Nevermind. I Just Got Laid Off.
So I had said how I was planning to quit my 9 to 5 job when I earned a certain amount of income online. Well, today I just got laid off. I guess my quest to start living off of passive income is starting early – like today.
This is my first time being laid off, and even though my head is still above the water because I am making some money online (Thank God!), I still feel pretty terrible. It’s really easy for me to start thinking negative things like: I don’t have a job, my employers don’t think I’m skilled enough, why me and not that other guy…but I know I shouldn’t think those kinds of things. There was nothing I could do about it.
We are in tough times, as we all know, and especially for the industry that I was in, it’s a wonder why I didn’t get laid off sooner. Hardly anyone has the money, or the ability to create lines of credit to help construct and building anything these days, so of course no one is looking for the help of an Architect to design either.
A Blessing In Disguise
Someone from my other blog messaged me today and we had a small conversation about jobs. He actually offered me a position to work in Los Angeles at the firm he worked for, without even knowing I was laid off. L.A. is much too far away for me to commute to, so I thankfully denied his offer, even after I told him about my situation. He was genuinely sorry to hear the bad news. He then messaged me with something that I had to share with you today:
“Keep your head high – and thank [My Former Employer] for taking the chains off your potential.”
Those are some powerful words that really hit home for me. Have you heard of the saying: everything happens for a reason? Maybe this is God’s plan for me. Maybe it couldn’t of come at a better time. Isn’t it kind of weird that I just released an E-Book on my other website that is now making just about the same as my other job was?
A Sign
I’m going to take this as a sign. A sign that working online and earning a passive income is what I was meant to do. I don’t have a definite plan yet as far as my next step to increase my income, but now my 9 to 5 job won’t stop me from earning exactly what I think I deserve. There’s no holding me back from creating the lifestyle that I want for me and my future wife and family. (Yes, I’m getting married in February.)
I will keep my head up high for myself and for you. Now I’ll have more time to write about my plans for earning more income online, and hopefully some of my future successes and failures will give you some direction.
Last Words of Wisdom
I wouldn’t be as optimistic about the future after being laid off if it wasn’t for the residual income I earn from the internet today. I consider myself so lucky that I still make enough to survive, and it’s all from the hard work I did in the past. Even if you don’t ever quit your job, having that second stream of income is definitely something nice to fall back on.
If you do get laid off, follow the words of wisdom from my friend above. You should always keep your head up high (in any situation, really) and understand that you’ll find something better. Maybe it’s a better 9 to 5 job with more pay and more benefits. Or maybe, it’s an online opportunity. Either way, just know that nothing can break you. Nothing.
Posted on : October 21st, 2008
Related posts:
- One Year After Getting Laid Off – My Annual Passive Income Report
- Ask the Readers: How to Motivate the Unmotivated
- Live Each Day To The Fullest Because You’ll Never Get It Back
- 5 Reasons Your Next Big Idea Might Fail
- My Monthly Report – October 2008
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28 Comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below)
I am sorry to hear that you got laid off, but your attitude is impressive. Now you have all the motivation you need to take your online earnings to the next level. Best of luck!
[...] very successful month for me being that I was recently laid-off. It kind of sickens me a little to think that if I did still have my 9 to 5 job, I’d have [...]
[...] The Smart Passive Income Blog: Nevermind. I Just Got Laid Off [...]
You have an amazing attitude, and all I can tell you is that now you may focus 100% of your energy on online income. Who knows? Things could work out so well that you make as much money as you did with your 9-5..
Studenomics´s last blog post..When Should You Not Save Money?
@ Studenomics,
Thanks for your comment and your encouraging words. Actually, you’d be happy to know that I am currently making more than I was at my 9 to 5, and I hope to keep adding to that. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to hear from you again =)
Great attitude, and congratulations on the ebook! Your friends comment about the chains being removed from your potential was right on the money.
Your optimism impresses me so much! I have to admit, sometimes I wish I would get a concrete “sign” (like losing my job) that would open a new path for me. I feel like I’m too afraid (responsible?) to leave a salary behind, and would almost welcome that choice being forced upon me…
Lise´s last blog post..DIY Holiday Gift: Pinkled Pink with Jalapenos
@ Will
Thanks! I like how you said “right on the money”. Hehe!
@Lise,
It’s true, we all wish for a “sign” for us to take action. Sometimes, however, we have to make our own signs. By the way, I love your list of 101 goals in 1001 days. I think that’s a great way to motivate yourself!
I am performing similar experiments for the same reason, but I just started like 2 weeks ago. I came across your blog and subscribed. Hahahaha. I completely understand. This is fun, though. Have you tried secret shopping on the side? They really pay you. It takes like 40 days, but you will get a check. http://myworkfromhometruth.blogspot.com
Amanda´s last blog post..eHow – Make Money Writing Articles
@ Amanda
I love experiments! Good luck with yours, and thanks for subscribing to my blog. I have not tried secret shopping, and I don’t know much about it. I’ll check out your blog to see if there is any information about it. Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving!
I feel your pain. I just discovered your website and I must say that it’s inspiring. I love the advice your friend offered. I was recently laid off from my job, too (Operations Manager for a hospital cancer center) and I have also been struggling to keep my head up and know that better things are in store. I have been reading a lot about starting my own internet info marketing business and I know that it’s the RIGHT thing to do. There really is no better time than now. I just keep 2nd guessing myself. I’m scared. There, I said it. I am scared. What if I fail?
I would like to offer my support to you in your current trials and ask that you do the same for me. Just a simple, “Hang in there. You can do it” can sometimes make all the difference.
@Damon Brown, Thanks for your support. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been laid off too, but just remember the advice my friend offered – and you’re absolutely right, now is the time to start something. The beauty about doing business online, is that it’s easier to start your own thing, and if you do fail, what’s the worst that could happen? So you lose a few hundred dollars for market research and a domain name. Big whoop. At least your not spending thousands or millions of dollars, hoping you’ll get a return later in the future. If you fail online with one thing, you just missed your target. Get the darts back and throw them at the bull’s eye again. You’re bound to hit a bull’s eye sometime.
But yeah, I know where you’re coming from. It’s a big leap to take – but you’ll never know what great things could happen, unless you give it a try. Right?
Anyways, again, thank you for your support, and I will say the same thing to you, Damon. Just hang in there, and opportunities will present themselves for you.
All the best to you.
@Pat,
I just listened to your appearance on the Internet Business Mastery podcast and the light came on inside my head. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and I know what a struggle it was to study for the certification exam when I took it almost 10 years ago. I have a couple of study guides, and, for some reason, I kept a lot of my notes. I don’t see any reason why I can’t turn that into a successful website similar to yours. Do you have any advice on how to do that? Pitfalls? Things you wouldn’t do again? Things you would do different? I appreciate any help you can offer.
@Damon Brown, initially, I think that’s a great idea. I would research it further to see how popular that test is, how much it has changed, where there any updates, etc. But I love the study guide / info model because people will do a lot to find good material. I would probably start out with a blog kind of like I did, put material on it, add to it every once and a while, direct people to it from forums and other websites, and see what kind of traffic or response you get. If you get a lot of good feedback, it’s time to write a guide =)
i like this post. i’ve been laid off too buddy…and trust me…it was definitely a good thing.
p.s. i just found your site, if yer wonderin why i commented so late. gj man!
@Moon, btw when did you get the “red card” .Any luck with the new job hunt so far? No worries. Let’s be positive.
Man, I thought this new year would be better. I wonder how’s things for you now. Have you try checking out http://jobstaxi.com ? They really have quite a handful of jobs listing.
Best of luck!
Pat,
I just stumbled across your blog now – I really enjoyed the few blog entries I have read so far (and am sure I will continue to read more).
I know your passive income stream is quite strong, and the advice that I have may not apply to you, but I wrote a blog post about getting laid off and what one can do to best prepare that you can be found here:http://www.richerandslimmer.com/2009/01/22/layoffs-everywhere-and-what-you-can-do-to-best-prepare/
Best of luck with everything!
richerandslimmer.com´s last blog post..Vacation Update
@richerandslimmer.com, Hey! Thanks for the compliments and your link to your website. I think it provides great info that will help many people in America today. Best of luck to you too!
Sorry, the link for the lay-off post didn’t come out quite right in the first comment. Here it is again:
http://www.richerandslimmer.com/2009/01/22/layoffs-everywhere-and-what-you-can-do-to-best-prepare/
richerandslimmer.com´s last blog post..Vacation Update
[...] I Just Got Laid Off [...]
What a lucky coincidence that your passive income reached this level just in time! I know from my own experience that you can work for a long time and then everything just comes together at the same time to take you to a new level (sometimes without much of a direct cause). It looks like we’re both trying to repeat that experience now. Best of luck with your business ventures – now that you can focus on them full-time you should be able to go far
Excellent Blog! It gives me hope! I am trying to use the internet to generate income (since I’m on it so much anyway) I started blogging the other day which I have never done before, but I am nowhere near as good with my words as you are. I started a blog about my situation in these hard economical times. Thanks for the inspiration!
here it is http://economicstruggle.blogspot.com/
nice blog cheers
congrats on getting laid off
Looks like it was about time you went solo!
[...] a car accident and knowing the fact that my premiums are going to skyrocket, or something like a layoff from a job. I will forever be grateful for each day I live and make sure I live each day to the [...]
[...] background, Dave understood beforehand that I work from home and run my own business after recently being laid off. I accept payments through paypal from my website which sells an eBook and an audio guide, and I [...]
You did it man !! hats-off