Reboot 21 | SI4 - Why Layoffs Feel Unfair (and What to Do Next)

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Guest: Steve Jaffe — author of The Layoff Journey; 25 years in marketing/advertising; laid off four times; now helping people navigate the emotional side of job loss.

In this Reboot Era episode, we cover:

• The myth of meritocracy—why layoffs often feel arbitrary and unfair
• The seven grief stages applied to layoffs—and how to shorten the distance from dismissal to discovery
• Practical tools to counter isolation, shame, and rumination (community, journaling, movement)
• Why your skills and wins still belong to you (Ship of Theseus analogy)
• Rebuilding identity beyond your job title—and why that makes you more resilient next time

Try this (from Steve’s framework):

• The 15-minute daily reset: 5 min journaling → 5 min movement → 5 min outreach (one text/DM to a real human).
• Replace “derailed” with “detour” in your language for one week; note what changes.

Links & mentions:

• Book: The Layoff Journey (available on Amazon; ask your local bookstore to order)
• Steve Jaffe
  • Website: thestevejaffe.com
  • Substack: Steve Jaffe on Substack
  • Instagram: @stevejaffethelayoffjourney
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaffesteve/
• Contact: [e-mail]

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Everything shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and opinion. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, no content should be considered professional, legal, or career advice. Any mention of companies, products, or individuals is done in a personal capacity and does not represent the views or endorsements of those organizations or people. If a sponsorship or paid partnership is ever included, it will be clearly disclosed during the episode.