Elizabeth Saunders
My Story From Burnt-Out to Brilliant
Part II: Laid Off Before College Graduation
Continued from Part I: The Classic High School & College Overachiever
Six weeks after I began my first “real job,” I was laid off. I was devastated. I cried. And I graduated from college without a job---exactly what I did not want to have happen.
E Tip: How to Take Control of Your E-Mail
Despite popular belief, e-mail does not have to run your life.
E-mail is not your boss. It is simply a method of communicating information, just like postal mail. Before the advent of all of our modern electronic “conveniences” there was an expectation that it would take a bit of time for you to receive information. No one ran to their mailbox every five minutes or had a panic attack if someone didn’t immediately receive and respond to their note. The expectation was that communication took time, and when people were able, they would respond.
E Tip: How to Efficiently Keep In Touch With Contacts
One of the greatest professional assets is who you know and who knows you. According to a study of over 600 MBA grads, with 56 % earning over $100,000, “Fifty-eight percent of respondents believe a person skilled at networking could see a ‘significant, substantial or dramatic’ impact on income — even up to a 100-percent increase.”
That means “soft work” like networking can have a pretty substantial ROI.
E Tip: How to Wrap Up Before Time Off
Q: How do you wrap up before time off?
A: Under estimate how much you can complete. Over estimate how much time you will need to complete it.
One of the downfalls of being an incredibly positive person is that I always want to plan for the best case scenario when it comes to how much I can get done in a day, especially right before time off. But as I’ve discovered–more than once or twice–it’s better to be a bit of a pessimist when it comes to wrapping up for vacation or any time out of the office.
Here are some tips to help with the process:
E Note: Are You a Human Being or a Human Doing?
Stop.
Breathe deeply–that’s right: Inhale. Exhale.
Did that feel strange? Did a split-second break in activity both around you and inside of you seem strangely unfamiliar?
If so, you might be operating as a human doing instead of a human being. As I’ve traversed my personal journey of going from burnt-out to brilliant and guided others in the process, I’ve found that the inability to rest usually stems from an unhealthy belief:
A belief that my intrinsic value lies in what I do, not who I am.
