You’re Fired! Two of the worst words in the world. (The only thing worse than that is your doorbell ringing and someone saying, “I’m from the IRS and I’m here to help you.”)

It’s unpleasant sometimes downright nasty. Your employer will try to sugarcoat it (“Things just aren’t working out as we hoped…”) or be patronizing (“For the best interests of both of us…”). But the bottom line is you’re out on the street, with no income, starting over, and pissed off.

Did Lee Iacocca let getting fired from Ford Motors prevent him from becoming the most celebrated CEO of the 20th century? NO. Neither should you.

Note: Once you’re ousted from your job, you become the scapegoat or cause of everything that ever went wrong with the company.

Also Note: The principles below also apply if your performance on your present job is poor and you’re thinking of changing jobs (or in jeopardy of being fired) because it’s everybody’s fault but yours. Guess again bucko.

 

Here’s the 12.5 step formula to get you back on the road to bigger and better things:

1. Let your emotions all the way out for 48 hours Not one minute more. Do all your whining, crying, pitying and door slamming until it’s completely out of your system. (Continued negatives will block even prevent positive recovery.)

2. Don’t blame others. It’s unproductive and probably not accurate.

3. Analyze exactly what happened and why. Get several perspectives (boss, coworkers, customers, competitors (may be a source for a lead to a new opportunity), spouse, friends)

4. Put the negatives out of your mind. Try substituting humor (go to a comedy show, rent funny videos, laugh as often as possible.) If you can’t, seek professional help.

5. Buy yourself a present. Something nice. Something you’ve always wanted. Something to make you feel good.

6. Find a mentor. Someone who will give you unprejudiced advice.

7. Get the support of others. Now is the time to ask for help.

8. Make a detailed plan for what you really want to do and put a time frame to it.

9. Go away for two or three days. Take your plan with you and revise it.

10. On the way up and back listen to positive attitude podcasts/books alternated with your favorite music. Sing along.

11. Stay on a diet of only positive things and positive people for 6 months. No news, no violence, no arguments.

12. Change something in your life. New hair, new friends, new exercise program, new diet, new hobby. Divert your mind to think along new paths in order to get out of the old ruts. (The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.)

12.5 Commit yourself to a sane recovery. Commit yourself to success. Discipline yourself to do whatever it takes to get back on the road to success. Make a daily plan and execute it.

Get back into the market slowly. Don’t jump back in until you figure out what you need to change. Make the next step a better step than the last one.

 

Here’s some ideas that will put you on a better path:

• Get happy. Find new ways to smile and look at the bright side. The wrong attitude will prevent you from success.
• Begin to execute your plan. Something small at first. But do something toward your new success every day.
• Revise your resume. Make it better than ever. Your resume is the only evidence you were there after the interview. It will be reviewed. Make it memorable.
• Print personal business cards. Have them with wherever you go.
• Get to a support group. Find people in the same boat as you until you get that new job. Then return to the group as a leader who will help and support others.
• Target ten companies you’d like to work for. Find out everything about the companies and their markets before you make the first job search contact. Be prepared to get what you want.
• Network for opportunities every day (the best jobs are never in the paper). Don’t sit around waiting for something to show up. Go out and find it.
• Show up at events where your targets are likely to be. Look professional. Don’t be too eager. Just make an appointment for a one-on-one interview.
• Don’t gripe or complain about your situation. No matter what. Talk about tomorrow, yesterday is a waste of time and emotion. (No one wants to hear it anyway.)
• Keep things in perspective. It’s a job, not inoperable brain cancer. Maintain your focus. Work your plan. Work at it every day until you win.

Something better will always happen if you’re prepared to make it happen. The classic line that’s attributed to Zig Ziglar is most applicable: “Anyone can stop you temporarily. Only you can stop yourself permanently.”

Don’t give up no matter what. You only fail when you stop trying.

FREE GITBIT

“Rate the candidate in an interview” form. A guide to help you rate your own qualifications and traits in an employment interview. Both for bosses and salespeople not performing well or thinking of switching jobs. It’s a great interview guide.

Just go to www.gitomer.com, click Access GitBit in the top right corner, register if you’re a first time user and enter the word INTERVIEW in the search box.