Job Loss as a High-Achiever is Uncomfortable

I’ve been there—when you give everything to your career, losing it feels like losing a part of yourself. After my first job loss, I was lost. I had poured my identity into my work. It wasn't just a job; it was my purpose, my worth, and my contribution to the world. When it was suddenly gone, I felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore.

Sound familiar? If you’ve ever experienced this, you know how disorienting it can be. As high-achievers, we often build our sense of self around our accomplishments. We hustle, push, and strive, and it’s easy to blur the lines between who we are and what we do. But when that “what we do” disappears, it leaves a void that can be hard to navigate.

After my first job loss, I realized I had no idea what life outside of work looked like. I had poured so much of myself into my career that I hadn’t built much else. I didn’t have hobbies. I didn’t know how to relax. And most importantly, I had never considered that my value could exist beyond my job title.

The second time I lost my job—a step down from a C-Suite role—it hit even harder. This time, the loss was mishandled by the company, and the impact was profound. It wasn't just the loss of a paycheck; it was the loss of confidence, certainty, and self-worth. I felt vulnerable in ways I hadn’t before. I was dealing with burnout, imposter syndrome, and a gnawing sense of failure.

But here’s what I learned through it all: Losing your job doesn’t mean losing yourself. It’s hard—there’s no denying that—but it can also be the catalyst for discovering parts of you that have been hidden behind work for too long. That’s what happened to me.

I started to ask myself tough questions: Who am I without the title? What do I love outside of work? How do I want to live, not just what do I want to do? And the answers didn’t come quickly or easily, but when they did, they felt freeing. I realized that I’m more than a job, more than a title, more than an achievement. I’m someone who loves helping others through coaching, someone who finds joy in connection, and someone who values rest just as much as productivity.

So, if you’re in that space of feeling lost after job loss, know this: You haven’t lost yourself. You might just be finding a new version of who you are—and that version might be even better than you imagined.