What I learned from being unemployed

Last November I got laid off. While unemployed I learned a lot from reflecting, working on personal projects and searching for new jobs.

1. Focus and Motivation are functions of your environment

They are not absolute. You can improve your focus and work ethic by understanding your habits and making changes to your environment. Time of day, location, sound (or lack thereof) can all have huge effects. Experiment to find out what works best for you.

2. Consistency is key

Focus on the system not the goal.

3. It is important to be recognized

I used to think the need for recognition was shallow, and that doing good work should be satisfying enough. Now I know feeling important and appreciated are fundamental human needs. Being recognized, and recognizing others for good work goes a long way.

4. Don’t forget to market your work

Doing good work is the first step, but not enough. Get people excited about the vision to have the most impact.

5. Don’t trust a list of company values

Any company can put great sounding values on a website to attract talent. Most of them don’t put them into practice. The best way to get to know a company is to ask your future team tough questions.

6. Getting laid off can be the best career move in retrospect

And is a lot easier than quitting.