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When a door closes, what if it's not just a setback but an opportunity for liberation? This week, Lisa shares her raw, unfiltered response to being laid off—and it's not what you might expect. Rather than devastation, she describes feeling "relief bordering on giddiness" as constraints and frustrations suddenly lifted from her professional life.
After 18 years in cybersecurity, Lisa finds herself at a crossroads that many mid-career professionals face: continue with the expertise she's built, or use this unexpected transition to explore untapped passions and possibilities. Her story challenges our conventional understanding of job loss and invites listeners to consider how we sometimes stay in careers simply because we've invested time in them, not because they still fulfill us.
What makes this conversation particularly powerful is its honesty about the complexities of career transitions. Lisa describes the peculiar experience of remaining at work for a month after being notified of her layoff—creating awkward interactions but also allowing colleagues to share meaningful feedback about her impact. One comment in particular—"You are one of the best things to happen to this company in a long time"—finally broke through her composed exterior days after receiving the news.
The metaphor that emerges throughout is striking: rather than merely facing closed doors in her work, Lisa felt she'd been running into bricked-over walls that wouldn't budge despite her best efforts. Now, suddenly, all doors stand open—creating both freedom and the paralysis of possibility. As she navigates this unexpected transition, her determination to remain intentional rather than reactive offers a masterclass in turning disruption into opportunity.
Whether you're facing a career transition yourself or simply wondering if you're on the right path, this conversation offers permission to experience these pivotal moments authentically and on your own terms. What doors in your life might be waiting to open?
Tune in next week as we unpack what it looks and feels like to sharpen your edge and in the process of venturing outside our comfort zone, maybe even evolve into something new.

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