I’ve Had to Start Over Many Times, Here’s What I Learned
This blog is for anyone who’s been fired, laid off, or walked away from a job. If you’ve had the rug pulled out from under you, you’re not alone and this moment could be the start of something better.
My first major restart came when I was two weeks into a new role. I’d quit my old job for a higher salary, bought a new car, and just moved into a great apartment. Then a new manager arrived and almost immediately let go of everyone his predecessor had hired, including me. I ended up back at my old company, but this time as a temp instead of a hiring manager. It was humbling and infuriating, but more than anything, it became my first real lesson that life rarely follows our plans.
Over the next year, I hustled. I sold books on the weekends and applied for jobs through the week. Some weekends I made thousands of dollars; other days I was knocking on doors for help. Eventually, I paused my business to pursue a master’s degree. When I graduated, I landed a job at the university where I could use every skill I’d ever learned. It felt like a triumph until a new opportunity doubled my pay and, a few months later, left me unemployed again amid a legal battle.
That second setback was brutal, but it pushed me to diversify. I built new legs for my business on the foundation of my Fortune 500, startup, and academic experience. Today, I help others launch and grow their own ventures. Through every twist and turn, I felt God’s hand guiding me through seasons I once saw as losses but now recognize as preparation for greater things.
Each fresh start taught me something vital:
The art of letting go when plans don’t work out
How to pivot quickly and spot new opportunities
The power of faith and community support
Turning setbacks into stepping stones, lemonade from lemons
When you first get that notice, give yourself a moment to breathe. Then get back in the game. Write down every accomplishment, credential, and lesson learned. Decide who you want to be next: Are you diving right back into the workforce aiming for a higher role and salary? Or is launching your own business finally calling you?
For believers, this turbulent economy and job market isn’t something to fear it’s a chance to watch God work in your life.
Don’t be afraid to start over.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19
XO,
Gabby
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