parents, I have downsized to a small storage unit. And even that is to much.  Do you need any furniture or household items? The only things I take with me from place to place are my houseplants that I nurture and my suitcase.

Do What You Gotta Do. – We single laid off babyboomers have to do what we gotta do to survive.   We may borrow from our home equity, we may take out a loan, we may have to take an entry level position that is demeaning and boring but we have to survive.

There Are Solutions. – And those solutions start with a different mindset of finding mentors like us who have found success outside of the box.   It may be starting your own business or getting crafty having a craft show.  Whatever it is, your mindset will have to change and your creativity will have to shine.

We Baby Boomers Have Talents. – Not only do we have talents, we have passions, experience and gifts to share with others.  Each of us baby boomers bring a unique gift to share that can turn our passions into profit.

So if you have been laid off or are holding onto your job not knowing your fate, remember that we all share common concerns and should come together as one to share our gifts, turn passions into profit and forget corporate america.  They don’t care about us so why not find your passion, share it and care about others.  That’s the key.

What is your story?  I would love for you to comment below if you have a story to tell about yourself or someone who know who is experiencing a lay off and what you/they are doing to overcome their challenge.

Until next time,

Here’s to your success.

Cindy

Amazon.com

There are so many people out there who question their ability to turn their passions/ideas into profit.   When I share my business with those who are seeking a solution to leave their job or to start a new career, I hear all the time.  “I don’t know what my passion is” or “I don’t have any skills”

Well that is not true! We all have ideas and skills to share and this book will inspire you to consider your own ideas and passions.

I felt the same way they did until I started reaching out to mentors who turned their lives around after financial struggles, job layoffs or just plain tired of their corporate jobs.

So, this past weekend, I decided to open up my book “Trust Your Heart; Transform Your Ideas Into Income.” I purchased the book at a live event in Raleigh, NC in April, and read each of the nineteen inspiring stories AGAIN. Best of all,  I was fortunate to have met several of the contributors in the book, including the author, Marnie Pehrson, Adela Rubio, Jessica Swanson, Shannon Cherry, and Janis Pettit,

I had read the book a few months ago, when I first purchased it,  but I was so stressed about making an income in a traditional “JOB” that I put the book on the shelf thinking this could wait.  But it can’t wait and I encourage you to purchase the book and find out how each of these ideas became success stories.

What I found so inspiring was their drive and determination that brought each of them from idea to reality and they each launched a very successful business.  Many of them had a tragedy in their lives that gave them the strength to move forward and make it happen. They followed their hearts and their instincts to share their unique stories and found a solution.

Below you will see a list of the contributors.

1. Marnie Pehrson
2. Adela Rubio
3. Denise Wakeman
4. Stephanie Chandler
5. Jessica Swanson
6. Kathleen Gage
7. Dr. Linda Miles
8. Milana Leshinsky
9. Ellen Britt
10. Laura Howard West
11. Shannon Cherry
12. Janis Pettit
13. Michele Pariza Wacek
14. Brian Rooney
15. Leslie Householder
16. Joanne Musa
17. Phillip Davis
18. Lisa Rae Preston
19. Adam Urbanski

So don’t wait a long time to discover that your ideas can turn to profits.  Just get the book, read the stories and find your new ideas to share with those who are looking for you.

Until next time,

Here’s to your success,

Cindy

Your Solutions Coach