A few weeks ago I started releasing conversations I had recorded with people who have been through career transformations. Be it layoffs, pivots, entrepreneurial ventures, or reinventions.

My friend, James, came up with the title to the podcast, and I can’t thank him enough for his creativity, and push to have me see this project through.

I've now published three episodes. Kel Wu, a product manager. Laura Zegar, a customer experience consultant. And Michael Floresca, a data and operations guy I was actually laid off with on the same day.

They don't know each other. They come from different industries, different cities, different circumstances.

And yet when I went back and listened again, the same things kept coming up. I noticed some themes emerging.

The Comfort Trap

Laura said it plainly: if you won't make the move yourself, the universe makes it for you. Comfort is thing keeping you stuck.

Michael had been browsing job postings for two years before his layoff. Not applying. Browsing. He knew something was off. But he was comfortable - he called it “adrift”.

Both needed the external push to do what they already knew they should do.

That's the Comfort Trap.

Just like the old Skin Bracer ad, when it came to their layoff, both Michael and Laura could say “Thanks, I needed that”.

The resume is just paperwork, you are the one getting the job.

All three figured this out, just differently.

Kel built a YouTube channel documenting himself building AI products in real time. Hiring managers had already watched his videos before he walked in.

Laura stopped sounding like someone auditioning for a role and started speaking like someone who already had the answers. CEOs started reaching out inbound.

Michael began his search before he needed to — resume current, notifications on, an interview already scheduled when the layoff call came.

The paperwork is important. But the company is hiring you.

A layoff is the beginning of something new, better.

One in five people who get laid off feel relief. I cited that stat to Michael and he agreed because that's exactly what he felt.

Laura had known her job was ending for over a year. She applied to corporate roles anyway, hoping they wouldn't call her back. Her body knew before her brain caught up.

Kel was a bit blindsided. From company offsite one week, to layoff call two weeks later. But he never fought it. From day one, he worked to find a better opportunity.

None treated it as the end of the story. They saw it as the beginning of a new journey.

Know who you are first.

Laura went deep — coaches, certifications, a workshop where she could barely say out loud, in front of 50 people, that she wanted high-level corporate clients. Once she could say it clearly, the business started moving.

Michael needed to grieve first. The emotional work he'd done in the past shaped how he handled this one. He’s a “vibes guy” who is extremely likable. He ended up somewhere smaller, quieter, where he doesn't bring work home. He knows what’s important to him, and is happier.

Weeks before our interview, when I asked Kel about this content, he simply said to me, “I’m a product guy, I might as well show people that.”

You cannot sell yourself until you understand who you are.

Three episodes in and patterns are already forming. I don't know exactly where this goes, but it’s very interesting to see.

In May, the episodes will be changing, but only slightly. The conversations are focused transition and transformation, and less about layoffs.

I will be releasing chats with consultants and entrepreneurs, who had enough working in large, bureaucratic, companies and went out on their own. I think you will enjoy their insights.

Thanks for reading and subscribing. Have a great weekend.

— Brian

If you have a story to share that could help others, please reach out to me. My email address is [email protected].

See you next week!