11 Steps for Overcoming Tough Times

• December 29, 2022
• ramgi@user
• no comments

These are tough times. Big time layoffs have been announced by Twitter and Meta. Many start-ups are also struggling for funding and might layoff people. As someone who has been sacked from a job, let me share some advice.

I remember that day so well. It was in August 2009. I was director operations for India for one of the leading global tech MNCs.

I had joined them barely 3 months back when I became paralysed by a crippling autoimmune condition. The next few months were living hell — going in and out of hospitals; taking toxic medications to suppress my own immune system; my body continuing to degenerate ever day; medical bills of upwards of 20 lacs per annum.

This was when I was sacked. One of those decisions that many companies take with zero humaneness. For the organisation, self-protection is paramount. The protection and happiness of the individual matters as long as that doesn’t interfere with the above self-protection.

Did I blame the organisation? Part of me did. But part of me knew there was no point blaming the organisation. It had to do what it had to. When we sign up for a corporate profession, this is one of the things we sign up for.

Telling myself this helped me get over the feeling of shock, hurt and anger. It also helped me dissociate my immediate bosses from the decision, which had come from much higher up. They were good friends and still continue to be.

With anger, hurt, and shock not in the picture, it was far easier for me to accept the situation, and then focus on maximising this given situation.

It helped enormously that I could talk to my wife Jayashri Ramamurti and pour out my worries. And that I could spend time with my kids, unwinding.

It also helped that I focused on my strengths — experience of having run businesses end to end. Leveraging those strengths helped me get two other jobs.

So here is my advice to anyone going through the trauma of getting sacked.

1.    Accept that this is part of corporate life

2.    If you think the sacking is unfair, you can take legal recourse. But don’t get obsessed with it. Also, don’t let that hinder the following steps

3.    Take your time to go through the cycle of shock, disbelief, anger, anxiety, acceptance. The faster you go through this inevitable cycle, the better

4.    Confide your worries to those who love you. Share the burden

5.    Go for a holiday to cool down and relax. (that picture is of me in Salzburg)

6.    Remember many people get sacked. It isn’t going to hinder your chances for getting the next job. How you comport yourself after getting sacked is what will determine the ease with which you get the next job

7.    DO NOT blame others

8.    Figure out what your strengths are and look for companies that fit those

9.    Spend time in upskilling yourself

10. Tell yourself every day that you are awesome. Several times.

11. Reach out to your network for support if required.

For more click here — #BoundlessWithRamG

RamG Vallath
Keynote Speaker, Author, and Overall Awesome Dude