When host Jenny Dempsey got laid off back in 2022, she had no clue what I was doing. She was crying on her couch, trying to figure out who she even was without my job. No one hands you a guide for that kind of loss. It honestly felt like the ground fell out from under her.
And then along comes Steve Jaffe. Turns out, he literally wrote the book I wish I had back then: The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery.
Steve’s been through four layoffs (yes, four!) and instead of letting it crush him, he mapped out the stages of grief that come with job loss. Reading his book brought up so many of my own memories, everything from the shock and shame to that messy process of rebuilding your identity. It made me cry, it gave me hope, and it reminded me I’m not alone.
In this conversation with Steve, we talk about:
- Why losing a job takes you through the grieving process.
- The awkward shame we carry after a layoff, and how to drop it.
- Why slowing down to process before jumping into the job hunt can change everything
- The “baggage” you might unknowingly carry into your next role.
- And what you need to hear if you just got laid off yesterday.
This one hit so close to home for me, and if you’ve ever been laid off, or even just wondered who you are without your job, I think it’ll resonate with you too.
Connect with Steve
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🎵 Music Credits
Season 1: Intro & outro music by Audionautix.com
Season 2: Original music by yours truly, Jenny Dempsey, recorded in my home studio
And hey, remember my favorite question: What’s the best that could happen? 💫
