Laid off after two decades: “What will people say?”

Last week, an acquaintance reached out.
After spending more than two decades in the same company, he is now on the verge of being #LaidOff.

I expected him to ask: How long will my #Savings last?

Instead, he asked: "What will people say?"

His friends are his office colleagues.
His identity is tied to his designation.
His family knows him as "the MNC guy."
And suddenly, he felt all of that slipping away.

This wasn't a #financial crisis.
It was an #identity crisis.

Many of us spend decades climbing the corporate ladder.
We work late, meeting those endless timelines!
We chase promotions, the next title!

In the process, we quietly let other parts of our life disappear.

#Hobbies become "a waste of time."
#Friendships become #Networking.
#Life becomes a calendar invite.

Until one day, the company moves on.

And we're left asking: "Who am I without my job?"

We spoke for a long time, and I shared four thoughts.
- First, your Job is just one chapter of your Life.
It's important. It pays the bills.
But it should never become the sole reason for your existence.

- Second, cultivate Hobbies; you are never too old for that.
Read. Travel. Write. Paint. Play badminton!
Because one day, you'll wake up with all the time in the world.
The question is, will you know what to do with it?

- Third, build Real Relationships.
Corporate teaches us to 'network'.
Life teaches us to connect.
Call that school friend. Meet your college gang.
Spend time with people who would still invite you for dinner if your designation disappeared tomorrow.

- And finally, care a little less about Society.
Society will judge when you're successful.
It will judge when you're struggling.
And it will certainly have an opinion when you're laid off.
You cannot spend your entire life trying to satisfy people who will always move the goalpost.

#MoneyMinusNoise
A layoff can create a financial crisis.
But for many professionals who have spent decades in the corporate world, it creates something else too:
An identity crisis.

So when that day comes, don't ask:
"What will people say?"
Ask yourself:
"Who am I beyond my visiting card?"

Building wealth is important. Building a life beyond work is equally important.
If you're trying to navigate either of these, feel free to reach out.

Sometimes, all we need is a conversation.