When the unexpected happens

We all face the unexpected every day. The degree to which that “unexpected” varies. Unexpected can range from sudden job loss or a death in the family to a simple lost key or a water main breakdown. Unexpected things that happen from the bad side of thing are never fun.

The good side of unexpected

There is the other side of unexpected that happens too. You find money you didn’t have or you get a call from a friend you didn’t expect or you win a prize. We like that kind of unexpected!

The bad kind of unexpected

We hate the other kind – the bad kind of unexpected. How you react is key. I wrote Roll with the Punches on some of my unexpected events last summer. I mention another post in roll with the punches, When Depression takes over, because honestly, many people slide into depression when they face the bad kind. When they face job loss, or relationships that break down, or children who get in trouble or are using drugs or alcohol, or someone they love dies, it is easy to lose hope.

Getting back to looking forward

This is tough stuff and you have to work at getting back to looking forward. Back to looking forward, huh? That sounds weird. But really, when we are wallowing in self-pity or stuck in a depression, we have to turn things around. Some people are able to do this alone. If you can, great. If you can’t, don’t be afraid to ask for help. In my post What makes a resume or job search weak, I offered some local resources for help from counselors I know personally. During this past year, I had many local clients take advantage of those counseling resources and they shared how much it helped. The right counselor can help someone who needs an expert to sort through their issues and help them move forward.

One of my own latest challenges

It seems that in my life, there is a new challenge all the time. They range from really tough stuff to minor annoyances. Right now my second blog site, The Marketing Results Blog, is missing. The domain renewal seems to be stuck in processing and so the whole site is down. Not long ago, this would make me very annoyed. Now I am just putting one foot in front of another. I have another call to make on Monday to find out what the hold-up is.

Now I am just grateful it is THAT site and not this one. I learned some lessons from this already. Don’t procrastinate domain renewal, it can have dire consequences. I did renew it. Just too close to the due date.

How do you get back to looking forward?

Looking backward all the time hurts. You can’t do that and move forward. Figure out what went wrong, figure out how to fix it, and then go forward. For the big issues, get help from an expert. For the little ones, look at it strategically and see if you can figure out what to do different next time.

• Lost keys – figure out where to put them all the time. I put mine in my purse, works better for women than men. Make a spare. Many men keep a spare car key or even house key in their wallet. Or give a spare to a family member, friend, or neighbor you trust.
• Broken water main – in my life, I have found that usually the city is on it before I would even call but if you need to call, call them. Keep a number of a good plumber handy (or electrician or carpenter…) Having a back-up plan really helps when thing break down. Oh – and I find it really helps you be thankful when you do hit one of these glitches. Start appreciating what works ever day. Every day you have running water. Every day your electricity works. Every day you have a roof over your head. Say thanks!
• Broken technology – keep your passwords handy. Know who handles which part of your services. See above. Be grateful for the many times it does work!
• Sudden expenses – Make sure you save $1,000 and put it in a separate account. If you have to spend it on an emergency, resave it before you start paying down bills or spending money on other things. Since I did this (it comes from Dave Ramsey, Total Money Makeover), I have had to repay it but I feel so much calmer when the car breaks or something else goes wrong.
• Uneven cash flow – as a self-employed person who is the major income in our family, I have months that are fantastic and some that are not. I am building a larger cash flow emergency fund to cover expenses. If you do the same, if you do experience sudden job loss, you will be calmer. Then repay that too in the good times.

All of these tips help you when the unexpected happens. Don’t get destroyed by the unexpected!

Stuck in your job search or just ready to move on or up from your existing position? Julie Walraven, a Wausau, Wisconsin-based professional resume writer and career marketing strategist, can help you get ready for your next role! To find out how, Click here!

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