Beyonce Doesn't Use LinkedIn

Cue Crazy in Love and start that dance party!

Just me dancing it out in my living room? Ok, I’ll stop now.

This is a newsletter about layoffs after all.

Let’s chat about Beyonce and how this all pertains to you, shall we?

Beyonce has been pursuing her singing and performance talents since she was young. She’s gone on to become a multi-millionaire and a global superstar.

Can you imagine if she had never pursued her dream?

No Destiny’s Child. No Grammy’s.

She likely wouldn’t have even met Jay-Z (too crazy to think about!).

You know what’s crazier?

You and Beyonce have a lot in common.

You could have similar levels of talent that you haven’t even explored.

(Ok I might be exaggerating. It’s tough to compare ourselves to Queen Bey.)

I’ll give you a personal example.

I worked at corporate jobs for 23 years and had zero idea that I enjoyed writing. Or that I could be any good at it.

That’s kind of sad, right? I had this talent all along, but it stayed in hibernation for 20+ years.

TWO DECADES.

Corporate jobs can really stifle your creativity. They box you into a role.

You’re rarely given the runway to be anything else.

Taking the first step forward

Now after your layoff, you have time to consider what’s next for you in your career. You can explore these potential hidden talents.

The world is your oyster (I love cheesy phrases).

Your family and friends might suggest activities to keep you preoccupied:

• Cook new recipes!

• Take a painting class!

• Learn how to do aerial yoga!

While well-intentioned, these ideas don’t tend to propel you forward career-wise.

My recommendation is to learn a new marketable skill. Especially one that can lead to a lucrative career.

Five ideas:

• Web design

• Copywriting

• Ghostwriting

• E-mail marketing

• Personal branding

If a topic piques your interest, start watching relevant YouTube videos and reading books.

Pro tip: Your local library likely has an app where you can read e-books and listen to audiobooks for free.

The worst that can happen is that you spend time learning something that doesn’t end up appealing to you.

The best thing is that you end up liking this topic and wanting to pursue it part- or full-time. If you gain 2-3 clients a month, you can make a decent income.

No job applications. No interviews. No corporate B.S.

I know that your layoff has been tough on you.

Take advantage of this precious time while you have it. It truly can be a gift.

I’m going to go back to dancing to Beyonce. Run the World (Girls) is playing.

And yes, Beyonce may have some of her own Lemonade (I didn’t forget!).

P.S. What brings you to this newsletter? I love to hear from readers. I reply to every email :)