In March 2023, I got laid off.
No warning. No buildup. Just… done.
At the time, I thought I lost a job.
But looking back now, I see something deeper.
I lost the system that was defining my story.
The Part No One Prepares You For
When you lose your job, you don’t just lose income.
You lose:
- structure
- visibility
- momentum
- identity tied to a role
And then one question quietly shows up:
If I had to start over today… who actually knows what I do?
Not my title.
Not my company.
Me.
The Real Shift Happening Right Now
Layoffs are rising again.
But this isn’t just about companies cutting costs.
It’s about something deeper:
Who gets to define your narrative.
What I Had to Learn
After 2023, I stopped thinking in terms of jobs.
And started thinking in terms of:
- voice
- presence
- relationships
I started showing up.
From Being Defined → To Defining
Before:
- My identity was tied to a role
- My work lived inside a company
Now:
- My identity is tied to my voice
- My work lives where people can see it
Reclaiming Your Narrative
If there’s one thing layoffs are revealing right now, it’s this:
If you don’t define your narrative, something else will.
Don’t Wait
Start small:
- share one idea
- record one conversation
- reach out to one person
Because your voice, presence, and relationships are what carry forward.