Laid off or fired? It’s not the end

In Georgia native Lamar Smith’s business parable, “There’s More to Life Than the Corner Office: The Secret to Total Life Prosperity,” go-getter Patrick Mitchell doesn’t know it, but his life is falling apart.

Young Mitchell meets wise mentor Al Crafton, who draws him into a series of Socratic dialogues. Mitchell’s life changes for the better —- after he’s fired.

In real life, Smith wasn’t fired, but the decorated search-and-rescue pilot and former CEO of a Fort Worth, Texas-based retail brokerage has done some firing.

He’s also had more than one mentor, including a professor at his alma mater, Georgia State University. During a trip to Middle Georgia to place a marker on his mother’s grave near Gordon, Smith, 61, spoke about taking a setback, such as getting downsized, and turning it into a step forward.

“The main thing is a teeth-gritting determination that I am not going to let this defeat me,” Smith said.

Smith offers a few tips on his blog (www.improvingyour balance.com) for those who are abruptly out of work:

Grieve the loss. Losing your job is a serious emotional blow. Mourning is appropriate.

Keep a spiral notebook. Put your plans and ideas and suggestions from others in one section, your feelings in another.

Talk to friends and family. Don’t go it alone.

If you have to cut back because of finances, stay ahead of the game. Inform creditors.

Take small steps toward your goal.

Tend to your other needs like your physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual health.