Beyond the Build

Leadership

A Layoff Can Be a Kickstarter.

I have never met a strong person with an easy backgroud.

Earlier this week I learned that a customer had laid off several members of their construction and real estate department. Losing a position is sometimes like a kick in the stomach and I reached out to the folks who are my business friends, offering to be a good reference and to keep them on my radar for other opportunities I may see in the short term. I have found sometimes it is best just to be a listening ear at these times.

Most of the time, nothing is ever as bad as we first think. The silver lining is the change. In the year that follows, many times I have seen people are very happy they were laid off because it gave them fresh opportunities that would not have been found otherwise, sort of like a Kickstarter campaign for a new chapter.

When a layoff occurs, I encourage my friends to take a deep breath, reflect and enjoy the sunshine. Reach out to as many contacts as possible, perhaps with a well-thought out note instead of a lengthy resumeThe just right opportunity is out there, and this bump in the road was all part of the cycle.

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Merrill Stewart Jr.

Merrill Stewart is Founder and CEO of The Stewart/Perry Company, a commercial building contractor based in Birmingham.