“Cinderella believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn’t come along, she went over to the palace and got him.” And in the fairytale world, a rainbow over the castle, like this real snap, likely delivered a happy ending (Photo courtesy Disney).

With everything going on these days—election chaos, COVID spreading, looming potential COVID shutdowns, layoffs making millions jobless—it’s a discouraging nightmare. Looking through a “present time” lens, things look terrible.

There is, fortunately, another lens: the “future lens.” I have some experience in this one. I was one of 2,000 plus Walt Disney World management and human resources cast members dumped in the 2008-9 Walt Disney World layoffs. It was a frustrating time.

Walt’s Cinderella quote above inspired me to seek a different patha different path. I shifted my focus: the result was an improvement from what I previously had. I realize you do not read these posts to hear about me, but there are some instructive points to make that came out of that experience.

Point One - Pining for what was is a waste of time. It will not come back. There is no back, only forward.

Point Two - The only closure you get is what you make for yourself. Being laid off is usually abrupt. It leaves a deep psyche hole. No one else will patch that hole. You have to do it yourself.

Point Three - Holding onto expensive habits, hobbies, life choices is counterproductive; and costly. 

Point Four - You often have to move to start a new career. A former Disney employee, for example, is valued in Central Florida, but there are so many laid off that the competition for the few available jobs is fierce. As a general rule, the farther away from an employer who laid off a lot of people, the more readily an amazing job can be found.

Point Five - The job that was is gone. The career remains. There is little value in trying to find a new “what was.” A more effective approach is to apply those amazing underlying skills to a different career where they will be valued.

Point Six - Just as winter is followed by spring, destruction is followed by renewal. The revival process often creates something better than what was. History is filled with examples of careers that went away for good, including lamp lighters , buggy makers and telephone operators. Fortunately, when one door closes another usually opens. Our job is to look for, and walk through, those doors.

Another Walt quote is a good closer. “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” 

If you are an employer, look beyond those you have previously hired and find those laid off with applicable skills. You especially cannot go wrong with former Disney cast members.

If you are laid off, do what Cinderella did. Stop the nightmare. Chase your dream. Dreams can come true if you go get them. Maybe you’ll even get your own rainbow.