Getting Fired Has An Upside

Over a decade ago, I got fired by The Los Angeles Times. I was 40. Yes, my ego smarted. Yes, I stole a stapler. But ultimately, losing that job was the best thing that ever happened to me. It shoved me out of my comfort zone as a journalist and toward new opportunities like writing books, consulting for movie studios and launching this damn newsletter. I know times are hard, with almost six million women losing their jobs during COVID. (If you're one of them or know someone who needs support, check out Ellevate.) And know this: the Harvard Business Review reports that a 10-year study shows "68% of executives who were let go landed in a new job within six months; an additional 24% had a new job by the end of one year." STAY TUNED for the new PRETTY RIPE "What's Next?" Series, where I'll be talking to women like me, who pirouetted after 40.

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