No need to worry. I'll be right up front with you. I've been laid off, fired, downsized, and I've even quit a few jobs in my time.

Sometimes it was just embarrassing and sometimes it was devastating, but sometimes it was the best thing that could have happened.

So, I'm talking from experience, not just giving you a regurgitation of what I read in some book somewhere.

If times are tough for you right now, a pen and a notepad can be the tools that get you back on track to making money.

I'll share a few experiences with you, in hope that you can better relate to what I am about to suggest to you.

Here's an "I quit" story; I was working for a television commercial and film production company in Hollywood.

I was the new guy, the rookie, and if you've ever been the new guy you know that sometimes the other employees like to pull a gag now and then. A kind of flapping their feathers to let you know that they have seniority.

At this particular company, there was a small employee roster. There was the President of the company (the brains of the operation), the Vice-President (a go-getter who really wasn't too business savvy, but courteous and focused), a part-time bookkeeper, and a full-time receptionist...and of course, me. Everyone else was hired on a per-project basis. The VP's brother did some work for the company, but when I was hired he was used less and less.

He didn't like this and would screw with lens adjustments or act aloof. Just childish.

One day, the receptionist asked me to do something. I told her I couldn't because I had other matters that had to get attended to.

She went off as if I was her personal assistant. About a half hour later, I'm in the President's office and getting a lecture.

The lecture didn't bother me, but what did bother me, was the fact that I was never asked my side of the story. Rather stupid on his part, wouldn't you think?

Anyway, I returned to my office, packed my stuff and went back to the President's office and told him I was leaving; I quit.

I went home, opened the yellow pages and started calling companies. In less than twenty-four hours, I had a better job, with a better company that was closer to my home.

It all worked out.

The company that I quit called twice in the following days asking that I return. "Thank you, but no thank you." I moved on.

In the laid off department, it was a matter of a slowing economy and too many employees.Sometimes things are out of your hands.

It's nothing you've done or didn't do, it's just that the people who run the company you work for don't do a very good job of running the company.

The company, a short time later, went bankrupt and folded.

Down-sizing is an interesting experience. The company I worked for in Los Angeles was purchased by a company based in Chicago.

In the course of a day, all of the lives of the people I worked with and and my life, changed.

I remember getting the call at my desk. It was my turn. They would love to have me in Chicago, but if I don't want to go... I would be experiencing down-sizing and given a severence check and would have to leave the premises as soon as possible.

Once you live in Los Angeles, moving to Chicago isn't at the top of your list. I really like Chicago, I've been there many times, but I like the beach better than the snow.

What did I do? I took the severence check and started a manufacturing business. It was challenging, invigorating, and an excellent learning experience.

Getting fired is a bit embarrassing, but it is the most liberating experience to date. The people who fire you think that they're so high-and-mighty.

I guess they are high-and-mighty, but only in their own mind... and in their own shower.

I still laugh at this firing to this day. I was fired by a man who thought that he was a walking pillar of all knowledge.

I remember distinctly; he handed me a piece of type written paper and asked me to read it.

I read it and it said I was being dismissed. I got up and started to leave the table and he said, "Sit down, there's some things I want to tell you."

I told him, "you just fired me, I don't have to listen to a word you have to say" and I walked out of the room. You should have seen the dumbfounded look on his face.

The reason I asked you to grab a pen and a pad of paper, is so that I can help you prepare for such events or help you decide whether or not you want to quit your job.

Remember, wanting to quit your job and quiting your job are very different. It's all up to you, but hear me out.

On one sheet of paper, write down what you like to do. Follow that with what you want to do and then follow that with what you need to do in order to do whatever it is that you want to do.

Make a list of who you know that is doing what you would like to be doing. If you come up blank, ask yourself who you know that knows somebody that is doing what you would like to do. You have to know somebody who has a cousin, uncle, sister, brother, nephew, or friend that is doing what you would like to do.

If you can't find anyone, ask everyone you know if they know someone who knows someone.

You'll be surprised at the results. A little polite but persistent questioning will deliver results.

The next step would be to be introduced, meet, and talk to a person who is doing what it is that you want to do. You can ask a lot of questions and get a lot of great information over a cup of coffee.

Invite them over for dinner or lunch to your house. It's cheaper, more relaxed, and your guest will feel obligated to share their thoughts, suggestions, and perhaps even offer a referral.

If you know what you would like to do, do you know how to do it? This just requires, reading, training, and research.

It's not like you're going to be the first one to take a step in a new direction.

You can do all of this while still on your current job, so that one day, when you get all your ducks lined up... you can quit what you're doing and do what you really want to do.

I am not suggesting that you just up and quit your job. Work on your plan for getting your next job and rather than reading the sports page or watching tv, spend some time investigating, learning about, and making yourself more familiar with, whatever it is you really want to do.

I have a knack for getting hired. I just go after it and I don't let what I haven't got stop me.

Companies and employers don't want educated idiots. They want competent people and a degree is no guarantee of competence.

Don't wish or hope for a better job... study, read, and absorb what you need to know... then go after the job you want.

They may say, "no", but if you stop at the first "no" you probably don't want to get a job anyway.

One career move that lasted ten years began with desire and the courage to walk in and ask to talk to the boss. I wasn't going to let what I didn't have stop me.

I just kept telling myself that I could do it... and I was right.

Another, highly competitive field that I entered resulted in a lot of rejection, a lot of disappointment, and a lot of self-doubt.

I stuck at it and it took nine months to get in the door, but once I got in, I stuck around for ten years.

If you're waiting for your ship to come in, someone to ask you to join their company, or a genie to come out of the bottle, I can only say...

don't let other people tell you that you can't do something, show them that you can.

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